First 156GTA goes to Japan

["G.J." <quentemy01@domain.elided>]

ALFAROMEO, 27/9/2001

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THE FIRST ALFA 156 GTA WILL GO TO JAPAN

September 23 marked the close of the on-line auction of the first Alfa 156
GTA,
due to be launched early next year. The event was hosted from September 13 to
23 on all the European and the Japanese eBay (the world leader in e-commerce)
sites for the duration of the Frankfurt Motor Show.

During the ten days of the Show more than 20 thousand people visited the
auction sites, while the bids totalled 50, mainly from Japan, Germany, the
UK,
Switzerland and Italy. Starting price for the auction was 1 euro whereas the
winning bid amounted to 48,691.26 euro, proceeds that Alfa Romeo will donate
entirely to the "Telethon" charity fund.

The highest bid for the Alfa GTA "number 0001" was made by Tadashi Sengoku, a
Japanese doctor aged 44 who lives in Tokyo. He is already the owner of two
other Alfa Romeos (an Alfa 164 Q4 and an Alfa Spider) and is a real fan of
Italy. In fact he wrote to the Company in perfect Italian, "It is a great
honour for me to have the privilege of purchasing the first Alfa 156 GTA in
the
Internet auction. I am also most happy to contribute to a fund to finance
scientific research into a cure for muscular dystrophy and other hereditary
diseases."

And so Tadashi Sengoku will be the very first customer to drive the new Alfa
156 GTA, which will be delivered to him well before the market launch date,
planned for spring 2002. A model with a sporting, aerodynamic line, extra
large
bumpers and pronounced wings, exclusive alloy wheels and a newly designed
engine: the 250 bhp, 3.2 V6 24 valve. But also new suspension geometry and
settings, a more powerful braking system, more direct steering and new manual
and Selespeed gearboxes developed from Formula 1 technology. In short, a car
that truly represents that "state-of-the-art sportiness" which has always
been
the hallmark of Alfa Romeo.


Turin, September 27 2001

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