AUTODELTA 20TH ANNIVERSARY

08.02.2007 Autodelta IS celebrating its 20th anniversary THIS YEAR

Autodelta is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2007 and this year certainly is promising to be the most important yet in the London-based firm’s history. It has got underway in earnest with the commercialisation of the new Autodelta Brera J5 3.2 C on 7th February, a significant step forward which kicks off a year that will herald the arrival of a series of exciting new bespoke models and high performance upgrades.

Last year was undoubtedly the most significant in Autodelta’s history so far, highlighted by the official media preview of the new Autodelta Brera J5 3.2 C at the culmination of the 2006 Autodelta European Tour; and then its public première at the MPH06 Motor Show in November. “However, 2007 is set to be even more ground breaking, as we move forward; into our 20th anniversary year,” says Jano Djelalian, “and we roll out new performance upgrades across the new range of Alfa Romeo models: the Alfa 159, 159 Sportwagon and Spider; as well as turning our attention to the 1.9/2.2 JTS and 1.9/2.4 JTD units to compliment the standards we have already achieved with the new 3.2 V6 engine.”

The 348 bhp Autodelta Brera J5 3.2 C was officially commercialised on 7th February 2007, with the first bespoke cars set to be delivered to customers around mid-March. Autodelta’s Park Royal London engineering team, are now very busy gearing up for the expanding new programme, especially as more than 40 orders have already been received from across Europe, and as far as the Middle East. All orders have been received without buyers actually being able to drive the car. “We believe that this demonstrates that our engineering reputation now carries us forward,” adds Jano. “And be rest assured that we will strive to set new standards during 2007.”

The Autodelta Brera J5 3.2 C (C stands for “Compressore”) is a cutting-edge blend of Italian design and the pursuit of ultimate performance through advanced technology. It redefines Autodelta’s never-ending quest to draw the maximum dynamics and driving pleasure from Alfa Romeo’s exciting production models, and is the culmination of more than a year’s intense research and development, by key members hard work and innovative thinking in the UK as well as in Italy, Holland and Greece.

Announcing that this new car is supercharged brings another strong Autodelta tradition into the equation, one that has become very central to their engineering philosophy in recent years. With a huge wealth of experience in supercharging – including its application on the famous ‘Arese V6’ with a 400bhp step arriving in final stages of its development, as well as on the direct-injection JTS engine, where Autodelta is the only company worldwide to offer forced induction on this Alfa Romeo unit (and in fact of all the major carmakers only VW have a production supercharged direct-injection engine) – it was logical that Autodelta would turn to this tradition as they looked to raise the Brera’s bite in the power stakes. The Brera J5 3.2 C’s dedicated supercharger unit is supplied by Rotrex to Autodelta; in fact the Rotrex C30-94 is considered to be the most compact supercharging unit available today, noted for its durability, light inherent weight and compact form; Rotrex superchargers were also chosen by Koenigsegg to power their CCX supercar, which set the record for the fastest production car in the world. The Rotrex C30-94 properties make it perfect for installation in the Brera’s engine bay which offers little excess room, its installation and that of its dedicated oil cooler being positioned in an optimum manner to allow maximum air flow via the new Autodelta-designed front bumper.

The Autodelta Brera offers 348 bhp and 430 Nm torque, the additional 88 bhp over the standard model turns this into a powerful four wheel drive 2+2 sports car, easily capable of fulfilling its driver’s innermost demands and desires. 0-100 km/h is achieved in 5.3 seconds while top speed is 260 km/h. However an Autodelta model is always an all-round player and the Brera J5 3.2 C is the complete package, fully developed in every area, the result of much of hard work which focused in detail on every aspect of the sports car. The Brera’s engine electronics have been significantly re-mapped to make sure that power is put down in an optimum manner, with smooth delivery and in perfect synergy with the car’s capabilities. A brand new stainless-steel exhaust system,  created in conjunction with Autodelta’s exhaust development partner Ragazzon, offers optimum gasflow properties, as well as a distinct Alfa Romeo exhaust “note”, and is immediately recognisable by its quad-oval tail pipes which are each engraved with the Autodelta legend. The suspension has been re-worked with new Autodelta Sport Line Dampers with Coil Over springs being specially developed for the car; while an upgraded braking system perfectly manages the additional requirements demanded of it by all the extra power.

Autodelta is also about style, and this area of the car has not been neglected by our experienced design team. A typical Alfa Romeo driver demands performance with inherent Italian styling; understated but individual.
 

AUTODELTA

Autodelta's first workshops in Central London; the cars looked after by Autodelta in those days included the Alfa TZ1, Alfa SZ & the unique Zagato-built Alfa Zeta 6. Presented in 1983 at the Geneva Motor Show, Zagato’s compact 2+2 Zeta 6 was based on Alfa Romeo GTV6 running gear with 2.5 V6 engine. It was a self financed Zagato project, and can be singled out as one of the most beautiful Zagato creations of the 1980s. The Zeta 6 was styled by Zagato’s chief stylist Giuseppe Mittino, applying trademark cues from the Milanese house such as the short overhangs, compact cockpit and double-bubble roof. It was this car which prompted Victor Gauntlet at Aston Martin to develop the attractive Aston Martin Zagato project, another graceful design from the ‘80s to bear the famous Z badge.

JANO DJELALIAN

Autodelta's founder Jano Djelalian is seen here during the process of upgrading an Alfa Romeo Montreal engine in 1988.

AUTODELTA GTV J10

The first example of the Autodelta GTV J10 just completed (above); the J10 was the first bespoke model to be developed by Autodelta and it coincided with the company's move to Park Royal.

AUTODELTA BRERA J5 3.2C

The 348 bhp Autodelta Brera J5 3.2 C was officially commercialised on 7th February 2007, with the first bespoke cars set to be delivered to customers around mid-March.

AUTODELTA 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Autodelta is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2007 and this year certainly is promising to be the most important yet in the London-based firm’s history.


An Autodelta driver also makes these demands, but pushed to a further level; understated charms combined with aggression, sleek, yet with the exclusive handcrafted Autodelta tradition instantly recognisable. To achieve these core requirements Autodelta’s designers have evolved the “F1 look” that they first introduced on the Autodelta GT Super in 2004 and then the Autodelta 147 GTA AM Super (2005). With this dashing styling treatment, the front bumper arches upwards to meet the traditional “heart” grille, that most famous of all Alfa Romeo symbols, and one which sets an Alfa Romeo apart from the crowd. This remains the most distinctive feature of the car that Autodelta’s designers seek to amplify, but never challenge. The new front bumper at the same time has been optimised to provide maximum delivery of air to the new supercharger oil cooler via the introduction of extra cooling slots on the bumper’s flanks. At the rear, the customary Autodelta splitter enhances the curving rump of the Brera. The subtle but distinctive looks of the Brera J5 3.2 C are finally completed by 19-inch OZ Racing Ultraleggera wheels and Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres; OZ Racing and Dunlop tyres are also development partners in the Brera J5 3.2 C project.

To commemorate the important milestone of their 20th anniversary, Autodelta will also launch a special edition model during the year, which will be limited to just 20 units. Further details of this exclusive car will be announced shortly. The late spring will see the launch of the Autodelta 159 J4, a model that will complement the Brera J5 3.2 C, and at the same time the 2.2 JTS direct-injection engine will be commercialised with forced induction technology, meaning that Autodelta will then be in a position to offer supercharging right across the new Alfa Romeo petrol model range.

This year will also see them launch high-performance options for the JTDM (1.9/2.4) engine range, allowing the many owners with turbo-diesels to experience Autodelta upgrades on their models for the first time. A great amount of time has been spent on research and development over the last year and they are very confident that they have products that will be a genuine market leader.

Autodelta are pleased to announce that its technical development partners, OZ Wheels, Dunlop, Rotrex, and Ragazzon will continue to work with them in the development of the outlined models and other on-going future projects.

Autodelta 1987 – 2007

Back in 1987, a gifted young engineer with a deep-seated passion for Italian cars - in particular Alfa Romeo - achieved his ambition to open his very own tuning business in West London. That individual was Jano Djelalian, and the inspiration for the name of his new company came from the illustrious Alfa Romeo works racing team of the sixties - Autodelta. 

Operating from small premises in Alperton, near Wembley, Jano rapidly earned a reputation for "going the extra mile", routinely maintaining and tweaking the Alfa Romeo models of the day, including Alfasud, GTV6, 33, 75, 164, Spider, and before long, the extraordinary SZ Zagato coupe. Around this time Jano began experimenting with ways and means to squeeze even more out of the existing Alfa Romeo power plants. Encouraged by a growing band of loyal and enthusiastic customers, he set about modifying pistons, valves and liners, exhaust manifolds, brakes, even boring the engines - all with phenomenal results.

Word soon spread that Jano and Autodelta were able to do things to an Alfa Romeo in terms of performance and handling that simply could not be ignored -- a fact that didn't escape the attention of the media. Writing in Italian Cars, motoring journalist Roberto Giordanelli was moved to quip "Autodelta has managed to turn the SZ from a thug into a terrorist."

Having initially concentrated on mechanical modifications, Jano next focused on the visual. Calling upon his early design training, he set about creating a variety of body kits intended to be aerodynamic as well as distinctive. Alfa Romeo drivers the world over seized upon this opportunity to personalise their cars Autodelta-style, so much so that a manufacturing division was set up dedicated to interpreting the concepts and producing these special parts, as well as a detachable hardtop for the Alfa Spider.

With all this activity, it didn't take long for Autodelta to outgrow its original location. Demand for Autodelta upgrades custom-made to Jano's exacting specifications, went far beyond the UK, necessitating the appointment of official Autodelta agents throughout Europe and the Far East. Inventory and warehousing of Autodelta products for domestic and export markets, plus the need to accommodate sophisticated equipment for research and development, and equally important, the means with which to carry out round-the-clock servicing and upgrades on site, determined that considerably larger facilities were called for.

By 1997, Autodelta's turnover had expanded at such a rate that it was necessary to transfer to its present purpose-built headquarters situated in Park Royal, within easy access to motorways M1, M4, M25 and M40, mainline railway and London Underground stations, and Heathrow Airport. They also introduced their first bespoke model, the GTV J10, which was followed by the J11 (156) and J12 (147). In 2003 Autodelta introduced their first model in a new-generation of bespoke models, the 328 bhp Autodelta 147 GTA AM, which heralded the arrival of a widening range of hand-crafted, individually-tailored models which soon spanned the Alfa 156 GTA AM, GT Coupé Super and now the Brera J5 3.2 C; while today bespoke versions of the Alfa 159, 159 Sportwagon and Spider are all in the pipeline. Last year Autodelta undertook an ambitious and significant step by opening a new styling studio in Italy, a project which will pave the way for their arrival of their full range products and models on the Italian market.

For further information on Autodelta visit www.autodelta.co.uk
 

Related articles
23.01.2007

Autodelta are now pleased to be able to introduce a new engine remap programme for the Alfa Brera, Spider and 159 3.2 V6 Q4 versions, which delivers increased power (an extra 14 bhp) and torque (32 Nm)

© 2007 Interfuture Media/Italiaspeed