Totem Automobili's Electric GT: the most beautiful electric car
I was in Italy visiting a small castle town when I first saw an Alfa Guila, classic and beautiful, parked on the side of the road. I fell in love instantly. But it turns out my heart has been stolen by something even more special. Totem Automobili's Electric GT - a gorgeous electric restomod of an Alfa GT Junior.
What is it like to drive the Alfa Electric GT?
Fast. 0-100 in 2.9 seconds. Equivalent to 590 horsepower. This classic electric car really knows how to move. How often do you think you need to go to 0-100 in less than 3 seconds? Excessive perhaps, but a nice bit of sporty showmanship given it’s a sportscar with a racing history.
The range is around 390km, which for those in Melbourne, would get you to the Great Ocean Road and back without needing to charge, thanks to the 81kwh battery pack and extremely light weight carbon fibre body.
The design - a 1973 Alfa Guilia Junior restomod
Widening the body turns this Alfa Guilia Junior into a stunning contemporary classic electric restomod, or as Totem Automobili describe it, '“a handcrafted jewel”. Being a restomod, in other words, a restored and modified classic car, it has morphed significantly but it is a handcrafted jewel. It really is absolutely gorgeous.
Having previously worked on Alfa Romeo’s interior design team, the founder of Totem Automobili, Riccardo Quaggio, clearly has design talent. It’s an extravagant and special electric classic car and I want one.
Quaggio says it’s a car designed like a dress (or a tailored Italian suit for those unfamiliar with wearing dresses). The interior can be customised to your size - the size of your hand, your feet, your body. The prototype fits to his body, which means he gets to keep it. Lucky devil.
Front seats are new carbon fibre and leather and offer safety and comfort. There are two different styles two choose from, one looks a bit too skeletal for my liking. The rear seats are gone to make way for a sporty more spacious feeling.
Beautiful Italian leather is everywhere, even lining the underside of the boot lid and the the bonnet. Plus there’s a lovely leather travel bag and leather tool kit. Not a selling point for vegans, but perhaps vegan leather could be requested.
The Electric GT has simulated sound with subwoofers, speakers and tweeters scattered all over the place. The placement is very subtle with a couple of subwoofers by the rear lights that really give a satisfying rumble. I've come around to the idea of simulated sound. I think it has merit and makes it a richer experience.
Where are the batteries? Well hidden! The batteries are under the front seats and under where the rear seats used to be. The motor is mid-rear axle. It’s unlike a lot of electric classic cars where a big box of batteries is clearly visible. It’s more like a Tesla in terms of battery mystery, making it more subtle and expensive.
Digital dials retain a classic design on the dash. Keeping the aesthetic retro is a particularly nice touch and important to classic car lovers. The accelerator pedal is very stylish and the gearstick is another design standout being very elegant. Being a fan of Tivoli Audio I appreciate the retro looking radio with digital display, it’s all very much in keeping with what you might expect from a hyper extravagant restomod.
Modern features in an electric classic
The restomod electric conversion process gives the opportunity to add an anti-theft system, electric windows, keyless ignition and air conditioning. If I was paying US$500k I’d want all of this.
The most concerning part is they released a petrol version. I kid you not. This calls into question Totem Automobili’s green credentials.
Thinking back to my Italian rendezvous with Alfa Guila it’s not surprising that I fell in love with the Totem Automobili GT Electric. If I had US$500k, I would absolutely want one. If Singer Vehicles started doing Porsche electric conversions then that would be a real contender.