ALFA Romeo has launched a pair of high priced limited editions of its fastest current car, with a body honed in the wind tunnel of a F1 team and tested by current grand prix star Kimi Raikkonen.

You'll pay a heady Euros 176,500 for the new Giulia GTA in its less expensive form (more than £151,000) - and there's a dearer GTAm version for Euros 181,500 (more than £155,000) - but that one comes with racing overalls, gloves and boots in addition to the Bell racing helmet and tailor-made car cover that accompanies both cars.

Production is limited to a total of 500 cars, being built in homage to one of Alfa Romeo's most famous cars, the 1965 Guilia GTA.

The Giulia GTA is derived from the current Giulia Quadrifoglio, which costs £67,995, and this special version adopts widespread use of ultralight materials together with an uprated 2.9 litre V6 bi-turbo engine, now producing 540hp compared to the standard car's 510hp, giving it a claimed best-in-class weight-to-power ratio of 187hp per litre.

With the launch mode system switched in, acceleration from zero to 62mph takes just 3.6 seconds, compared to the 3.9 seconds of the Quadrifoglio.

Widespread use has been made of components in carbon fibre and composite materials. The aerodynamics have been designed to increase downforce, using technical expertise from Formula 1, courtesy of Sauber Engineering, with a 27 year history in grand prix racing.

They also developed the side skirts; the new rear spoiler - adjustable to four positions on the GTAm; the active front splitter, which can be extended for use on the track by up to 40mm on the GTAm; the carbon fibre rear diffuser with integrated titanium Akrapovic centrally mounted exhaust system; and the 20-inch wheels with single locking nut, seen for the first time on a saloon, which are paired with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Raikkonen, from the Alfa Romeo Racing F1 team, played an active role in testing the car on the track, providing feedback on the car's aerodynamic components and handling.