Flat-6
V6
Alfa Romeo GT Busso V6 sound
The Alfa Romeo GT 3.2 sounds smooth and metallic, with a rising howl near the top of the rev range, because it uses the 3.2-liter Busso V6, a naturally aspirated 60-degree V6 that fires evenly and loves revs. It is the same engine family Alfa used in the 147 GTA and 156 GTA, and one of the most celebrated six-cylinder sounds from a front-wheel-drive car.
What to listen for
- Start: a clean catch and a brief flare, then a quick settle.
- Idle: smooth and even, with none of a V8's lope, thanks to the 120-degree firing interval.
- Revs: the sound moves from a throaty midrange honk to a metallic howl as revs rise.
- Drive: the note keeps getting sharper all the way to each upshift, with no turbo to soften it.
Why the Busso V6 sounds like that
The Busso V6 is named after Giuseppe Busso, the Alfa Romeo engineer behind it. It first appeared in the Alfa 6 in 1979 and was built at Arese until 2006. In the GT it displaces 3.2 liters, with twin overhead cams per bank and four valves per cylinder, and makes 240 CV (237 hp).
A 60-degree V6 like the Busso fires evenly, one cylinder every 120 degrees of crankshaft rotation. That even spacing is why it sounds smooth rather than lumpy at idle, and why the note climbs into a clean, continuous wail as revs rise. The firing frequency shown above sits between that of a four and a V8 at the same rpm.
Intake honk and metallic edge
Much of what you hear from inside the car is induction noise, a throaty honk in the middle of the rev range, with the exhaust adding a harder, metallic edge as revs build. Because the engine is naturally aspirated, there is no turbo in the exhaust to dull the top end, so the sound gets sharper all the way up the tach. Light aftermarket exhausts are popular on these cars because they bring that edge forward without drowning out the intake.
How it compares with later Alfa V6 engines
When Busso production ended, Alfa moved to a 3.2-liter V6 based on a General Motors design for the 159, Brera and Spider. It made more power on paper but is widely considered less characterful, with a flatter, less musical note. That is a big part of why owners of the GT 3.2 and the GTA models treat their engines as the end of an era. The GT was never sold in the US, so for most American enthusiasts recordings are the easiest way to hear one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Alfa Romeo Busso V6?
A family of 60-degree V6 engines developed under Giuseppe Busso and built from 1979 to 2006. The 3.2-liter 24-valve version powered the GT 3.2 as well as the 147 GTA and 156 GTA.
How much power does the Alfa Romeo GT 3.2 V6 have?
It is rated at 240 CV, or 237 hp. The 147 GTA and 156 GTA use a 3.2-liter Busso as well but are rated at 250 CV.
Was the Alfa Romeo GT sold in the US?
No. Alfa Romeo left the US market in the mid-1990s and did not return until the 8C Competizione in 2008, so the GT was only sold in other markets.
