GT, GT everywhere, but what exactly is GT?

Sports Car Magazine
Japanese Car Enthusiast Magazine
2021-07-28 11:58:06

The term GT has been overused today. Any car with a slightly different design or an incongruous rear wing can call itself an "XX GT" model.

GT is the abbreviation of Gran Turismo, which comes from Italian and refers to a type of vehicle. In French, it is written as "Voiture de Grand Tourisme," in English as "Grand Touring," and in German as "Grand-Tourisme-Wagen."

In the automotive industry, the Italian spelling is the most commonly used standard (for example, Sony’s Gran Turismoracing game follows this convention).

The term Gran Turismo originated in 19th-century Europe, where aristocratic or wealthy families encouraged their children to undertake long-distance travels to broaden their horizons. These journeys, usually lasting two to three years, were called Gran Turismo (or Grand Tour in English). The vehicles used for these journeys were referred to as Grand Tourers.

After World War II, traditional carriage companies that specialized in long-distance travel declined, while new automobile manufacturers emerged in France and Italy.

Brands like Ferrari and Maserati were established, and GT cars naturally became the foundation of their national automotive culture.

The Origins of GT Cars

During the horse-drawn carriage era, different types of transportation evolved for different purposes:

• Light two-seater convertibles were designed for daily commuting.
• Carriages with luggage racks and dedicated seats for attendants were Grand Tourers—the precursors of modern GT cars.

To qualify as a GT carriage, the vehicle had to be drawn by at least two horses.

A true Grand Tourer carriage featured:

• Four horses
• Two or three attendants
• A roof-mounted luggage rack
• A comfortable cabin for the owner

This laid the foundation for what we consider a GT car today: a high-performance, luxurious vehicle suited for long-distance travel.

What Defines a GT Car?

A car must meet three basic criteria to be classified as a GT model:

1. High performance
2. Luxury
3. Suitability for long-distance driving

After World War II, GT models became further refined. Cars that had:

• Participated in racing
• Retired from racing and were modified for road use

were officially recognized as GT models. These cars inherently possessed top-tier sports car performance.

As a result, GT cars became synonymous with sports cars, and the global automotive industry universally recognizes GT models as high-performance grand tourers.

Some traditional GT characteristics include:

• Powerful engines—usually the highest output in their lineup
• Superior handling—capable of dealing with high-speed scenarios
• Luxury interiors—designed to minimize driver fatigue on long journeys
• Sufficient luggage space—a crucial element dating back to the horse-drawn carriage era

Even today, a true GT car should have a trunk spacious enough to fit one or two people—just look at any front-engine, rear-wheel-drive GT model worth millions!

The First GT Car: 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GT

The first car to use the GT suffix was the 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GT.

It featured:

• A straight-six engine
• Naturally aspirated and supercharged variants

This established the precedent that GT models should at least start with a straight-six engine.

From then on, many race cars that competed in endurance events later introduced road-going hardtop versions, which became modern GT sports cars.

Evolution of GT Naming Conventions

GTA – "Alleggerita" (Lightweight) or "Automatic"

• Alfa Romeo created the GTA designation in 1965.
• Featured lighter construction and higher performance variants.

GTB – "Berlinetta" (Hardtop Sports Car)

• First used by Ferrari on the 275 GTB (1964).
• Indicated a fixed-roof, high-performance coupe.

GTC – Multiple meanings

• Alfa Romeo – Compressor (supercharged)
• Bentley – Cabriolet (convertible)
• Ferrari – Corsa (racing)
• Opel – Compact (affordable model)

GTD – "Diesel" (Volkswagen, 2009)

• First appeared on the Golf GTD in Germany and Europe.

GTE – "Electric" (Volkswagen) or "Einspritzung" (Fuel Injection, Opel)

• Opel used "GTE" first, with the 1979 Kadett D GTE.

GTi – "Injection" (Fuel Injection)

• First used by Maserati (1961) on the 3500 GT.
• Popularized by Volkswagen with the Golf GTi.
• The correct pronunciation is "GTe" (not "GT-eye").

GTR – "Racing"

• First appeared on the 1969 Isuzu Bellett GT Type-R.
• Later adopted by Skyline GT-R, McLaren, and Mercedes-AMG.

GTS – "Spider" (Convertible Sports Car)

• First appeared on the 1971 Ferrari 246 GTS.

GTO – "Omologato" (Homologation)

• Most famous example: Ferrari 250 GTO.

GT3 and GT4 Racing

• GT3 – Launched in 2006, designed for private teams.
• GT4 – More affordable entry-level GT racing category.

The Role of GT Cars in Racing

Many GT cars were born from endurance racing, including events like:

• Le Mans 24 Hours
• Mille Miglia
• Targa Florio

To compete in these races, GT race cars were required to have a street-legal version, leading to the development of many iconic production models.

In modern racing, GT classes are divided into:

• GT500 (Super GT & DTM) – Highly modified, barely related to production models.
• LM-GTE (FIA GT2 Regulations) – Race cars based on production models.
• GT3 & GT4 – The most widely supported GT racing classes today.

Conclusion

GT is not just a classification—it represents a philosophy and tradition in automotive culture.

A true GT car is more than just specifications; it’s about heritage, engineering, and driving pleasure.

Whether it’s a classic Ferrari, a modern McLaren, or an old-school Alfa Romeo, GT cars have left a lasting impact on the automotive world.