Tokyo-The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced that Alfa Romeo has authorized an 18-inch version of the A.V.S. Sport tire as an option for the Alfa 147GTA from November this year. The front and rear tire sizes are 235/35ZR18 90Y. The Alfa 147GTA is the automakerユs first 18-inch model.

Yokohama Rubber developed and globally released the flagship A.V.S. Sport to optimize performance in street cars. Since February 2001, the tire has won accolades as original equipment on such renowned sports cars as the Porsche Boxster and Boxster S and the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish and DB7 Vantage. In March 2002, a four-door KLEEMANN E55K sedan fitted with the A.V.S. Sport reached 338 km/h to enter the Guinness Book of World Records.

The Alfa 147GTA is based on Alfa Romeo's premium sporty compact, the Alfa 147, and was developed to provide racing car performance. It features a 3.2-litre V6 DOHC 24-valve engine generating up to 250 horsepower. The Alfa 147GTA can reach 246 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds.