Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Euro, Paris Motor Show
Paris Preview: Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione hits the web
The production version of the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione makes its debut in a couple of weeks at the Paris auto show, but thanks to Spanish site km77.com, photos and details are out on the web for all to see.The car is driven by a Maserati-sourced aluminum 4.7L V8 making 450 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of twist. A six-speed gearbox with paddle shifters channels power to the rear wheels and can also be operated in full automatic mode. Like the engine, the car's suspension is also a refugee from Maserati.
How does it look? Well, pretty much just like the concept, which is a great thing as far as we're concerned. This is the sexiest machine to come out of Italy in years. Comparisons to the TZ coupes of the 1960s are completely understandable, and the 8C Competizione has "instant classic" written all over it. You couldn't have scripted a more triumphant return to the US market for Alfa Romeo than with this car, a showstopper in every way.
Thanks to Drew at fast-autos.net for the tip!
(More photos after the jump)
[Source: km77.com (translated)]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
ron 10:03PM (9/11/2006)
Oh, my!!!!!!
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o_fizzle 10:17PM (9/11/2006)
I've been saying this since the concept came out: This is one of the most beautiful cars ever made. How do you say "I'll sell my soul for this" in Italian?
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Art 10:30PM (9/11/2006)
instant classic
on
the
DOT
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Terry Boss 10:34PM (9/11/2006)
Mama mia
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gkz 10:40PM (9/11/2006)
stunning, gorgeous, breathtaking, and a lot of other words i'm too lazy to look up in thesaurus.
anyone know the designer?
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DJ 10:41PM (9/11/2006)
#2. I've been saying this since the concept came out: This is one of the most beautiful cars ever made. How do you say "I'll sell my soul for this" in Italian?
You'd better put your 'soul' up for bid on eBay now in order to raise the $200,000 it's gonna take to buy this baby when it hits the US in two years.....
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backtoreality 10:45PM (9/11/2006)
How much? Probably too much for an average Joe.
If only a small handful of CEO's can afford it, who cares?
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That One Person 10:46PM (9/11/2006)
Gorgeous car. But unfortunately it gets those stupid ass paddle shifters...
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DJ 11:02PM (9/11/2006)
This is from AutoWeek a week ago:
8c Competizione: Alfa Romeo is banking that the $200,000-plus super car will pave the way for the 2010 or 2011 introduction of three volume models.
The first Alfa Romeo slated for U.S. sales will be the limited-edition 8c Competizione, a coupe developed on a shortened version of the platform used for the Maserati Coupe. The 8c Competizione coupe is to be unveiled at the Paris show in September; European sales start in late 2007 with U.S. sales the next year.
The 8c Spider convertible will debut at the 2007 Frankfurt show and go on sale in summer 2008; U.S. sales begin in 2009.
Power for both cars will come from a 400-hp-plus Maserati 4.2-liter V-8. Production will be limited to 500 units of each model, with the United States targeted for half of production.
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DPC car videos 11:20PM (9/11/2006)
What a beautiful car, I could easily see this cars shape being the new Ferrari Dino.
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steve 11:41PM (9/11/2006)
500 cars? why not 5000 @ 150 k a pop
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captsnuffy 12:16AM (9/12/2006)
It looks great, but I think there's some room to fix up the hood and the front end. The way it looks now, the front doesn't really match the back.
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Richard Owen 12:20AM (9/12/2006)
I like everything about it, except the Maserati-sourced steel frame.
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MUSASHI66 12:29AM (9/12/2006)
Great looking car, but why buy it for $200000 when you can have 2 maserati coupes for the same money? Maserati engine, maserati frame, I just do not get it. Alfa is not supposed to be competition to maserati and ferrari and such ( at least not these days). I am still more excited about Brera in the USA..
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Seto 12:34AM (9/12/2006)
i think i am going to get pummeled here... but i prefer the modern lines of brera over retro looking cars like this one.
it's not ugly... it's my personal preference.
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Jay 1:25AM (9/12/2006)
#12 - I actually find this to be more modern to my eyes than the Brera. I wonder whether styling cues from this will make their way into mainstream offerings by alfa? A 4 door coupe (think smaller Benz CLS) with similar styling would be perfect - and I think - just what the market wants.
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UH2L 1:43AM (9/12/2006)
I'm usually into modern designs and not retro, but this is an amazing blend and absolutely stunning. I would buy one as a third car if I have the budget to do so when it comes out regardless of which company I work for. Wow!
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Mike from Scarborough 2:10AM (9/12/2006)
La bela moto..........
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DGTLLVR 2:11AM (9/12/2006)
Like the frontal, adore the side view, rear view is horrid. It's like the ran out of ideas and couldn't make the whole thing work. Is it an optical illusion or does it seem like the body rounds in towards the center with the tail light surrounds? It's like the lights point directly backwards but the recesses for the lights arch inward of the centerline.
I have to agree on the whole parts bin design. Hasn't anyone learned from GM? Putting a generic new body on the same platform 500 times doesn't make people enthusiastic. Especially in the specialty markets. At the price we're being told... a Mosler 500 would walk all over this vehicle and have far more character for about 1/4 the price, while still being as exclusive. Why bother?
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yo 3:22AM (9/12/2006)
For cripes sake #20, turn off caps lock already!! Groan.
The 8C is pretty much the definition of "sex on wheels". Wow, a true stunner. There would be no problem selling it twice the price of a Maserati Coupe.
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