Filed under: Sports/GTs, Maserati, Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Returns! 8C Competizione in America in 2008
Click on the Alfa Romeo 8C for a high res gallery from the announcement
After being absent from the US market since 1995, Alfa Romeo is finally coming back to America one year from now and they are returning with a bang! The opening salvo from Alfa will be the 8C Competizione, which has been appearing in Europe for several years now. Alfa is only building a grand total of 500 8Cs for the entire world with less than 100 of those coming here, and they will be the last of the series.
As part of the preview for this weekend's Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance, Maserati North America boss Jim Selwa unveiled the 8C for the first time in North America in final production form. Befitting such a low volume car, it will command a commensurately high volume price. In Selwa's words, it will be "somewhere north of $200,000." The carbon fiber bodied Alfa has a 4.7L V-8 with 450 hp passing through a six-speed paddle-shifted transaxle. Needless to say, there is no wrong wheel drive silliness here.
Under the glass rear hatch resides some custom fitted leather luggage, including a special briefcase in it's own slot at the back. The 8C will be offered through a limited number of Maserati dealers with the highest rated outlets getting priority. After the 8Cs are all gone, the Alfa renaissance will continue with more mainstream models coming over in 2009. According to Maserati NA PR manager Jeff Ehoodin, the models that will be available will be announced at a later date. For those with a taste for Italian style, the 8C is a wonderful way to start.
[Source: Maserati North America]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
felipe 4:32PM (7/31/2007)
this would be wicked cool if i actually stood a chance at ever owning much less seeing one, safe to assume we'll see other alfa's... can't think of that one in black i used to like
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DCragTop 4:34PM (7/31/2007)
It's no Aston Martin DB9, but I sure wouldn't kick it out of my driveway! GURRRR!
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Don 5:19PM (7/31/2007)
THAT makes the Aston look staid in comparison.
zach 4:34PM (7/31/2007)
pretty sure that's the most beautiful modern car i've ever seen.
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wenge 12:26PM (8/01/2007)
I completely agree. May not be the fastest but dear god it's gorgeous!
AR 5:05PM (7/31/2007)
Beautiful? Maybe... In a kinky interior design kinda way: furniture and such.
Modern? Gimme a break. Those "organic" Taurus looks were "modern" in 1996. Unless of course it's a tribute to something even older. Sorry, cars cannot be "old", they are "timeless" and "classic".
Well, anyway, "modern" is how most cars will look 5-10 years from now. Think Renault or Volvo, not Maserati or Alfa.
zach 5:23PM (7/31/2007)
AR -
First, by modern I mean modern-era... as in, not 60's ferrari beautiful.
Second, thanks for putting in the extra effort to come across like a complete jerk in your response. It's greatly appreciated. Please go back to trolling some other website.
sk 5:27PM (7/31/2007)
old and Taurus looks, what planet are you on?
This car is in an instant classic. It will be good looking decade after decade.
srivendel 4:49PM (7/31/2007)
That's great news! Alfa: please bring the Fiat 500 Abarth over here too. It would be an instant cult classic, and would no doubt steal some of Mini's thunder.
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Mr. Oak 5:10PM (7/31/2007)
Don't know if you're old enough to know the last batch cars FIAT (Fix It Again Tony) brought here. Miserable failures. Not every car you see over in Europe is capable of withstanding long-term American motoring.
Even BMW, Mercedes and Audi have models that are not fit for American consumption. In the 80s BMW was forced to discontinue the 318i E30 bodystyle.
srivendel 5:29PM (7/31/2007)
No, but I am old enough to remember the Cimarron. Does that mean I shouldn't buy a Cadillac today?
jg 5:54PM (7/31/2007)
'Even BMW, Mercedes and Audi have models that are not fit for American consumption. In the 80s BMW was forced to discontinue the 318i E30 bodystyle'
BMW was not forced to stop building the E30.
You must be thinking of the short lived disaster that was the E36 318Ti hatchback.
Mr. Oak 10:49AM (8/01/2007)
JT: the E30 325i was still sold here, the 318i was discontinued. This was about two years before the 318Ti. The engine in the 318ti was not the same as that originally came with the E30 318i. They pulled 318i off the market because it proved to be unreliable, and was considered a blackeye to the corporation.
Dausman 4:58PM (7/31/2007)
One of the most stunningly gorgeous automobiles being built today....but $ 200K+ is also stunning .......good for those 500 can truely afford a"toy" like this.
Certainly makes a Corvette seem so much more affordable.
Like many others, it will remain in my dream garage.
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broosewee 5:00PM (7/31/2007)
I want to make love to it.
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Carlos 5:11PM (7/31/2007)
I'd buy a 147gta if they brought those over too. WWD and all.
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MCS05 5:19PM (7/31/2007)
i am going over to Meadow Brook right now to see if it is still outside.
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robz4 5:27PM (7/31/2007)
What a beautiful machine ! I always wonder why the Germans or the Japanese manufactures can engineer amazing performance cars but can not create a car with so much soul and beauty as the Italians.This is truly a piece of art.
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Ligor 8:43AM (8/01/2007)
ditto
If I had the cash i'd be odreding one now, even if it means me paying up over $300-400k
this will surely be an investment as it's guaranteed to become an instant classic
MikeMidd 5:39PM (7/31/2007)
If Alfa has any brains, they will begin the process of bringing over the 159 IMMEDIATELY. A unique entry in the world of 3-Series and G35s, priced right, I think it would move. Alfa just has to convince Americans that it can build a reliable car. The same goes for the Spider, which also needs to return to the US.
The Alfa return only works if its comes around a full product line. Sure, a supercar is exciting. But long-term, who cars about 500 units.
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