Alfa Romeo wants 2nd-gen 8C based on Ferrari California by 2010
Click for hi-res gallery of the Alfa 8C Competizione
When Alfa Romeo announced it was actually building the 8C Competizione, we had but to applaud. The automaker slashed its own marketing budget to finance the car's manufacturing, justifying that the halo supercar would do more for the brand's image than any television ad ever could. (Then they did it again with the Spider version.) Right they were, and we wish more automakers would think that way. The latest reports indicate that Alfa Romeo is following its own example, so while CEO Luca de Meo campaigns within the Fiat hierarchy for an even more hard-core version to wear the vaunted GTA badge, some of his subordinates are thinking a step ahead towards the 8C's successor.
The current 8C is based on an aging Maserati platform – not unlike the resuscitating Aston Martin DB7 that was based on old Jaguar underpinnings. However, strategists within Alfa Romeo want to see its successor based on the new Ferrari California, trading in the input of one sister company for another. While they realize it will be an uphill battle – one which could come down to Fiat chairman and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemelo's decision – to get Ferrari to agree to the proposal, Alfa Romeo is reportedly keen to get the project off the ground and get the second-generation sportscar ready within the next two years to celebrate Alfa's centennial in 2010.
Gallery: 2009 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
Gallery: Alfa Romeo 8C Spider
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Flea 1:36PM (7/01/2008)
yes! do it! that 430-derived chassis is one of the best to have ever been developed in Italy, not to mention itll allow Alfa to actually sell a lot more 8C's...
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Allan 1:44PM (7/01/2008)
And they're having trouble selling them now??
geo.stewart 2:10PM (7/01/2008)
I just drool every time I see that car.
heart palpitations, synapses stop firing, drool hangs, uhhhh
Yago Bal 2:26PM (7/01/2008)
430 derived?
HotRodzNKustoms 6:24PM (7/01/2008)
@Allan: Sold out
martin 1:37PM (7/01/2008)
that would end up being better than the california i imagine.. even if it just looked like the 8c does now
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Quattroporte 1:43PM (7/01/2008)
It'll be the best looking Ferrari this millenium.
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Yar 1:50PM (7/01/2008)
More power!
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Jason 1:53PM (7/01/2008)
Such a beautiful car....
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DCragtop 1:55PM (7/01/2008)
Hey Alfa: I got a platform for ya; my house! I lahuuuuv this car.
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pmiddle5 2:02PM (7/01/2008)
I love how Ferrari is ran by the same man who runs their f1 program.
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JR 2:02PM (7/01/2008)
As someone who has wanted a Ferrari for 25 years, (thank you Thomas Magnum), I don't see them allowing the Alfa to use the Ferrari platform to make a car that would be 10X better than the California...and the 8C Spider is a much better looking car.
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Flea 2:06PM (7/01/2008)
Montezemolo is kinda a patriotic man from an industrial point of view...if he thinks Alfa can benefit from the chassis without Ferrari itself losing profits from it, he'll probably do it.
jim 2:06PM (7/01/2008)
Badge engineering at six figure pricing!!!
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BLS 2:08PM (7/01/2008)
I don't care if that car has a chassis derived from a Buick LeSabre, beauty is skin deep.
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AkulaX1 2:32PM (7/01/2008)
This car is very good looking
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Andre 3:31PM (7/01/2008)
"The automaker slashed its own marketing budget to finance the car's manufacturing, justifying that the halo supercar would do more for the brand's image than any television ad ever could. (Then they did it again with the Spider version.) Right they were, and we wish more automakers would think that way."
yet lexus gets tons of flack for the LF-A?
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geo.stewart 4:29PM (7/01/2008)
can you HONESTLY compare the results of the 8C to the LF-A (Laf Finma Assoff)?
Zane 3:48AM (7/02/2008)
Heh heh geo.stewart.. I really was LMAO!