Alfa Romeo 8C ready for production?

Italiaspeed reported Wednesday that Alfa Romeo's 8C Competizione concept is being readied for production. The concept car (shown above) debuted in Frankfurt in 2003, and rumors of its possible production have run rampant ever since, and the latest tantalizing hint of 8C activity at Alfa Romeo is this new video. (Autoblog readers will recall that Alfa Romeo prepared a similar pre-launch video for the Alfa Brera.)

Italiaspeed reports that the production version of the 8C Competizione will debut at the Paris Motor Show later this year, and production will begin in 2007. The production 8C is said to be powered by Maserati's new 4.7-liter engine, rather than the supercharged 4.2-liter unit in the concept car. The new engine is expected to produce between 460 and 500 hp, good for 0-62 mph in about 4.5 seconds.

The new Alfa will be positioned opposite Ferrari's F430 coupe, avoiding competition with  Maserati's less-expensive models.

More information on the evolution of the 8C Competizione is available from Alfa Romeo here.

Thanks for the tip, Noah!