Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione Production Version

It’s Alive…!

Alfa Romeo’s 8c Competizione Concept heading for limited production according to the latest reports from Geneva. Plus, CEO Antonio Baravalle, confirms rumors of a rear wheel drive replacement for the 166 sedan

The stunning Italian concept Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione seems to be heading for a limited 500-unit build run, with the production-ready car scheduled to appear at the Paris Motor Show in Septembe, according to the Brit magazine 4Car which quotes comments from Alfa Romeo’s new CEO Antonio Baravalle made in Geneva last week.

Baravalle did not stop there however as he revealed that the company is thinking of replacing the unsuccessful 166 sedan (BMW 5 size) with a more upgrade 4door-coupe model based on the rear wheel drive platform of the Maserati Quattroporte. I think I speak for many that we all pray to God to see these two models come to life.

SOURCE: 4CAR

Remember the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione concept car? The V8-powered, carbonfibre-bodied, front-engined supercar everyone said Alfa should build? Now, over two years since the concept was revealed at the 2003 Frankfurt show, it really could happen.

'It is my dream to do it,' said Alfa's recently-arrived CEO, Antonio Baravalle. 'We have cut the budget for our advertising campaign and will do the 8C instead, because it is a perfect way to promote the Alfa brand. Sergio Marchionne says if the figures add up, do it.' The plan is to have a production-standard 8C ready for the Paris show at the end of September, and to take orders for a 500-car production run then.It will be a coupé, like the concept car, but another of Baravalle's 'dreams' is to make a Spider version later.

Final details of the construction are still to be worked out, but it will most likely be a carbonfibre body over a spaceframe chassis, like the concept. The engine will be based on the block used by the current Ferrari and Maserati V8s, and the end result will be 'more like Ferrari than Maserati' according to Baravalle. That means a flat-plane crankshaft and engine which screams instead of throbs. Target power is 440bhp, target price is as yet undisclosed.

Antonio Baravalle also revealed that Alfa Romeo will decide within the next month on the underpinnings for the forthcoming Alfa 149. The style has already been through customer clinics, but the engineering choice is between a modified version of the next Fiat Stilo/Lancia Delta platform or a shortened Alfa 159 base. Baravalle prefers the second option, because it would make for a 'purer' Alfa, but it depends on costs.

A replacement for the Alfa 166, to be called 169, is also under consideration. It will be a joint venture with Alfa affiliate Maserati because, says Baravalle, the Modena company 'needs a car this size'. It will have a V6 engine, mounted longitudinally to give rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. If it goes ahead, the 166 will be the first rear-wheel drive Alfa for well over a decade.

Technical specifications of the Concept

ENGINE
position	front, longitudinal
type	V8, 32V, 4.244 cc, supercharged
max. power output	over 400 bhp at 7000 rpm
peak torque	over 45 kgm at 4500 rpm
TRANSMISSION
gearbox	mechanical 6-speed, position rear axle
CHASSIS
front / rear suspension	dual wishbone
brakes	front 380x34, rear 330x28mm
tyres	front 245/40 R 20, rear 275/35 R20
DIMENSIONS - WEIGHT
Length X width X height X wheelbase	4278 X 1900 X 1250 X 2595 mm
Track Front X Rear	1610 X 1580 mm
weight empty	approx. 1500 kg
fuel tank capacity	90 litres
PERFORMANCE
top speed	over 300 km/h
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph)	4.5 sec

Technorati Tags: Alfa+Romeo, 8c, Competizione, production+version, autos, auto+news,