Alfa Romeo 8C Campetizione - The Alfas Are Coming, The Alfas Are Coming

ALFA ROMEO 8C COMPETIZIONE

ALFAS ARE COMING TO THE US
By Steve Purdy
TheAutoChannel.com
Detroit Bureau

I wish this were a road test, but I must admit that I couldn’t talk my way behind the wheel of this, one of the sexiest red sports cars I’ve ever seen. It came roaring in the circle drive in front of the magnificent Meadow Brook mansion at the end of the short lead press conference for the most prestigious classic car show east of Pebble Beach. The Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance is featuring Alfa Romeo this year and in honor of that honor the Italians are announcing that Alfa is coming back to the US market.

Like a beautiful red exclamation point this classically proportioned two-seater stood before the crowd of journalists and collector car folks appearing fully sorted. The limited edition Alfa 8C Competizione represents the first of its breed to come officially to these shores in at least thirty years. Only about 500 will be built and less than 100 will come to the US, though we don’t know precisely when. At a tad more than 200-grand they’ll be a guaranteed sell-out. In fact you’d better get your deposit in soon, dear reader, or you’ll surely be outa luck.

The 8C Competizione is designed for perfect poise and balance just like many of its progenitors - front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, cabin well back in the chassis, long hood, stub-tailed. The 4.6-liter V8 pumps out 450 horsepower and red lines at 7,500-rpm. The six-speed racing gearbox (transaxle, actually) has steering wheel controls and multiple modes to adjust electronically to different driving environments and preferences. Fully independent suspension with double wishbones all around put that power to the road with aplomb. And, massive disc brakes with 4-piston red calipers peeking through the alloy wheels will make it stop instantly.

Who could argue with the conventional wisdom that the Italians have a way with style that leaves most of the rest of the world behind. Just look at the Alfa’s style. Outside the carbon-fiber body, though notoriously difficult to work with, has all the curvaceous elegance of a sexy Italian actress. While the lines and proportions insinuate the golden age of the 60s they are thoroughly modern and graceful.

Inside the elegant sporting interior is punctuated with the Alfa logo stitched into the soft, rich leather and cast into the wide aluminum brake pedal. All of the elements that go into the cockpit, that both coddle the driver and control the car, fit and work together beautifully. Hints of the 8C’s racing heritage spice up the aesthetics inside.

This Alfa is coming within the next few years, we’re assured. We’re reminded that this showing is just step one of the project but . . . Wow! That’s still big news for us sports car lovers.

When we think of all the sports cars of the past that got our auto-libido going many were Alfas; and now when we think of our next ‘cargasm,’ this may be it.