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2010 Castagna Coupe Targa based on Alfa Romeo 8C
 
After the Pininfarina, Bertone, and Zagato, Castagna is the fourth tuning house that has announced a special edition Alfa Romeo for the company’s 100th anniversary. In fact, Castagna will unveil two different models for this event with ore details on them being revealed at the Paris Auto Show. The first Alfa Romeo model signed by Castagna was unveiled in 1910: a 24 HP Torpedo. The cooperation continued from 1910 to 1954, and then again in 1994 with the unveiling of a special one-off basis Alfa Romeo that marks the return of activity in the field of custom-built models. The first model set to be unveiled at the Paris Auto Show is based on the Alfa Romeo 8C. It will be called the Targa Coupe and is a modern reinterpretation of the 1913 Minivan Ricotti developed on a special floor with rear-wheel drive. Full details will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show, as we mentioned earlier, but we are sure we will receive some details here and there before then. We’ll let you know as soon as we get further details. 2010 Alfa Romeo 8C GTA
Is Alfa Romeo preparing a new 8C Competizione? Well, if recent viewings of prototypes caught testing have any say in it (which they always do) then we would have to say, “Yes!” It also helps that we have been hearing about this version for a few years now so production pretty much seems to be set in stone at this point. The new Competizione will be called the Alfa Romeo 8C GTA (Gran Turismo Allegerito) and is said to be a more exotic version of the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. . It is also said to be modeled after the classic 1965 Giulia Sprint GTA. Pictures of the new Alfa Romeo 8C GTA have already been floating around the web, but here are some nice renderings of the new beast that will surely tickle some fancies. Full story after the jump. Full story Alfa Romeo prepares 8C Competizione GTA
The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is a great car, no doubt about that. After all, if you think about it, there is not a single tuner in the world that dared to change even a little bit of it. Plainly said, it was perfect just as it was. Now, the only people that wish to change it are the ones entitled to do so. Recent spy shots reveal that Alfa Romeo is about to unveil a GTA (Gran Turismo Allegerito) version for the 8C just in time to celebrate their centennial anniversary! The Italian company has decided to make it even better by adding 50HP and dropping 150 kilograms of weight. Under the hood there will be the same 4.7 liter V8 engine, but recalibrated to deliver a total of 500 HP. The gearbox will also receive minor changes. Next to the engine upgrades, the 8C GTA will feature many carbon fiber elements that will help the weight reduction. The new Alfa Romeo 8C GTA will be unveiled sometime this year and will be limited to only 100 units. Alfa Romeo may have plans to add the GTA logo to the back of the MiTo as well. Stay tuned for more details on the future of both of these vehicles! Alfa 8C Competizione by Autodelta
The British tuning house Autodelta is preparing to unveil the world’s first modified Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione at the upcoming PistonHeads Performance Car Show next month in the U.K. As fantastic as the 8C looks on paper, and even in real life, Alfa’s latest super car was praised for its poised bodywork by Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson before being admonished for its behavior on track. According to the blokes at the shop, the special 8C is "Not available as part of our upgrade options, this specific car has been reworked by our engineers to allow them to begin our future development phase of the new 4.7 V8 engine, and included intensive testing on leading European race tracks where the Alfa 8C Competizione was born to stretch its agile legs." Although Autodelta is remaining a bit tight lipped, all we know is that the boffins will work their magic on the Alfa in the form of a few chassis and suspension upgrades and thanks to a reprogrammed ECU, the screaming Italian eight cylinder will deliver an extra 17 HP. Special edition Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione spotted in Ukraine
Ukraine is hardly one of the places people travel to in search of exotic cars. But that doesn’t mean that these rare beasts can’t be found there either.  Our friends from the Eastern European nation were kind enough to send us shots of an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione out on the road. We know that only 500 of these cars have been made and our giddy Ukranian friends were humble enough to mention that one such model in their homeland is more than just one of the 500. This particaluar car comes with a “Qudrifoglio” emblem, which means that the car comes with special edition tunings that only 20 other 8C Competizione’s can boast of. Short of saying, this particular car is a limited edition of a special edition. These ultra-rare Alfa’s come with a completely different interior furnish, wheel disks that are said to be 40% lighter than those that come in the traditional models, and, last but not least, two unmistakable quadrifoliate clover badges in the car. I guess we’re going to have to recant what we said. Super duper exotics do exist in Ukraine. Photos courtesy of Topgir Ukraine. Alfa Romeo 8C GTA rendering
 The Italian automaker, Alfa Romeo is hard at work preparing a factory tuned GTA version for their hottest model at the moment, the carbon fiber constructed 8C. The new car is set to debut sometime next year and will take its inspiration from the classic 1965 Giulia Sprint GTA. The exterior of this particular Alfa Romeo 8C GTA rendering shows how the Italian automakers could go with a touring car style front bumper that incorporates very large air intakes with a very low and a wide front splitter made from what looks like carbon fiber, this setup allows the engine to breathe while keeping the front end planted at high speed. This automotive designer also incorporated a set of larger vents in the front fenders located directly behind the front wheels to continue the functional racing theme started with the nose. However we doubt that when it goes into production that Alfa would choose to slather their logo across the hood like that. The car will tip the scales at 1,450 kg that is about 150 kg less than the standard 8C Competizione and make use of tuned variant of the high revving 4.7 Liter V8, with this much displacement, the output of the Italian engine will go up to around 500 HP. The additional grunt means that the 8C GTA will be able to make a 0 to 60 MPH sprint in less than 4 seconds, while the top speed will be raised to 200 MPH. Alfa Romeo is planning to build only 100 units of this particular high performance model, each wearing a price tag of £200,000. That’s about $282,000 here in America, and it’s really not that much when you consider that you a buying a high performance variant of an already outstanding automobile.
Alfa Romeo 8C GTA rendered
The Italian automaker, Alfa Romeo is hard at work preparing a factory tuned GTA version for their hottest model at the moment, the carbon fiber constructed 8C. The new car is set to debut sometime next year and will take its inspiration from the classic 1965 Giulia Sprint GTA. The exterior of the Alfa Romeo 8C GTA will feature few race inspired cutouts in the hood like an old Ferrari race car. Up front the nose with be covered in ice-white which makes a beautiful contrast with the rest of the red bodywork as well as a few of the carbon fiber bits, like the front splitter and side skirts. The car will tip the scales at 1,450 kg that is about 150 kg less than the standard 8C Competizione. Under the vented bonnet, Alfa Romeo will make use of a tuned variant of the high revving 4.7 Liter V8, with this much displacement, the output of the Italian engine will go up to around 500 HP. The additional grunt means that the 8C GTA will be able to make a 0 to 60 MPH sprint in less than 4 seconds, while the top speed will be raised to 200 MPH. Alfa Romeo is planning to build only 100 units of this particular high performance model, each wearing a price tag of £200,000. That’s about $282,000 here in America, and it’s really not that much when you consider that you a buying a high performance variant of an already outstanding automobile. Alfa Romeo will debut the 8C GTA in 2011
The Italian automaker Alfa Romeo has already blessed the earth with 500 examples of the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, when the supply dried up and hopeful owners begged to be able to drive this machine that is the epitome of form and function with a little wind in their hair, Alfa offered up 500 more Spider versions of the 450 HP super car. So now all that is left is for the biscinoe badged automaker is to come up with a factory tuned 8C, and they are planning on producing 100 of them. Only the most powerful of Alfa’s vehicles are fortunate enough to wear the GTA badge, and despite the fact that the 8C GTA version is scheduled to make its official debut will be made sometime in 2011, Alfa’s engineers have started to hit the books early. Even though the 8C is made from a light weight carbon fiber monocoque, the GTA version will be about 300 pounds lighter and will feature a few improved aerodynamic pieces. Not only will the Alfa Romeo 8C GTA model will be a lightweight machine, but it will have even more power than the standard Competizione. Alfa hasn’t released any official words just yet, but thanks to the FIAT family, the GTA Alfa could end up being powered by the same high revving V8 found under the hood of the all new drop top Ferrari California, think somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 HP. Either way, the question we are asking Alfa at the moment, is whether the $300,000 Spider will also undergo the GTA treatment.
Video: Alfa Romeo 8C Spyder test drive
AutoCar recently got behind the wheel of the new Alfa Romeo 8C Spider and had all the fun in the world! The 8C Spider is powered by a 8 cylinder engine derived from the same unit that powers the Ferrari F-430, this time mated to a 5 speed gearbox. The 90°V8 displaces 4.7 Liters and delivers 450 HP and can run through the standing quarter mile in just 12.4 seconds. Just to remind you, the car can be yours for only $300k.
Alfa Romeo 8C Spider goes on sale for $300,000
$300,000 is a lot of money to splurge on one item. Then again, if that ‘one item’ in particular is an Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, then it might be the best $300 grand purchase you’ll ever make.  Don’t get us wrong. We are by no means advocating anyone to spend their entire life savings on one vehicle. We’re just saying that if you had that kind of money to waste, then an 8C Spider wouldn’t necessarily be a bad tab to put on your credit card. The 8C Spider – the convertible version of the 8C Competizione – is as expensive as it is rare with only 500 vehicles set to be produced, including only 35 set to hit US soil. Owning one would not only give you instant credibility, but you’ll also be noted as one of the lucky few to purchase Alfa Romeo’s most expensive production car in its 99-year history. The problem is, with the limited supply, you’ll probably face stringent competition for these bad boys and Maserati North America - which, incidentally is the exclusive dealer for these cars - will know that with the escalating demand for these limited cars, you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll have to shell out more than $300 K for the 8C Spider. | featured reviews: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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