It seems Jim Glickenhaus has not been hit too hard by the stock market (or possibly movie market,) as he is the first U.S. owner of Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Glickenhaus is familiar in car circles as a big collector as well as the owner of the one-of-a-kind Enzo-based Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5.
According to Veloce Today’s website, the 8C Competizione was launched last week at Miller Motorcars in Greenwich, Connecticut. There were three 8Cs lined up in their showroom, hidden under red covers with only the famous Alfa shield hinting as to what was underneath.
Although there will only be 500 of these cars in world, Glickenhaus wanted to make sure that his car is even rarer. He wanted the car in a non-factory red paint to match his unique Ferrari. Considering the amount of money and press Glickenhaus has given to the Fiat Group, it’s no surprise they were happy to oblige (likely for a fee, of course.)
We’ve admired Alfa Rome from a far. Like ex-girlfriends (or boyfriends,) the 13 years apart has made us forget how unreliable they were and how much frustration they caused. Now all may be forgiven and they have come back to us. Alfa Romeo is coming back on the U.S. market with 8C Competizione sales to begin this month. But don’t get to excited, all the U.S. allocation of 84 cars is sold out. It seems there were already a lot of people already waiting in a line that didn’t exist.
The rear-drive, carbon-fiber-laced Alfa Romeo coupe has a 450-hp, 4.6-liter V-8 engine combined with a six-speed electronically controlled manual gearbox.
The next opportunity for Alfa aficionados to grab the Italian car will be when the Spider version goes on sale in 2010. A large RWD car (both coupe and sedan version) might be available starting 2011-12. It could be built on a Jaguar platform. Also a X3 competitor will first appear in Europe in 2010 and likely a year or so later in the United States.
So if you want to own one of what will likely be only a handful of Alfas imported to the U.S., make friends with your local Maserati dealer—that’s where they’re currently being sold through.
2007 Alfa-Romeo 8C Competizione
A while ago we reported the first time about a faster GTA version of the 8C Competizione. This might be the first spy shot of the car. Is true there are no exterior changes, but according to the spy photographers this 8C made a "darker" noise than the normal 8C.
The GTA model will be a lightweight version with more power than the standard 8C Competizione. The 8C GTA may share the engine from the Ferrari California, which will possibly make it a competitor with the Lamborghini LP560-4.
At the end of June we first reported about a GTA version for the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Today AutoCar brings more diesel about the future version that will be launched in 2010, the year when the Italian company celebrates its centenary.
The 8C GTA will be limited to only 100 units. It will have a weight of almost 1450kg - that’s 150kg lighter than a standard 8C. The engine from the standard version will be boosted to 500 hp.
Alfa Romeo will launch a successor for the 8C Competizione in 2010, just in time to celebrate the company’s centenary. According to AutoCar the car could be based on the Ferrari California.
"It would be great if Ferrari let us do it," Alfa Romeo’s global marketing director Sergio Cravero said, "but they are very hard to convince." The 8C project will have broken even, financially speaking, by the time the 500 Spiders currently under construction have been delivered.
The future 8C will be a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive model built in limited numbers.
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
Just yesterday we told you about a GTA version for the newly launched Alfo Romeo MiTo. Today, in an interview with AutoTelegraff, CEO Luca de Meo said there might be a more powerful version for the 8C Competizione on the way.
According to de Meo, the model special-edition model will be a lightweight version with more power than the current 450 horsepower 8C Competizione. He said we can expect the model to carry the famous GTA badge.
Currently the 8C is offered in two different version: Competizione and Spider, both limited to only 500 units.
The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is limited to only 500 units; and from those you can imagine that only a few are made in black. This is why when you find one for sale you might call it the "chance of your life"!
AutoScout24 has a black 8C listed and is selling for €380,000 (that’s a whopping $600,837). Wait a minute! A 8c Competizione is only €160k! So why the extra €220? Because this one comes with an additional 140-hp for a total of 590 hp!
The standard 8C Competizione is powered by a mighty 4.6 litre V8 (90°) engine that delivers 450 bhp at 7000 rpm and together with a 6-speed manual rear transmission, takes the car to a top speed above 300 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100 kilometers in just 4.5 seconds.
2007 Alpha-Romeo 8C Competizione Picture Gallery
Alfa Romeo unveiled the 8C Competizione Spider at the Geneva Motor Show (March 6-16). The sports car is equipped with the new 4.7 litre 8 cylinder delivering a top power of 450bhp at 7,000rpm, with a peak torque of 480Nm at 4750rpm and a maximum engine speed of 7,500rpm.
This engine has been mated to a self-shifting 6-speed gearshift with computerised gear selection via levers behind the steering-wheel, and a self-blocking differential unit. The hooded top of the two seat vehicle is fitted with electro-hydraulic automatic control. Initially, 500 models of the 8C Competizione Spider will be produced, going to the USA, Italy, Germany and Japan.
2009 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Picture Gallery
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Alfa Romeo will unveil at the Geneva Motor Show the 2009 8C Spider, a 500 units limited edition.
The new vehicle inherits all the winning features of the Coupè version. Starting with the two “sport seats” setup and the fascinating exterior lines, which characterized by sculpted and finely designed bodywork, “dress” the automotive and mechanical excellence of the model.
The 8C Spider will be powered by a 8 cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed gearbox with 90°” and a capacity of 4691 cm3. The engine delivers 450 CV at 7.000 rpm and a maximum torque of 7.500 rpm.
The Roadster comes equipped with specially developed 20” tyres that insure excellent performance; the tyres have a: 245/35 front-suspension and a rear-suspension of 285/35.
Press release after the jump.
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2009 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Picture Gallery
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