It would seem that the most important goals for any manufacturer today are continuity and clarity. If you do cheap cars, do only them. If you do sports cars, focus only on them. If you are premium, adapt to what the people think is premium and push.

Alfa Romeo had a problem with its mission, vision, and continuity. Since the Eighties, it seems to have shifted its vision two or three times basically confusing buyers when it comes to what the brand truly represents. Now, it is eager to find its footing with what it should have done all along - sports character, upscale styling, and premium nature.

At a press conference held earlier this year Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Maserati and Alfa Romeo said: “We know our future depends on staying true to our sports car roots. We have learned that when we stay true to Alfa DNA, we can stand out in any segment.”

Thankfully, the brand seems to have found what it wants to be the best at. To communicate this noble vision to the automotive lunatics and solidify brand recognition, Alfa Romeo has to do some extraordinary things. Having the Giulia Quadrifoglio and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio was only a start. Now, the company needs to go further, and that further comes in the shape of the 8C.

Recently, the late Sergio Marchionne hinted at the new 8C only months before his death. Moreover, the plan FCA displayed in June clearly showcases a planned super sports car called the 8C, and it will appear in the next three or four years.

2022 Alfa Romeo 8C Expectations

First of all, the new Alfa Romeo 8C won't be similar to the latest limited edition model produced from 2007 to 2010. FCA already confirmed some specs about it and released a rendering of the car with the following information:

Considering that the last Alfa Romeo 8C was actually based around the Maserati GranTurismo architecture, which basically doesn’t share anything with the layout presented here, I am fairly certain we are getting a fundamentally different car.

I have a problem with the name though. See, the 8C actually means eight-cilindro for eight cylinders. With a Ferrari-built, 450-horsepower, 4.7-liter V-8, the 8C name was perfect for the car. But, according to the latest rumors, the new car will get the well-known, twin-turbo, V-6 from the Giulia and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio. I am sure it is an awesome engine, but it is not an 8-cilindro. It may be that we are witnessing a whole rebranding of the 8C name. Yet, let’s wait for the car to appear before making the final conclusion.

A Similar Maserati?

Alfa Romeo and Maserati may well develop the new 8C from the ground up. As Maserati urgently needs a replacement for the GranTurismo, and the Alfieri seems like a wonderful car to fit that bill, the upcoming 8C and the Alfieri may well be the same car. In much the same sense as the new Supra will basically be a retuned version of the BMW Z4. See, FCA isn’t crazy about putting all the R&D money into developing two different, low-production sports cars. Instead, sharing the tech between Alfa Romeo and Maserati, they will maximize the return on the investment. Heck, Alfa Romeo and Maserati already share a number of technologies and, interestingly, people. Tim Kuniskis is global chief for both brands. Considering his involvement with SRT and Dodge, he will probably greenlight and lead Maserati and Alfa Romeo super sports car development too.

Kevin Tynan, Senior Automotive Analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, commented: “The man kept Dodge in the spotlight with Scat packs, Hellcats, and Demons, so an Alfa fire-breather is right in Tim’s wheelhouse. If the SRT vehicles are any indication, I would expect Alfa to get very relevant very quickly with Tim at the helm.”

The 8C and the Alfieri from Maserati may be the halo cars both brands needed to enhance their sex appeal.

2022 Alfa Romeo 8C Performance

If Alfa Romeo really disregards what the 8C actually stands for and starts fording the path of least resistance (read, cheapest), it will probably introduce the new 8C with a V-6 engine we know so well from the Giulia Quadrifoglio. Some rumors suggest that Ferrari will tune it to a staggering 600 horsepower. All of this power will find its footing at the back. However, we live in curious times. The front axle will get electric motor assistance. As much as 200 horsepower will be linked with the front axle, thus increasing the combined power output to more than 700 horsepower. We are maybe talking about the 800 horsepower mark here, mind you. Electric motors will effectively make the new Alfa Romeo 8C an AWD super sports car. With instant torque on tap, smart transmission trickery, and that much power, Alfa Romeo’s promise of sub-3-second surges to 62 mph doesn’t feel overrated at all. The Alfieri may get the same engine setup, the same mid-engine layout, and the same monocoque carbon chassis.

Writing about these two reminds me of the Huracan and the R8. FCA is maybe trying to find a way to create something similar to what the Volkswagen Group did with the Audi R8 and the Lamborghini Huracan. Having two cars that are basically the same, with one named the Alfieri and the other 8C, FCA could finally match the exclusivity of German-Italian exclusive supercars. Having the car based on the same architecture isn’t officially confirmed, mind you. However, consider this - Alfa Romeo and Maserati have the same chief, they both need a halo car, they already share a lot of tech, both are owned by FCA, neither are basking in money, and their previous collaborative effort worked nicely. Yup, the Alfieri, and the 8C will probably be much the same car.

2022 Alfa Romeo 8C Debut Date

FCA officials reported that by 2022, Alfa Romeo plans to sell so many sports cars that it will contribute up to 5 percent of all global sales for the company. Right now, they are trying to achieve as much as possible with the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio, but the upcoming 600-horsepower Alfa Romeo GTV, and the 8C should result in a bump in sales too. In this regard, the new Alfa Romeo 8C may surface as early as 2020 or 2021. Alfa Romeo is known for its brisk development process and, as we already know a great deal about the new 8C, I am sure the car is already in the development. I can’t wait to see the test mules hitting the tracks.

Further reading

Read our full review on the previous generation 2007 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione.

Read more Alfa Romeo news.