Alfa launches 8C Competizione concept at Frankfurt

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NEWS ARCHIVE

Alfa have chosen the Frankfurt motor show to unveil their latest concept car - the 8C Competizione. Harking back to the Thirties when Alfa reigned supreme on the racetrack the 8C carries the same name as the car powered by (the then) new 8-cylinder engine developed by Vittorio Jano in 1931. 8Cs - driven by, among others, Lord Howe and Tazio Nuvolari - won the Le Mans 24 hours in 1931, dominated the Spa 24-hour races in Belgium in 1932 and 1933 and had wins at the Nurburgring, Monte-Carlo, the Targa Florio and Mille Miglia. The addition of the word Competizione is a tribute to another car - the 6C Competizione - driven by Fangio and Zanardi in the 1950 Mille Miglia.

1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2500 Le Mans

1967 Alfa Romeo 33/2 Coupe Stradale

The adoption of the historic name has influenced some of the design of the new car (or vice-versa?) - perhaps a touch of the 33 Coupe Stradale at the front - the Giulia TZ at the back?

The modern incarnation of the 8C is a carbon-fibre bodied 2-seater equipped with a 4.2 litre 90° V8 turbocharged engine (engine and rear axle design courtesy of sister company Maserati) with a volumetric compressor delivering over 400bhp (c 330kW) at 7000rpm. The chassis is understood to be a tubular design comprising aluminium and carbon-fibre as used in other high-performance cars such as the Lamborghini Murcielago and Ferrari Enzo. Combined with a 6-speed manual rear transmission the 8C will have a top speed of over 300km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds. The 8C is rear-wheel drive but dual wishbone suspension at front and rear will give front-wheel style control - the positioning of the transmission over the rear axle counterweights the front mounted engine and gives an even weight distribution contributing to better handling.

Production is scheduled for late 2005 - a projected production run of 1000 left-hand drive models only unfortunately means Australia is not destined to see the 8C for a while.

8C Competizione	Technical Specifications
ENGINE
Position	front, longitudinal
No of Cylinders	8 in 90° V
Timing Gear	2 overhead camshafts per row
No of Valves/Cylinder	4
Turbocharging	volumetric compressor
Capacity	4244cc (92 bore x 79.8 stroke)
Max Power Output	400bhp+ at 7000rpm
Peak Torque	over 45kgm at 4500rpm

TRANSMISSION
Gearbox	mechanical 6-speed
Position	rear axle
Drive	rear wheel

CHASSIS
Front Suspension	dual wishbone
Rear Suspension	dual wishbone
Front Brakes	floating ventilated disc 380x34mm
Rear Brakes	fixed ventilated disc 330x28mm
Front Tyres	245/40 R 20" x 8.5"
Rear Tyres	275/35 R 20" x 10"

DIMENSIONS-WEIGHT
Wheelbase	2595mm
Front Track	1610mm
Rear Track	1580mm
Length	4278mm
Width	1900mm
Height	1250mm
Weight Empty	c 1500Kg
Fuel Tank Capacity	90 litres

PERFORMANCE
Top Speed	300 km/h +
0-100 km/h	4.5 seconds

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