First shots of the production version of the Alfa Romeo 8C Competitzione that will herald the Italian automaker's return to the U.S. marketplace. This is one of the most gorgeous cars in the world, and we in the U.S. will be able to buy one for over $100K.
This is taken from a translated webpage :
Two-seater is cupé done on Maserati base, with front central motor and back traction. The design is of Alpha Romeo; the production and the main mechanical elements, of Maserati.
The body is work of the Stile Center Alpha Romeo; the design is very similar to the one of the prototype that showed to Alpha Romeo in 2003. This prototype measures 4,278 mm in length, 1,900 of wide and 1,250 of stop; the dimensions of the series car will not be very different (except for the height).
Most remarkable of this body, by the information that has given to Alpha Romeo until now, it is that it has a coefficient of aerodynamic elevation (Cz) negative. Alpha Romeo does not need if that coefficient is negative in both axes but, in any case, is difficult that a car without prominent ailerons has it. 8C has a discreet aileron integrated under paragolpes front (image).
The body is of carbon fiber and is mounted on steel chassis. There are also carbon fiber structures in elements like the seats.
It has some more common details does decades that now, as the chromed frame of the windows or the pair of round pilots, although in this case is combined with a fog light and one of reverse gear disguised in the inferior part of the car (image). The main pilots have lights of diodes, instead of light bulbs.
As antecedent of design, Alpha Romeo mentions to cupés like TZ or the 33 Giulia Coupé Stradale.
The motor is 8 cylinders in V of 90° of Maserati origin, with a piston displacement of 4,691 cm ³ (the present motors of Maserati have 4,244). Its maximum power is 450 CV to 7,000 rpm; its specific power, therefore is rather high (95.9 CV/l). Its maximum pair is 470 Nm to 4,750 rpm; it is a normal value for the motor of a sport one of this piston displacement (the average pressure arrives at 12.6 bar). The maximum regime is 7,500 rpm.
It is an aluminum motor with butts with double camshaft moved by chain and four valves by cylinder. It has variation of continuous phase in the camshafts of admission.
The clutch is bidisc and the change is next to the back axis (a disposition that some call “transaxle”, commentary).
It is an automatic change (according to our criterion, it is it any change which it can change without intervention of the conductor, more information) of six speeds. It has the structure and the operation of one manual, but with automatism for the clutch and the movement of the change.
The conductor can manually select the marches by means of handles that are behind the steering wheel. He has five programs of operation: Manual-Normal, Manual-Sport, Automatic-Normal, Automatic-Sport and “Hoist” (to start on a sliding surface). The differential has a mechanical device to limit the sliding.
The suspension is similar to the one of a present Maserati, with deformable parallelograms in both axes that have the elements of union and the aluminum bushings (image of the suspension in a Maserati). The brakes are ventilated and perforated discs; in the back part of discs they are the clamps, that are of aluminum.
The measurement of the wheels is 245/35 20” in front axis and 285/35 20” in the buttock; the back rims have more pumping than the advantages. Between the active security systems that it has, it is a stability control (VDC for Alpha Romeo).
Alpha Romeo used the abbreviations “8C” during years 30 and 40 to designate to the cars that had the motor of eight cylinders, build of the engineer Vittorio Jano (image). The term “Competizione” is a reference to “6C 2500 Competizione” with which Juan Manuel Fangio participated in the Thousand Miles of 1950.
Last cupé of Alpha conceived Romeo to take a V8 motor was Montreal, although later there was some version of Alfetta GTV with V8 motor. Last cupé of Alpha Romeo with back traction was the SZ.
Source : Translated version of http://www.km77.com/marcas/alfa/2007/8c/gama/t01.asp
Paris Preview: Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione hits the web - Autoblog
Gallery :
km77.com. Imágenes. Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. (11-09-2006) 
Leaked shots of production Alfa Romeo 8C Competitzione
alfa looks like its lost its soul
toooo confusing.....
