Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

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Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
Manufacturer Alfa Romeo
Parent company Fiat Group
Production 2007-present
Assembly Modena, Italy (Maserati)[1]
Predecessor Alfa Romeo SZ
Class Sports car
Body style(s) 2-door coupé
Layout FR layout
Engine(s) 4.7 L (286.8 cu in) V8
Transmission(s) 6-speed Sequential manual
Wheelbase 2646 mm (104.2 in)[2]
Length 4381 mm (172.5 in)[2]
Width 1894 mm (74.6 in)[2]
Height 1341 mm (52.8 in)[2]
Curb weight 1585 kg (3494 lb)[2]
Fuel capacity 88 L (23 US gal/19 imp gal)[2]
Related Maserati GranTurismo
Designer Wolfgang Egger

The Alfa Romeo Competizione is a sports car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo. It was first presented as a concept car at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show and later released for sale for the 2007 model year.

Contents

[edit] 2003 concept car

Rear view of 8C.
Rear view of 8C.
Black 8C production version.
Black 8C production version.

The 8C Competizione was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003. The lines of the twin seater are meant to echo the styling of Alfas of the 1930s and 1940s, and the "Competizione" name is a reference to the 1948 6C 2500 Competizione,[3] which competed in the 1949 and 1950 Mille Miglia race and came third both times. It was in the latter of these two races that the car was driven by Juan-Manuel Fangio and Augusto Zanardi. It won the 1950 Targa Florio. A 3.0 litre prototype was built but not produced. These 6C 2500 models were among the last vehicles with links to the pre-war cars.[4]

[edit] 2007 production version

During the Mondial de l'Automobile 2006, Alfa Romeo announced the production of a limited series of 500 units of the 8C Competizione. The production version is very similar to the concept, with the biggest difference to the exterior being the rear-hinged hood.[3] The car came in four colours: 8C Red, Competition Red, black or yellow.[5] The bodyshell is made of carbon fibre, produced by ATR Group. The carbon fibre body is fitted to a steel chassis, made by Italian company ITCA Produzione. The final assembly takes place at the Maserati factory in Modena, Italy.[6]

[edit] Powertrain

The car uses a modified Maserati platform and powertrain (Maserati Quattroporte, GranTurismo) and features a Ferrari/Maserati derived 90° cross-plane dry-sump lubricated 4.7-litre V8 assembled by Ferrari.[1] The top engine performance figures may be summarized as a maximum power of 331 kilowatts (450 PS) at 7000 rpm, a peak torque of 480 newton metres (354 lbf·ft) at 4750 rpm (80% at 2500 rpm) with an engine redline of 7500 rpm and rev limiter of 7600 rpm.[7] The V8 engine has variable timing in intake valves and compression ratio of 11.3.[8]

The six–speed transaxle gearbox has computerized gear selection by means of levers behind the steering wheel and may be used in Manual-Normal; Manual-Sport; Automatic-Normal; Automatic-Sport and Ice modes. The gearbox can shift in 175 milliseconds when using Sport mode.[9] The 8C also has a limited slip differential.

[edit] Performance

It is fitted with specially developed 20 inch tyres: 245/35 at the front and 285/35 at the rear, fitted on perforated rims in fluid moulded aluminium. The 8C brakes have been called phenomenal by Road & Track magazine, with a stopping distance of 32 metres, when travelling at an initial speed of 60mph (97km/h32 metres (105.0 ft).[7] The official top speed is announced to be 292 kilometres per hour (181 mph) but it might be higher, with estimations that it could be around 306 kilometres per hour (190 mph) according to the Road & Track magazine.[10] An Alfa Romeo engineer also stated that it is faster.[11]

Side profile of 8C
Side profile of 8C
Specifications[2]
Top speed 292 km/h (181 mph)
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) 4.2 seconds
1/4 mile (~400 m) 12.4 seconds @ 115.4 mph (186 km/h)[7]
Type V8
Displacement 4.7 L (4691 cc) (286.8 cu in)
Power 331 kW (450 PS) @ 7000 rpm
Torque 480 N·m (354 ft·lbf) @ 4750 rpm
Lateral Acceleration
(200 feet (61 m) skidpad)		 1.02 g[7]

[edit] Production numbers and markets

The 8C will be built in a limited number of 500 and Alfa Romeo have earmarked the entire production run among several important markets:[9]

The 8C will, from 2008, be marketed as Alfa Romeo's return to the American market after Alfa Romeo's withdrawal in 1995. The first 8C was delivered to an Italian customer in October 2007[9].

Country Number of cars
USA 84
Italy 84
Germany 81
Japan 69
France 39
United Kingdom 41
Switzerland 35
The Netherlands 10
Australia 3
New Zealand 1
Hong Kong 5
Others 48
Sum 500

[edit] Racing version

Production numbers of the 8c may indicate that it is a racing homologation special, with 500 slated for production.

In 2005/2006, the computer game 'Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo' developed by Black Bean Software in conjunction with Alfa Romeo Spa. included two racing versions of the car, another indication of Alfa Romeo's intention to race. Given the car's size and power class as a GT, sports-car races such as Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring are likely deployments by Squadra Corse.

In 2008, the 8c will take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours Nürburgring and Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance races.[12] It is expected that race version chassis will be made by Dallara.[13]

[edit] 8C Spider

[edit] 2005 Spider concept

At the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Alfa Romeo released the Alfa 8C Spider, a roadster version of the coupé, with different alloy wheels. The Spider concept was built by Carrozzeria Marazzi.[14] Production of the 8C Spider was confirmed by Sergio Marchionne on September 25, 2007. The Spider will most likely be built in a production run of 500 units and it will cost around €20,000 more than the coupe version.[15]

[edit] 2008 Spider production

Based on the 8C Competizione. Limited production of 500 units, built by Maserati in Modena. Priced around €180,000. The 8C Spider production version was unveiled during the Geneva Motor Show in 2008.[16]

Alfa Romeo 8 C Spider has claimed top speed of 290 kilometres per hour (180 mph) which is slighly lower than the coupe version. The brakes on the Spider are Brembo made carbon-ceramic type.[17] The Spider has a two layer electrically operated fabric made roof.

8C Spider - Geneva Motor Show 2008
8C Spider - Geneva Motor Show 2008
Close up
Close up


[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. driving.timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Fahrbericht Alfa 8C Competizione — AUTO BILD 42/2007 — 23.10.2007. autobild.de. Retrieved on 2007-11-18. (German)
  3. ^ a b Alfa 8C Competizione. evo.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
  4. ^ Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Competizione. ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
  5. ^ We Drive the Alfa 8C Competizione. windingroad.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  6. ^ 05.03.2008 ALFA 8C SPIDER PRESENTED IN GENEVA. italiaspeed.com/2008/motor_shows/geneva. Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
  7. ^ a b c d Road & Track. roadandtrack.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  8. ^ Made in Maranello: Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, Ferrari 430 Scuderia, and Maserati GranTurismo. automobilemag.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
  9. ^ a b c Anything but anonymous. magazine.windingroad.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-17.
  10. ^ Road Test: 2008 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. roadandtrack.com/article. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  11. ^ Mr.Domenico Martino (engineer>. (2008-01-21). Me in Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione ... [Motion picture]. 9FFturboS. Retrieved on 2008-01-23. "192 this is just we declare, the car is faster..."
  12. ^ Alfa Romeo: novità sui progetti sportivi (Italian). Autoblog.it (December 6, 2006).
  13. ^ Racing news. italiaspeed.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-25.
  14. ^ Alfa Romeo 8C Spider prototipo. marazzicar.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
  15. ^ Alfa Romeo 8C Spider confirmed for 2009 launch. motorauthority.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
  16. ^ 19.02.2008 PRODUCTION ALFA 8C SPIDER TO DEBUT IN GENEVA. italiaspeed.com/2008. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  17. ^ Geneva preview: Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Spider. channel4.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.

[edit] External links

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