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Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
4th November 2007
This is the production version of a show car Alfa unexpectedly unveiled at the 2003 Frankfurt motor show, and it looks identical in almost every way, except that its interior is better finished. The 8C Competizione is a limited-edition, £111,000 V8-powered two-seater sports coupe with a carbon fibre body and has been inspired by some of Alfa's most successful 1960s racers
It's heavily based on the Maserati Gran Turismo, and Maserati's Modena factory actually carries out final assembly of the car. The 8C's engine is an expanded version of the 4.2-litre motor used in the Maserati, but in this form it develops 450bhp, which is enough to rocket it to 62mph in 4.2sec, and on to a top speed of 182mph. The transmission is also Maserati hardware, the six-speed automated manual (Cambiocorsa in Maserati parlance) sitting as a unit with the back axle for an excellent 49:51 one-up weight distribution front-to-rear. The aim here is excellent handling, while the 8C's roadholding is enhanced by aerodynamics that generate positive downforce at speed, if not an especially slippery drag coefficient.
The Alfa's carbon fibre body is mounted on a shortened section of the Gran Turismo's floor and front-end crash structure. As a result, the wheelbase is shorter, which means its cabin houses just two seats and the boot is a slot smaller than a rucksack, because much of the space in the rear is given over to the fuel tank. However, there's a shelf behind the seats that takes some luggage, and Alfa will sell you some stylish fitted suitcases to go there. The rest of the cabin is equally lavish, the exposed weave of the dashboard's carbon fibre faced by chunks of finely brushed aluminium that give the cabin real class, as does an alloy panic handle on the centre console. The carbon bucket seats are exquisitely trimmed in leather, as are sections of the door panels, and after a while you realise that the only plastic in this cabin is used for the stalks on the steering column, the overhead lighting and little else. Most of the knobs and switches are made of aluminium, too. The whole car reeks of expense, which is just as well given a price tens of thousands north of the Audi R8, though that is not a limited edition, of course.
How does it go?
Pretty damn well, as you'd hope from a car with 450bhp, although its 1585kg kerbweight (and an engine that delivers its best efforts well past 3500rpm) means that fairly committed revving is required to shift into warp drive. But, you get the sound effects to go with it, and all the more so in Sport mode, which opens a couple of baffles in two of the four exhausts to produce a cultured, threshing beat that it's impossible not to enjoy. Not for short bursts, at least, though we suspect that long drives will see owners returning to Auto for a bit of motorway peace. Sport not only intensifies the soundtrack, but also sharpens the throttle response, allows you slightly more leeway with tail-slides (though not enough) but does not firm up the dampers, because they have one setting only. Which is good - most electronic dampers fail to deliver in our experience. Even so, the ride seemed suspiciously firm on the slip-road onto the mirror-smooth Balocco test track where we sampled this car - we suspect turbulent progress over Britain's rougher roads.
Unsurprisingly, given that it's on home turf, the Alfa goes pretty well around the track. It feels stable, chuckable, safe - with the VDC stability control on - and pretty damn brisk down the back straight. But, piling into tighter bends too enthusiastically has it running wide quite easily - trimming the throttle drags the nose back - and if you turn the VDC off, it sticks its tail sideways with a bit too much venom. Which makes this a challenging car to balance on the edge of adhesion on a track, though it's pretty satisfying up to that point. And that's despite steering that is pretty short of feel, if not precision. It's highly entertaining, this Alfa, but we suspect an Audi R8, a Jaguar XJR and the Ferrari F430 (that isn't so much more expensive) will comfortably outpoint it.
Should I give it garage space?
I'd give it living room space, so beautiful is this car, and the closer you get the better it seems, because the standard of finish is superb, from the crystal-like surface of the paint to leather that reminds you why Italy makes the world's best furniture. It also sounds magnificent, is just about practical enough for that dirty weekend away, handles fast track work with enough engagement to tempt you into an early trashing of the rear tyres and feels entirely the thoroughbred that it appears - never mind that it's a Maserati at heart. And, with only 500 being built, it will hold its value like no other new Alfa. A shame they've all been sold.
Rating
Just four stars, because the chassis isn't £111,000's worth, especially against the R8 and F430. But this is a beguiling car nonetheless, and one that's intended to signal the re-energising of Alfa. It makes a fine start.
Specification
Make and model:Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
On sale: Now
Price: £111,000 est
Engine: 4691cc normally aspirated V8 petrol
Power: 450bhp at 7000rpm
Torque: 354lb ft at 47500rpm
Performance: 4.2sec 0-62mph, 182mph top speed
Fuel economy: 17.9mpg (combined)
CO2 emissions: 377g/km
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