Maserati wants the 8C to reintroduce America to Alfa Romeo
There are only 500 examples of the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione planned, and 70 have already been scooped up in Japan. Don't worry, though-- Maserati wants America to get a taste of at least a few of them.
The $200,000, carbon-fiber-bodied 8C with its 4.7L, 450+ hp V8 might have trouble with America's emissions and safety laws, so "sometime in 2008" was as specific as Jim Selwa, head of Maserati NA, would get on an arrival date. Incredibly, the article mentioned that ensuring the car is "right for the market could involve details as subtle as cupholders." It will probably be much more important to figure out how to convince Americans weaned on Milanos and staggeringly-beautiful-but-perpetually-broken GTVs and Spyders that slotting an Alfa into the same price bracket as Aston Martin isn't an elaborate Italian jest.
[Source: The Car Connection via eGM CarTech]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
UnderCover Soul Brother 12:43PM (4/12/2007)
So that is what we're known for? Cup holders... I'm holding my head down in shame.
Beautiful car. Can't wait to see one on the road.
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RJ 12:52PM (4/12/2007)
Guys, guys, guys... accuracy!! Alfa spells it SpIder, Ferrari uses SpYder.
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Brad 12:58PM (4/12/2007)
Jesus, that car is flippin' beautiful!
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F451 12:59PM (4/12/2007)
A stunningly beautiful automobile for the privileged few...please leave the one pictured above in the driveway of my residence. Thanks.
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DaveC 1:02PM (4/12/2007)
It will probably be much more important to figure out how to convince Americans weaned on Milanos and staggeringly-beautiful-but-perpetually-broken GTVs and Spyders that slotting an Alfa into the same price bracket as Aston Martin isn't an elaborate Italian jest.
Most Americans have no idea what an Alfa Romeo is. Bring on the 8C, sans cupholders, America will just drool.
On a side note. One of the first Saab dealers in the USA passed away last night. We will miss you Kurt Vonnegut.
So it goes..
Dave
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chuck goolsbee 1:09PM (4/12/2007)
THAT is an object of lust.
Screw the cupholders.
--chuck
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iamhoff 1:11PM (4/12/2007)
The car is beautiful, and it will be great to see Alfa return to the US market. I have a hard time wrapping my brain around $200k for that car, tho. The last Alfas here (admittedly that isn't saying much), were the Spyder and the 164. Neither one was particularly expensive, in the relative sense, with the 164 in particular being aimed squarely at the E Class and 5 Series. The 8C just seems like it's more of a competitor to the Maserati Coupe, Jag XK, Aston Martin, et al, and should ring up somewhere in the $100k to $150k range. But what the hell do I know...I couldn't afford it at those prices either!
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Hooligan 1:20PM (4/12/2007)
Cup holders? Sounds like they have some ex-Ford management trying to help them come back to the US. And, as the owner of two '80s Spiders, I can say that once Alfa adopted Bosch injection, the two-liter twin cam engine became supremely reliable. It's a 200,000 mile engine, easily... can't say that about many other '80s cars.
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G 1:20PM (4/12/2007)
Looks nice, if only they had the engineering to back it up.
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Cypher09 1:30PM (4/12/2007)
I agree with #7 about the market for this car. An aluminum body and a 100k price tag would be a way for the 8C to re-launch Alfa in to the US not a carbon fiber uber car that you will never see on the road.
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Tal 1:32PM (4/12/2007)
Probably one of the most stunningly gorgeous cars I have ever seen pictured.
I can only add this to a number of cars in my dream stable garage. 200K is completely and totally out of my league....but....like a gorgeous woman...I can look at her and talk about her or the 8C all I want, but neither will ever be graced with my arms around her nor my hands on its wheel.
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HotRodzNKustoms 1:45PM (4/12/2007)
You'd all be suprised how big a difference cup holders make in your supercar, going out and buying those $1.20 plastic things that hang off your new supercar's glovebox is totally posh, and don't give me non of that "well you shouldn't be drinking in it" bullcrap. Some Americans actually drive their supercars to work!
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El Tiante 2:07PM (4/12/2007)
In high school I soooo wanted a Callaway GTV6, damn they were hot. The GTV6 still looks good today. It’s shame the present one is FWD.
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doglet 3:07PM (4/12/2007)
if i had the money i would pre order one now. the most beautiful car ever made.
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dwightB 2:07PM (4/12/2007)
I'll gladly be in the minority and say "Let's hope not" to them bringing this car here... or for it even existing in the first place.
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zach 2:17PM (4/12/2007)
dwightB:
Shouldn't you be reading Consumer Reports or Reader's Digest or something? I'm confused as to how you could not want something like this here and still consider yourself an enthusiast.
Anyway, it's still gorgeous, but I hope they use the wheels that were on the concept version instead of the ones in the pic accompanying this story.
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DaveC 3:19PM (4/12/2007)
Come on Doglet.. Sell the home..Sell everything. Here is the first step.
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/showthread.php?t=36770&highlight=competizione
Dave
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ruggels 3:21PM (4/12/2007)
quite possibly the most attractive modern car i've ever seen in person, I simply can't get enough of this alfa's lines.
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rgseidl 5:37PM (4/12/2007)
Note that Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari are all now just brands of Fiat SpA.
All four have reportedly made great strides in engineering and especially, in build quality over recent years. The Alfa 166 and the new 159/Brera/Spider also look gorgeous at more sensible price tags than the 8C Competizione. That said, there is still room for improvement. Reviews here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7jlEZfFx6k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7aT24hz8Cc
@ Hooligan -
most Europeans don't drink from open containers at all in their cars because there is a manual transmission to operate - the potential for spills and scalding should be obvious. Also, the suspension tends to be firmer so any unevenness in the road could lead to a spill.
By contrast, cupholders are considered a must-have for the US market where cars have AT, suspensions are softer, trips usually longer and driving styles more relaxed (at least in CA).
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rgseidl 5:38PM (4/12/2007)
More Alfa reviews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5seNcqLqPkw
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/times_online_tv/?channel=Driving&clipid=1152_timesonline0149
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgG1wF7OZn4
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