First Drive Review
Alfa Romeo doesn't resonate on many Americans' lust radar, largely because the Italian manufacturer has not sold cars here for more than a decade. That's changing next summer, though, when Alfa Romeo reenters the U.S. market with the $250,000 8C Competizione, with more models promised to follow in 2009.
There is no mistaking that the 8C is an Alfa, as the diagonal hood creases and triangular grille, two key Alfa design elements, give it away. It's an absolutely striking car to stand beside, and photos do not do it justice. The Alfa's carbon-fiber body is mated to a much shorter version of the Maserati GranTurismo platform. The 8C's wheelbase is some 11.7 inches shorter than the GranTurismo's, and the Alfa is 19.7 inches shorter overall.
The Heart of a Ferrari
The 8C's engine is derived from a Ferrari block that dates back to the one found in the 360 Modena, which is the same block design used in the Maserati GranTurismo and Maserati Quattroporte. In 8C form, the 7500-rpm twin-cam V-8 is good for 444 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, owing to a bump in displacement by a half-liter to 4.7. All the power gets to the ground via a rear-mounted six-speed automated manual transmission coupled to a limited-slip differential.
Engineers were given the task of designing a chassis that was easy enough to be driven every day—not that an 8C will ever be asked to do so—and firm enough to perform well on a track. Although the control arms are borrowed from Maserati, the shocks, the springs, and the anti-roll bars are unique to the 8C and have no adjustments.
While on a bumpy, ride-evaluation road at the proving ground, the 8C's passive suspension absorbed the bumps better than we expected. One might think the mélange of a carbon body and steel chassis would produce a head-jarring ride, but the chassis tune was more reminiscent of the well-rounded Corvette's than that of the track-oriented Viper. To our surprise, the engineers on hand were asking how the 8C compared with the two American bruisers. We do not think there will be any cross-shopping.
