ALFA ROMEO 8C Competizione 2007-2009 Photos, engines & full specs

The right car at the right moment was not the case for the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, which was introduced at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

When the car was launched, the car-maker received over 1400 orders for it but, in 2007, when the dark clouds of the world economy crisis gathered, that list was shrunk, and since Alfa Romeo said that it will build only 500 of it. And that what it did.

Its long hood, triangular headlights with three headlamps inside, the Alfa Romeo shield in the middle of the grille extended with a bulge over the hood were some of the distinctive design cues of the car. The cabin was pushed further back and there was virtually no rear deck. For the taillights, the Alfa Romeo designers chose the round types, like the older Alfa Romeo sports cars.

Inside, the 8C Competizione featured two sport-bucket seats taken from Ferrari. They were built from carbon-fiber and covered with leather. The high center console hosted the buttons for the gearbox functions and driving modes, parking-brake switch, and the start-button. The instrument cluster featured two big dials and an LCD between them. In the back, there was a shelf for luggage. The trunk was almost non-existent.

The 8C was powered by a modified engine taken from the Maserati. It was mated to a 7-speed, dual-clutch gearbox mounted in the back. The limited-slip differential was standard as well. The top speed was slightly slower than the one of a Ferrari. Just because when you are Alfa Romeo, you don't want to irritate your bigger brother.