News August 29 2006

Alfa 8C available for test drive in Australia from September (not really)

We were pretty excited to read this press release from Alfa – until we got to the bit about the Xbox… Here’s what they told us -

The Alfa Romeo 8C, the stunning concept car produced by the Italian car maker as its proposal for a super car, will be available for 1600 kilometre Test Drives in Australia from this September.

Powered by a supercharged 4.3 litre V8 engine boasting more than 400 bhp, the Alfa Romeo 8C has a top speed in excess of 300 kmh and shatters the dash to 100 kmh in less than 4.5 seconds.

Despite the rarity of the Alfa Romeo 8C and its performance potential, Alfa Romeo Australia is expecting thousands of people across the country to Test Drive the Alfa Romeo 8C, especially as there is no time limit on the test drive and the 1600 kilometre test route may be repeated as frequently as each Test Driver wishes.

There is one requirement, though.

Each Test Driver must be in possession of an Xbox 360 or, later in the year, a PC, PS2 or PSP, along with a copy of Atari’s TEST DRIVE UNLIMITED.

The game’s designers wanted to include only the cream of the world’s automotive supercars, which could then be tailored to each driver’s specific requirements. The Alfa Romeo 8C was an obvious choice to take on the world’s best. And, because Test Drive Unlimited offers not just 1600 km of roads, 125 race challenges, 44 time challenges, 51 speed challenges and 40 club challenges, it also allows multiplayer challenges that will be enable test drivers to pitch the Alfa Romeo 8C against all its super car rivals in super-realistic conditions.

Alfa Romeo has been fully involved in creating the virtual reality Alfa Romeo 8C to ensure that it is offers a completely accurate driving and visual experience.

“Driving a supercar, especially one as rare as the Alfa Romeo 8C, used to be an almost impossible dream,” says David Stone, General Manager for Alfa Romeo in Australia. “Test Drive Unlimited may not put you behind the wheel of the actual car, but it allows you to experience the Alfa Romeo 8C while doing things that would never be allowed on the public road, not just individually, but to also line it up against it supercar rivals and judge it in every category, from looks to performance. Best of all, you’ll never have to worry about the price of petrol, no matter how many laps of the 1600 km track you complete!”

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The Alfa Romeo 8C

New icon for Alfa Romeo

Designed and developed at the Alfa Romeo Style Centre, the 8c Competizione is a new icon for Alfa Romeo, evoking the great sports car tradition of which the name is part. In the Thirties and Forties, the '8c' signature identified the racing and road cars that were equipped with the new eight cylinder engine developed by the famous engineer Vittorio Jano. The term 'Competizione' is a tribute to the 6C 2500 Competizione, the sports coupé driven by Fangio and Zanardi in the famous Mille Miglia race in 1950.

Therefore, '8c Competizione' is not an invented name, but a clear reference to Alfa's racing history. And of course the Alfa Romeo legend was created to a great extent by the victories its cars achieved on race courses all around the world. There were so many of them that alone they represent a long, fascinating chapter, made of men and competitive spirit, engines and cutting edge technical ideas.

The Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione is a generously proportioned carbon fibre two seater, as indicated by its measurements: 1900 mm wide, 4278 mm long and 1250 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2595 mm. The body is given extra dynamism by the horizontal furrow cut into the side above the front wheelarch.

In addition to this, the large tyres (245/40 - R20 at the front and 275/35 - R20 at the rear) and the powerful, muscular rear wings accentuate the strong, forceful personality. This does not detract in any way from the elegance of the lines that run smoothly from front to back, to the light clusters set into the integral bumpers. A stylistic balance that has its maximum expression in the daring design of the rear window that covers the rear and partially envelops the rear pillars.

The front elements have been repositioned as they were on the most important Alfa racing cars of the past - the side grilles and the shield are aligned at the same height - a decision of historical and evolutionary significance. But a rapid glance will reveal that the styling of the whole exterior is full of classical references, an ideal opportunity for a modern interpretation of traditional Alfa stylistic cues. For example, the front end recalls the former 33 Coupé Stradale, while the rear sports the characteristic round light clusters of the Giulia TZ.

It is difficult to be indifferent to the '8c Competizione' concept car, because it is the pure expression of Alfa Romeo's concept of the car. And with this new model, Alfa's stylistic language takes a further step forward. Compared to another concept car, the 'Nuvola', which also featured the shapes and surface treatment of the new Alfa Romeo aesthetics, the styling approach of the Alfa 8c Competizione enhances the brand's DNA with a modern hi-tech interpretation of the most famous designs in Alfa Romeo history.

Nor can it be forgotten that the Alfa Romeo sports cars of the past and the present all share a particular feature: the ability to thrill even the most experienced drivers when they take the wheel. And the Alfa 8c Competizione is no exception. Suffice it to say that under the bonnet lurks a supercharged 4.2 litre V8 (90°). This powerful unit delivers over 400 bhp at 7000 rpm and together with a 6-speed manual rear transmission, takes the prototype to a top speed above 300 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100 kilometres in just 4.5 seconds. This engine commands not only absolute performance and outstanding peaks of power and torque (over 45 kgm at 4500 rpm), but also smooth, effortless delivery even at low speeds. The result is a car capable of exciting performance that is perfectly at home on everyday roads and not only on the racetrack.

The 8c Competizione combines this brilliant performance with extraordinary roadholding and the handling of a true thoroughbred. This is achieved via dual wishbone suspension at front and rear, which ensures extremely enjoyable handling, combining the control expected of front-wheel drive with an exceptionally sporty drive and pinpoint response, which are particularly important on mixed roads. Alfa Romeo chose rear-wheel drive for the 8c Competizione to support the exuberant engine and to deliver truly unbeatable emotional experience behind the wheel.

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Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione

Technical specifications

Engine

1. position: front, longitudinal
   no. of cylinders: 8 in 90° V
   timing gear: two overhead camshafts per row
   no. of valves: 4 per cylinder
   turbocharging: volumetric compressor
   capacity: 4244 (92 bore x 79.8 stroke)
   max. power output: over 400 bhp at 7000 rpm
   peak torque: over 45 kgm at 4500 rpm
   

Transmission

1. gearbox: mechanical 6-speed
   position: rear axle
   drive: rear wheel

Chassis

1. front suspension: dual wishbone
   rear suspension: dual wishbone
   front brakes: floating ventilated disc 380x34 mm
   rear brakes: fixed ventilated disc 330x28 mm
   front tyres: 245/40 R 20" x 8.5"
   rear tyres: 275/35 R20" x 10"

Dimensions – Weight

1. wheelbase: 2595 mm
   front track: 1610 mm
   rear track: 1580 mm
   length: 4278 mm
   width: 1900 mm
   height: 1250 mm
   weight empty: approx. 1500 kg
   fuel tank capacity: 90 litres

Performance

1. top speed: over 300 km/h
   0-100 kmh: 4.5 seconds

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