Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Spider drops in at Geneva Motor Show
The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Spider
Author: Chris Barker
Published: 22 February 2008
The arrestingly beautiful Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Spider will be on display to the public for the first time at next month's Geneva Motor Show.
Only 500 examples of the convertible version of the 8C Competizione Coupe will be spun out from Maserati's plant in Modena, making them equally as thin on the ground as the hard-top Coupe which sold out long ago.
Questions regarding the engine are met with the same response. The Maserati-derived 450bhp 4.7-litre V8 is as guilty as charged for 'being seen in the vicinity of the 8C Competizione Coupe'.
The same applies to the six-speed, Formula 1-inspired 'Cambiocorsa' paddle-shift transmission which supplies such frightening power to the rear wheels.
In the performance department the needle whizzes past the 60mph mark precisely 4.2 seconds after your right foot hits the accelerator, traffic permitting. 180mph and the deployment of a parachute swiftly follow, which more than touches on bona fide super car territory.
The carbon-fibre cockpit layout 'borrows' much from the Coupe, but naturally the real difference with the Spider is reserved for the roof.
Electronically-operated from a dashboard-mounted control, the folding hood is manufactured from two layers of UK-friendly weatherproof fabric and stows neatly into the body. Furthermore, the roof material can be personally colour-coded to suit the individual Spider's hue and saturation of metalwork.
Alfa Romeo has confirmed that its order books for the Spider remain open, however production only commenced in October 2007 and isn't scheduled to meet completion for two years yet, so potential UK customers won't know what it's like to get soaked in impressive style until early 2010.
With prices yet to be announced - although rumoured to be in the region of £120,000 – quite how many will make it to British shores is anyones guess, seeing as only 41 Coupes are currently en route from Italy.
Other cars on the Alfa Romeo stand in March include the special edition of the 147 'Ducati Corse', 2008 159 saloon and Sport Wagon models, the 2008 Brera and Spyder and the Alfa GT Black Line III.
4.7-litre V8 is likely to make Spider as venomous as namesakes.
The 4.7-litre V8 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione supercar has scooped the award for Best Design of the Year.
The new Audi A3 Cabriolet is now available with Parallel Park Assist system for drop-top motorists who want to park in a hurry.
All-new Alfa Romeo Mi.To will waste no time proving it's got the 8C Competizione-style mettle to become the definitive ‘super’ Mini when it goes on sale early in 2009, priced from £10,975.
Peugeot has revealed the new 308 CC coupe-cabriolet ahead of its debut at the forthcoming Paris Motor Show in September.
Alfa Romeo will launch a limited number of special-editions 147 Ducati Corse to celebrate the italian manufacturer's victory in the 2007 MotoGP world championship.
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