09.03.2004 ALFA ROMEO'S 8C COMPETIZIONE CONCEPT THROWS OPEN ITS NEW INTERIOR AT THE GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

Alfa Romeo's stunning sportscar concept, the 8c Competizione, first seen last September in Frankfurt, has now become one of the stars of the 74th Geneva Salon. And as the 4.2-litre V8 powered sportscar gears up for a limited production run, the Swiss show has finally seen it reveal a stylish and driver orientated interior.

The product of a dedicated team at Centro Style under design boss Wolfgang Egger, they have come up with a sportscar interior every bit as good as the exciting curves of the concept's exterior. It is clear that a great deal of thought has gone into the cockpit and it could easily grace any Ferrari or Porsche. In fact its simple, functional and driver orientated layout puts the overly fussy interiors of many six-figure sportscars to shame.

Senior Designer Juan Manuel Diaz is clearly delighted with the team's result. "This is the first job together for the interior design team and we are very satisfied with the outcome. We started with no preconceptions, the focus of the cabin rotates around the driver's requirements and everything has a purpose. Keeping to this theme the passenger's area is clean and simple.

The fibre-backed sports seats, with their unobtrusive Alfa Romeo logos partially picked out in a darker colour, hug the driver, the leather steering wheel feels firm to hold, while on the two round instruments, deeply sleeved as is the present fashion, the needles start offset, in true racing car style. The thick column switches, the three chunky round heater knobs which feel firm to the touch when rotated and a row of uniquely-styled simple switches below them all add to the efficient impression gained from sitting behind the wheel.

The interior is cleverly designed, its functional 'sporty' aura enhanced by the widespread use of composite materials. So to is the use of aluminium. The door's concentrically curved alloy handles are profiled for effective thumb and hand grip, the lower centre console is alloy and incorporates a passenger's knee support, and as with everything in the 8c it is designed for maximise use, and so, this knee support doubles to additionally provide the passenger with a hand grip.

Even the most insignificant of features look stylish, the ribbed cigarette lighter insert rises in a swirl of carbon-fibre ahead of the gearlever while the hazard light switch cheekily cuts into the consoles thick aluminium bezel. In a car that unashamedly aims to be a Porsche beater, the radio looks uncomfortably out of place and is tucked out of the way at the foot of the centre console. Looking ill at ease, its adds to the overall sporty impression. As if it had never crossed the designers mind that a driver would want to listen to a cd when there is a 4.2-litre V8 engine screaming away under the bonnet.

Alfa Romeo's traditions have been carefully worked into the design and enhanced. The robust-appearing alloy pedals, along with the '8c Competizione' emblazoned sill covers, driver and passenger foot rest plates and large driver's floor plate ( no carpets here ) are all cut-out with parallel slots reminiscent of famous design themes. Designer Juan Manuel Diaz again, "These are functional parts which aim to provoke thoughts of Alfa Romeo history, including the famous Ville d'Este, while not at any point detracting from their simple integral part the overall design". And so they do.

One of the most interesting features is the interior door opening mechanism. Keeping firmly to the simple and functional theme, it is operated by pulling a wire running through a scooped out section of the door panel. The wire's eye-catching red colour standing out against the swage dark internal colours. The door panels, which make optimum use of composite materials, also incorporate unobtrusive storage areas.