09.09.2004 The exciting Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione concept will take centre stage when it arrives at next month's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney

The exciting Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione concept will take centre stage when it arrives at next month's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.

The 8c will join a top line-up from Alfa Romeo which emphasises the growing importance of the Australian market in the marque's future plans.

The highly regarded new GT Coupe will also receive its Australian premiere in Sydney, while the 156, 156 Sportwagon and 166, along with several classics, will complete a strong line-up from the sporty Italian brand.

"The Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione is clear statement of intent for all future Alfa Romeos," says Kevin Wall, General Manager for Alfa Romeo in Australia.

"It leaves no doubt what so ever that Alfa Romeo's commitment to style, performance and ability is as strong as it has ever been, indeed, it is growing stronger with every new model, just look at the beauty of the Alfa GT and the eye-watering performance of the 147 GTA for clear evidence."

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.

Under the bonnet lurks a supercharged 4.2 litre V8 (90°). This powerful unit delivers over 400bhp at 7000rpm and together with a 6-speed manual rear transmission, takes the prototype to a top speed above 300km/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 45kgm at 4500rpm), 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 road-holding 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.