The Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione concept sportscar is destined for a 500-unit build run, with the production-ready car scheduled to appear at the Paris Motor Show in September reports respected motoring website 4Car, quoting comments attributed to Alfa Romeo CEO Antonio Baravalle made in Geneva last week.

Ever since the stunning Maserati 4.2-litre V8-engined 8c Competizione concept first appeared to widespread public and media praise at the 2003 Frankfurt IAA the saga of 'will they or won't they' build it has raged, with deposits initially being taken from customers and then returned. The 4Car report is the latest twist in this long running story.

The Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione will be built - report from 4Car

Remember the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione concept car? The V8-powered, carbonfibre-bodied, front-engined supercar everyone said Alfa should build? Now, over two years since the concept was revealed at the 2003 Frankfurt show, it really could happen writes John Simister for 4Car.

'It is my dream to do it,' said Alfa's recently-arrived CEO, Antonio Baravalle. 'We have cut the budget for our advertising campaign and will do the 8C instead, because it is a perfect way to promote the Alfa brand. Sergio Marchionne says if the figures add up, do it.' The plan is to have a production-standard 8C ready for the Paris show at the end of September, and to take orders for a 500-car production run then.It will be a coupé, like the concept car, but another of Baravalle's 'dreams' is to make a Spider version later.
 

Final details of the construction are still to be worked out, but it will most likely be a carbonfibre body over a spaceframe chassis, like the concept. The engine will be based on the block used by the current Ferrari and Maserati V8s, and the end result will be 'more like Ferrari than Maserati' according to Baravalle. That means a flat-plane crankshaft and engine which screams instead of throbs. Target power is 440bhp, target price is as yet undisclosed.

Antonio Baravalle also revealed that Alfa Romeo will decide within the next month on the underpinnings for the forthcoming Alfa 149. The style has already been through customer clinics, but the engineering choice is between a modified version of the next Fiat Stilo/Lancia Delta platform or a shortened Alfa 159 base. Baravalle prefers the second option, because it would make for a 'purer' Alfa, but it depends on costs.

A replacement for the Alfa 166, to be called 169, is also under consideration. It will be a joint venture with Alfa affiliate Maserati because, says Baravalle, the Modena company 'needs a car this size'. It will have a V6 engine, mounted longitudinally to give rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. If it goes ahead, the 166 will be the first rear-wheel drive Alfa for well over a decade.

report courtesy of: 4Car