Highlight of the
opening day of the 77th Paris Mondial de l'Automobile was
the unveiling of the production-ready Alfa 8c Competizione.
Before a packed audience the stunning sports car, created in
the finest traditions of the brand, was introduced by the
Alfa Romeo CEO Antonio Baravalle, and its order book was
formally opened.
Baravalle kicked off the highly anticipated Alfa Romeo press
conference on Thursday with reference to the extension of
availability of the Selespeed and Q-Tronic transmission
systems across the range. He also mentioned the new Q2
differential which will initially be available in the Alfa
147, saying that it was devised through their experience
with four wheel drive systems and that it will "improve both
safety and driving pleasure". He also believes that with its
new options packs - being shown in Paris for the first time
- the Alfa GT Coupé is a model that can now appeal to a
wider customer base.
However the
packed audience had only come to see one thing: the official
launch of the Alfa 8c Competizione, a new sports car the
sees Alfa Romeo return to its roots. "Let's talk about the
star of our stand, the Alfa 8c Competizione," said Baravalle.
"It is the finest and purest expression of our brand
values." He referred to its illustrious predecessors, from
which it drew styling inspiration and he emphasised the
technical contribution made to the project by the Fiat Group
as a whole. Reeling off its impressive statistics Baravalle
enthused: "It has a top speed of over 290 km/h and 0 to 100
time of in less that 4.2 seconds. It will be limited to 500
cars - and very importantly it will be introduced to the
United States." Later on Baravalle clarified that it will be
sold directly to US customers as the sports car will be
venturing across the Atlantic prior to the brand's official
re-launch there.
"This car
represents a new start for Alfa Romeo, its not just an
exercise in corporate image," added Baravalle, who sees the
Alfa 8c Competizione not only as a global standard bearer
for the brand but also a package and direction that can be
built on. He also pointed out that the car's order book
would open immediately after the unveiling.
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Before a packed audience the stunning sports car,
created in the finest traditions of the brand, was
introduced by the Alfa Romeo CEO Antonio Baravalle,
and its order book was formally opened. |
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Highlight of the opening day of the 77th Paris
Mondial de l'Automobile was the unveiling of the
production-ready Alfa 8c Competizione. |
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Taking of the
future he said the brand will need "products with the Alfa
Romeo badge on, that combine versatility and impact." And in
a clear message that the much-rumoured smaller Grande
Punto-based project is on the cards he added, "natural
evolution will see Alfa Romeo enter a new segment, with a
product especially created for the younger buyer."
With that the Alfa 8c Competizione was introduced. Baravalle
firstly invited Wolfgang Egger & the car's Centro Stile
design team up to accept the plaudits. Then from where the
car was positioned in a glass cage behind the raised dais,
an enveloping curtain dropped and was chased backwards
before the glass doors slid apart, revealing the stunning
new sports car. The 8c Competizione partly rotated as the
audience clapped and then quickly rushed forward to view it.
Of note was that
the curving bonnet now conventionally hinges at the rear and
it opens along the lines of the traditional Alfa bonnet
creases; previously the model's prototypes had an entire
front bodywork section that swung forward. The interior has
also been reworked, including handsome new sports seats,
building a very stylish production finish into the cleverly
thought out driver-orientated cockpit. The single showcar in
Paris is finished with a stunning read leather interior, one
of four optional interior trims that will be made available,
the others being beige, black and titanium. The darkened
backdrop behind the Alfa 8c Competizione included glass
cases with mementos of its predecessor and large guides to
the sports car which featured carbon-fibre covers.
by Edd Ellison in Paris
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