Just 500 Alfa 8C Competizione sportscars are now being built for customers around the world and just one of these is set to head for Latin America, into the hands of an Argentinean customer.

Just 500 units of the stunning Alfa 8C Competizione sportscar are now being hand built for customers around the world with just one of these is set to head for Latin America, and into the hands of an Argentinean customer.

First shown as an Alfa Romeo Centro Stile-developed prototype (the design team was led by the now departed Wolfgang Egger) in the halls of the Frankfurt IAA in 2003, the gorgeous Alfa 8C Competizione blended dollops of modern, muscular aggression with familiar retro cues that draw from the brand's long and glorious history. Likewise its name evolved famous monikers of the past. A true Alfa Romeo in every sense of the word it was seemingly destined to remain as no more than a mouth watering show car.

However in 2006 former Alfa Romeo CEO Antonio Baravalle unexpectedly gave the 4.7-litre V8, six-speed manual gearbox sportscar the green light for production. Just 500 would be built at the Maserati factory in Modena and it was rumoured that the limited production run was three times over subscribed. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is one of the best known names to reserve one of the cars. This limited production run meant that its numbers would be limited, with the bulk of Alfa 8C Competizione models going to European customers in markets including Italy, Germany, France, England, Spain, Belgium and Holland.

A few though will make it around the world. A number have been reserved for customers in the United States where the glamorous sportscar is set to lead out the brand's full relaunch next year, while a handful are destined for customers in Japan. However one single example is about to head off to Latin America, and specifically to Argentina, where an as yet undisclosed customer will take delivery of the two-seat sportscar which develops power of 450 PS and peak torque of 480 Nm. Buenos Aires based Gruppo Modena is the official importer for Alfa Romeo in Argentina through its Modena Alfa SA division, a country where the brand is still present although the numbers sold are presently very small.

by Claudio Perlini