2005 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Concept - Images, Specifications and Information

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In September of 2003 Alfa Romeo turned a new page with the introduction of 8C Competizione concept car during the Frankfurt Motor Show. The breathtakingly beautiful two seater coupe incorporated references to the great Alfa Romeos of the past in both the exterior design and the nomenclature. Most importantly for the Alfisti was that it came equipped with a big V8 engine that drove the rear wheels. Many believed it would be the ideal car to re-enter the lucrative North American market with.

Even though the car was received to universal acclaim, Alfa Romeo remained very quiet about the car. For obvious reasons the Italian manufacturer first concentrated on the 159 and the related Brera and Spider models. These were officially introduced early in 2005 and then Alfa Romeo turned their focus on the 8C once more. As a major surprise they revealed an open version of the popular concept car at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2005 where Alfa Romeo was the featured marque and celebrated their 90th anniversary.

Even though the 8C Spider was hard to miss for the crowd at Pebble, Alfa Romeo never released any official information about the car. So all we can do is guess that it shares its roots with the Maserati Coupe model and comes equipped with the 4.2 litre V8 engine. The next we saw of the 8C Spider Concept was at the 2006 Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza. Like all cars shown on the premises of the highly exclusive hotel, the 8C Spider proved to be a fully functioning machine, but it was still uncertain if it was just a styling exercise.

During 2006 it became increasingly more obvious that the 8C Competizione would in fact be produced. While the basic shape was carried over from the concept car, the technical specifications were modified slightly. The V8 engine was enlarged to 4.7 litre, which boosted the power from 400 to 450 bhp. The production car was launched at the Paris Auto Show some three years after the concept was first introduced. As was expected, it did mark Alfa Romeo's re-entry into the American market with the cars being distributed through the Maserati dealers.

Alfa Romeo had not forgotten about the Spider and showed it on several occasions after the 8C Competizione made its Paris debut. Early in 2008 they announced the production version of the 8C Spider to be released at the Geneva Motor Show. It was conveniently timed to enter production right after the last of the 500 8C Competiziones rolled off the line. Like its fixed head sister, the 8C Spider will be built in a limited number of 500 cars and will be powered by the Ferrari built V8 engine. This leaves just one question; why did Alfa Romeo never officially release 8C Spider Concept?