Following in the footsteps of the 1965 Giulia Sprint GTA, it's a model designed to blur the lines between a no-compromise race car and a comfort-oriented road machine. Alfa has cut no corners: the new vehicle is the most extreme to leave the factory gates.
The 8C coupé's svelte lines can still be clearly seen, giving the car real grace and elegance. However, design cues such as the aggressive bonnet vents and ice-white 'mouth' not only make this model stand out from the pack, but give a nod to the firm's illustrious racing history, too.
The body panels are carbon fibre, as is the bodykit, which comprises chunky side sills, a road-scraping chin spoilerand race-style rear diffuser. A stripped-out cabin with bucket seats and the bare minimum of kit, as well as more carbon fibre trim wherever possible, will help slash the kerbweight.
 |
With the GTA's lightweight construction and an extra dose of horsepower, acceleration should be phenomenal. A 0-100km/h time in less than four seconds seems feasible, plus a top speed approaching 321km/h.
A lower and significantly stiffer suspension set-up will help to keep the 8C flat in corners and in contact with the tarmac more of the time. Carbon ceramic brake discs will be offered as an option, for fade-free stopping even on the track.
The original Giulia Sprint GTA was conceived as a race car, and the 8C GTA could be the model to take the legendary Alfa badge back into competition. With the Maserati GranTurismo racing in the GT4 class and the Ferrari F430 enjoying success in GT3 and GT2, there's potentially space for Alfa to compete for honours in GT1.
Only 500 8C coupés and 500 8C spiders are planned to be built, but next to the 8C GTA they will seem commonplace.
