16.09.2004 The exciting star of some the biggest international motor shows over the last year, including Frankfurt, Tokyo and Geneva, is set to take centre stage next week in Paris

The exciting star of some the biggest international motor shows over the last year, including Frankfurt last year, where it made its debut, Tokyo and Geneva, is set to star next week in Paris.

The '8c Competizione' concept car, designed and produced by the Alfa Romeo Style Centre, stands as an icon of the brand, its very name evocative of Alfa's great motorsports tradition.

This is borne out by the code '8c' used to identify cars (racing and on-road) of the Thirties and Forties equipped with the revolutionary eight-cylinder engine produced by the famous designer Vittorio Jano.

The second term 'Competizione' is intended as a homage to the 6C 2500 Competizione, a sports coupé driven in 1950 by the team of Fangio - Zanardi in the famous Mille Miglia race.

So '8c Competizione' is not an invented name, but a clear reference to Alfa's racing history. The Alfa Romeo legend was in any case born out of victories won on circuits throughout the world.

Alfa's many successes make a long and fascinating story on their own, a story of men and their competitive passion, engines and cutting-edge engineering.

The protagonists of the inestimable human and technological heritage that is responsible for today's beautiful cars, full of character and, above all, capable of combining the beauty of the styling with the pleasure of driving them.

Let us admire then the captivating, original lines of this prevalently carbon fibre 2-seater, with its aggressive proportions: 1900 mm wide, 4278 mm long and 1250 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2595 mm. The body is given extra dynamism by the horizontal furrow cut into the side above the front wheelarch.

In addition to this, the large tyres (245/40 - R20 at the front and 275/35 - R20 at the rear) and the powerful, muscular rear wings accentuate the impression the model gives of a strong, forceful personality.

This does not detract in any way from the elegance of the lines that run smoothly from front to back, to the light clusters set into the front bumper. A stylistic balance that has its maximum expression in the daring design of the rear window and the whole rear mudguard.

The front elements have been repositioned as they were on the most important Alfa racing cars of the past: the 'whiskers' and shield are aligned at the same height - a decision of historical and evolutionary significance.

But a rapid glance will reveal that the styling of the whole exterior is full of classical references, an ideal opportunity for a modern interpretation of traditional Alfa styling cues. A quick glance tells you everything.

For example, the front end recalls the former 33 Coupé Stradale. While the rear sports the characteristic round light clusters of the Giulia TZ.

It is difficult to be indifferent to the '8c Competizione' concept car, because it is the pure expression of Alfa Romeo's concept of the car. And with this new model, Alfa's stylistic language takes a further step forward.

Compared to another concept car, the 'Nuvola', which also featured the shapes and surface treatment of the new Alfa Romeo aesthetics, the styling approach of the Alfa 8c Competizione enhances the brand's DNA with a modern hi-tech interpretation of the most famous designs in Alfa Romeo history.

Nor can we forget that the Alfa Romeo sports cars of past and present all share a particular feature: the ability to thrill even the most experienced drivers when they take the wheel. And the Alfa 8c Competizione is no exception.

Suffice it to say that under the bonnet lurks a 4.2 litre V8 (90°) unit combined with a 6-speed manual rear transmission, that takes the prototype to a top speed above 300 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100 kilometres in just 4.5 seconds.

This engine commands not only absolute performance and outstanding peaks of power and torque, but also smooth, effortless delivery even at low speeds.

The result is a car capable of exciting performance, that is perfectly at home on everyday roads and not only on the racetrack.

The 8c Competizione combines this brilliant performance with extraordinary roadholding and the handling of a true thoroughbred.

The merit goes to the dual wishbone suspension at front and rear, which ensures extremely enjoyable handling, combining the driving control you would expect of rear-wheel drive with an exceptionally sporty drive and pinpoint response, which are particularly important on mixed routes.

We must underline that Alfa Romeo chose rear-wheel drive on the 8c Competizione to support the exuberant engine and to deliver truly unbeatable emotions.