At the 40th Tokyo Motor Show which opens to the public today Alfa Romeo is taking centre stage with its sporty range which is demonstrating the newly launched Unique Alfa customisation programme.

At the 40th Tokyo Motor Show which opens to the public today Alfa Romeo is taking centre stage with its sporty range which is demonstrating the newly launched Unique Alfa customisation programme.

Topping of the collection is the Alfa Centro Stile-designed Alfa 8C Competizione sports car, which is receiving its Japanese debut in production format at the show, after first being seen as a concept in Japan during the last edition of the show two years ago. Japanese deliveries of the 4.7litre V8 sports car are due to begin imminently.

The Alfa 147, 159, 159 Sportwagon, Brera, GT Coupé and Spider are all on show in Tokyo, each one individually 'customised' through the 'Unique Alfa' programme, which was officially launched at the 62nd Frankfurt Motor Show last month. Joining them is a white-finished example of the limited edition (1,000 units) Alfa 147 C'N'C 21 which was created by leading fashion design Ennio Capasa, and which was also shown for the first time in Frankfurt.

Alfa Romeo operates through 50 dealerships in Japan and has always found a core of buyers in this country who ascribe to the brand's inherent Italian values. Currently it operates through 50 dealers spread across Japan, and this market almost exclusively demands petrol engines and Selespeed or Q-Tronic transmissions. The Alfa 8C Competizione was, in particular, a huge draw with the media at yesterday's opening press day. The bi-annual show runs until 11th November.