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Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione Production Version

It’s Alive…!

Alfa Romeo’s 8c Competizione Concept heading for limited production according to the latest reports from Geneva. Plus, CEO Antonio Baravalle, confirms rumors of a rear wheel drive replacement for the 166 sedan

The stunning Italian concept Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione seems to be heading for a limited 500-unit build run, with the production-ready car scheduled to appear at the Paris Motor Show in Septembe, according to the Brit magazine 4Car which quotes comments from Alfa Romeo’s new CEO Antonio Baravalle made in Geneva last week.

Baravalle did not stop there however as he revealed that the company is thinking of replacing the unsuccessful 166 sedan (BMW 5 size) with a more upgrade 4door-coupe model based on the rear wheel drive platform of the Maserati Quattroporte. I think I speak for many that we all pray to God to see these two models come to life.

SOURCE: 4CAR

Remember the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione concept car? The V8-powered, carbonfibre-bodied, front-engined supercar everyone said Alfa should build? Now, over two years since the concept was revealed at the 2003 Frankfurt show, it really could happen.

'It is my dream to do it,' said Alfa's recently-arrived CEO, Antonio Baravalle. 'We have cut the budget for our advertising campaign and will do the 8C instead, because it is a perfect way to promote the Alfa brand. Sergio Marchionne says if the figures add up, do it.' The plan is to have a production-standard 8C ready for the Paris show at the end of September, and to take orders for a 500-car production run then.It will be a coupé, like the concept car, but another of Baravalle's 'dreams' is to make a Spider version later.

Final details of the construction are still to be worked out, but it will most likely be a carbonfibre body over a spaceframe chassis, like the concept. The engine will be based on the block used by the current Ferrari and Maserati V8s, and the end result will be 'more like Ferrari than Maserati' according to Baravalle. That means a flat-plane crankshaft and engine which screams instead of throbs. Target power is 440bhp, target price is as yet undisclosed.

Antonio Baravalle also revealed that Alfa Romeo will decide within the next month on the underpinnings for the forthcoming Alfa 149. The style has already been through customer clinics, but the engineering choice is between a modified version of the next Fiat Stilo/Lancia Delta platform or a shortened Alfa 159 base. Baravalle prefers the second option, because it would make for a 'purer' Alfa, but it depends on costs.

A replacement for the Alfa 166, to be called 169, is also under consideration. It will be a joint venture with Alfa affiliate Maserati because, says Baravalle, the Modena company 'needs a car this size'. It will have a V6 engine, mounted longitudinally to give rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. If it goes ahead, the 166 will be the first rear-wheel drive Alfa for well over a decade.

Technical specifications of the Concept

ENGINE

position

front, longitudinal

type

V8, 32V, 4.244 cc, supercharged

max. power output

over 400 bhp at 7000 rpm

peak torque

over 45 kgm at 4500 rpm

TRANSMISSION

gearbox

mechanical 6-speed, position rear axle

CHASSIS

front / rear suspension

dual wishbone

brakes

front 380x34, rear 330x28mm

tyres

front 245/40 R 20, rear 275/35 R20

DIMENSIONS - WEIGHT

Length X width X height X wheelbase

4278 X 1900 X 1250 X 2595 mm

Track Front X Rear

1610 X 1580 mm

weight empty

approx. 1500 kg

fuel tank capacity

90 litres

PERFORMANCE

top speed

over 300 km/h

0-100 km/h (0-62 mph)

4.5 sec

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BMW Z4M Coupe Racing Kit

No, don’t be afraid, Bangle did not attempt to design the Batmobile 2007, as this is BMW’s new racing car for customer motor racing. The Racing Version of the BMW Z4 M Coupe, is the first two-seater BMW Motorsport offers for customer teams. The new motorsport coupe can be used by private BMW customer teams in the German Endurance Championship and in the Nürburgring 24Hour Race. The power unit of the coupe is a BMW Motorsport designed 3.2-litre in-line 6-cylinder engine delivering about 400bhp, with the suspension area in particular benefiting from the knowledge gained from the successful BMW M3 GTR project.

With its varied component ranges, BMW Motorsport and BMW Racing Parts Distribution offer customer teams a new technology platform for use in many miscellaneous international racing and club sport series, with the Nordschleife enthusiasts not being the only interested party, as the brawny coupe also represents the perfect car for use in the Belgian Belcar series and other, non-European, endurance series.

The kit can be ordered from May 2006 at BMW Motorsport and will be available for an estimated € 250,000 (plus VAT).

Technical Data BMW Z4 M Coupé Motorsport Version

Length x Width x Wheelbase

4415 mm x 1880 mm x2493 mm

Overhang:

Front 865 mm/ Rear 774mm

Rear Wing Width:

1504 mm

Ground Clearance:

Front 80 mm/ Rear 90 mm

Tyres:

Michelin 27/65-18, 28/71-18

Front Brake:

Grey cast iron disc dia. 380 mm / 6 pot

Rear Brake:

Grey cast iron disc dia. 320 mm / 4 pot

Drive Line:

sequential 6-speed gearbox,

Engine

3246 cc, six cylinder in line

Comp/on Ratio:

12,5:1

Max. Power:

approx. 400 PS at 8200 rpm

Max. Torque:

approx. 400 Nm at approx. 5750 rpm

Max. RPM:

8400 rpm

Intake System:

Six single throttle valves, Carbon fibre Air box with resonance induction optimised inlet pipes

Exhaust System:

Multiple pipe manifold with silencer and catalytic converter

Fuel System:

Inlet-Pipe Injection, one Injector per Cylinder, 5 bar injection pressure

Fuel Tank :

120 litres

Weight:

1200 kg in Nürburgring Specification

Steering-wheel:

multiple function Steering-wheel with Quick-Release mechanism and display control

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