|  |  | | Alfa 8C Competizione
The amazing Alfa 8C Competizione is the star of the Bologna stand, an exclusive GT that will be produced in a limited series. Designed by Alfa Romeo, the car is derived directly from the concept car that attracted so much attention at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, and has since been developed by the best technical and industrial experts of the Alfa-Maserati Sports Car division. The cooperation between the two makes focused in particular on integrating the design functions of Alfa Romeo with the manufacturing potential of Maserati.
Alfa 8C evokes the brand's glorious past, projecting the values of technology and emotion into the future. The past is conjured up in the name itself, which recalls Alfa's great motorsports tradition. In the Thirties and Forties, the 8C name was used to identify cars (racing and on-road) equipped with the revolutionary eight-cylinder engine produced by the famous designer Vittorio Jano. The second term 'Competizione' is intended as a tribute to the 6C 2500 Competizione, a sports coupe 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, to a legend born out of the innumerable victories won on circuits throughout the world, thanks to outstanding men and their competitive passion, engine research and cutting-edge technology, and the thrill of a challenge.
It is this link with Alfa Romeo's historical values that underlines the importance of the name 'Competizione', which is projected into the future, representing the sense of constant dynamism of a Brand that strives for excellence, increased competitiveness and technological innovation. This explains the role of the new car, which is not an end in itself but a starting point to underline Alfa Romeo's unique position in the world: the ability to combine the emotion of the styling with the entertainment of driving its cars.
Styling and aerodynamics: tradition and innovation
The captivating, original lines developed by the Alfa Romeo Styling Centre for this 2-seater makes it unique in the GT segment. Thanks to the excellent work done by the designers, the demands of aerodynamics and performance did not modify the car's original concept. In fact the styling maintains the incredibly clean lines, free from any elements that might disturb their harmony.
The solutions adopted on the Alfa 8C to achieve the highest levels of aerodynamic efficiency do not stop at the design of the lines. The air envelops the car and follows its natural route, not hindered by protruding or irregular elements. All the surfaces and profiles of the uprights and the windows, as well as the shape and position of the wing mirrors, have been optimised both by mathematical calculations and by tests in the wind tunnel and on the road. A great deal of attention has been focused on creating a 'ground' effect, which made it possible to achieve a negative drag coefficient (Cz) which helps to increase stability at high speed, as it does on racing cars.
The compact dimensions heighten the aggressive nature of the car, which was designed to guarantee maximum driving efficiency.
The surfaces have been carefully sculpted and expertly modelled, and the body is given extra dynamism by the horizontal furrow 'cut' into the side above the front wheelarch.
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