Alfa Romeo 8C Spider 2009

A drop-top version of the gorgeous 8C Competizione coupe, the Spider was seen at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California in 2005. The two-seat 8C coupe made its debut, albeit in concept form, at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2003. Early this year, Alfa Romeo announced the production version of the 8C Spider will be officially released at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. The 8C Spider, like its coupe sibling, is planned to be built in a limited number of 500 cars.

The engine powering both coupe and convertible is from another Italian thoroughbred, Maserati's Quattroporte, although it's been enlarged to 4.7 liters of displacement. It makes 450 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, and 347 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm, with a 7,500 rpm redline. The Ferrari-built motivator will be placed behind the front axle for a low center of gravity and ideal 50/50 weight distribution.

The sole transmission choice will be a six-speed sequential manual with paddles, mounted as part of the rear axle for better weight distribution, as is the current vogue. The Q-Select gearbox will have five distinct modes: Manual-Normal; Manual-Sport; Automatic-Normal; Automatic-Sport and Ice.

The car's carbon-fibre body hides a steel unibody close to that of the Maserati coupe as well. The underbody was shaped in the wind-tunnel to reduce lift at the high speeds the car will no doubt be able to achieve without so much as breaking a sweat.

A high-threshold stability control system is on the cards as well, working with the double-wishbone suspension to keep the car on the road.

Tires are to be 20-inch versions of Pirelli's P-Zero Corsa, with six-piston, cross-drilled and vented brakes up front and four-piston rear brakes testing their traction abilities.

The car shares its name with the Alfa Romeo 8C 2009 from 1934, which dominated the 1000 Miglia race in 1935-1938 and 1947. It was powered by an inline-8 engine.

Source : Leftlanenews