Here’s a sneak peak into the future. Take a close look at the snazzy set of wheels in the pictures — this car has just received the go ahead to be put into production. For the discerning few who can’t take their eyes off the badge on the nose — yes, you’re right. This car is indeed the Alfa Romeo, which is where the great Enzo cut his teeth before he left. Indians may not be very familiar with it yet, but believe me; the car has been around for quite some time. In fact, it has been in existence even before Ferrari got his act together and started Scuderia Ferrari.

Once upon a time long, long ago, Alfa Romeo started life as Alfa, short for Anonima Lombardo Fabrica Automobili. Till about 1910, the company was involved in assembling and selling Darracqs. Unfortunately for them, Darracqs were not big winners when it came to either performance or aesthetic appeal. From 1910, Alfas designed by Giuseppe Merosi began to be sold and in 1915, the industrialist Nicola Romeo, took over the factory. The post-Great War era saw the cars being marketed as Alfa Romeos.

Over the next few years, Alfa distinguished itself as a great racing team that dominated the international scene and one Enzo Ferrari was employed as its driver until 1929 when he broke away to form Scuderia Ferrari. Alfa Romeo also won the Le Mans four years in a row with the Jano-designed 8c-2300 and the 8c-2900. However, by 1951, Scuderia Ferrari had beaten Alfa Romeo so convincingly that the company decided to withdraw from racing.

While the racing world saw less of the Alfa Romeo, the market certainly didn’t. Over the years Alfa Romeo has been making mass market cars with semi-sporting pretensions as also basic family cars like the Alfasud and the very forgettable Arna (Alfa Romeo Nissan Autoveicoli) in collaboration with Nissan. There were some inspired designs like the Tubolare (pronounced ‘toobolaarey’) cars but in general it seemed that the company had forgotten its roots.

But automobile enthusiasts have much to rejoice over. Glorious memories of Alfa’s heyday are being revived with the arrival of the Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione. The two-part name is of historical significance. The 8c refers to the Vittorio Jano era, when the P2 and P3 cars were at their and Alfa Romeo’s peak of success. Enticed by Enzo Ferrari to design Alfa’s race cars, Jano scripted a blazing success with the P2 — a top-of-the- line design with its 2-litre supercharged inline 8-cylinder engine, that won Alfa many a race till Jano’s next winner, the Tipo B monoposto or P3 took over. The second part, Competizione, refers to the 6c 2500 Competizione, a sports coupe driven by Fangio in 1950 in the famous Mille Miglia race, another positive for Alfa Romeo.

The new 8c Competizione is a two-seater sports car not quite as cute as the San Storm, but more purposeful and very attractive nonetheless. The dimensions of 4278 mm (length), 1900mm (width) and 1250mm (height) seem so right. The curvy carbon-fibre body is positioned over a wheelbase of 2595mm, (just 5mm short of that of the Chevrolet SRV and Optra.) The Alfa Romeo Style Centre developed this car and looking at it from all angles, it’s hard to resist its charms. The retro curves and lines can win over any automobile enthusiast at first glance.

The sporty look is accentuated by the tyres 245/40 - R20 at the front and 275/35 - R20 at the rear, and the muscular rear wings add to the appeal. The front end is very retro and reminds one of Alfa’s TZ 1 & 2, sports cars that shook the world in the 50s. Anyone who will see the 8c Competizione, with its slightly droopy moustache grille and the Alfa Romeo badge set in the middle, coming up in his or her rear view mirror will instantly move aside to admire the car. The retro look is completed by the rear end with its single round light clusters.

However, there is nothing retro about the two sets of twin tail pipes at the rear end. The pipes lead back to an awesome engine — a new 90° V 8 cylinder balanced unit with a cylinder capacity of 4691 cc that develops a maximum power output of 450bhp at 7000 rpm and a peak torque of 470 Nm at 4750 rpm. A six-speed gearbox operated by paddles handles the torque.

Volumetric efficiency of the engine is enhanced by very effective intake charge cooling thanks to the cylinder head cooling system. The continuously variable valve timing too helps to improve engine response. Adding to the car’s sporty character, as if any more is needed, is the tuning of the intake and exhaust systems, the latter with the help of electronically controlled valves that improve the sound. The 8c’s 0 to 100kph time is in the region of 4.5 seconds thanks to the torque, which also gives it low speed cruising capabilities. Top speed for the Competizione is said to be above 300 km/h.

Speed is nothing without control. The 8c Competizione combines this brilliant performance with road holding and handling that come to the fore on twisty mountain roads. The credit for that goes to the dual wishbone suspension at both front and rear, which is the ideal type of suspension for performance cars.

Alfa Romeo was in danger of fading into oblivion as the maker of uninteresting cars, but with the 8c Competizione, it has come up with a sure winner, having returned to its roots to look for the DNA of the brand that is Alfa Romeo.

Photographs by the author