Alfa Romeo launched the stunning '8C Competizione' at the 60th Frankfurt Motor Show in 2004 to an astonished audience. The beautiful sweeping lines of the twin seater hark back to the early styling of the Alfa's of the 30's and 40's, and the 'Competizione' name is a pointer to the '6C 2500 Competizione' the Mille Miglia race competitor in 1950, driven by Juan-Manuel Fangio and Augusto Zanardi.

To much disappointment, the FIAT motor group decided not to produce any road-going versions of the 8C, sighting conflicting sales with the Maserati brand, of which the 8C's 4.3-litre V8 engine is derived.