The Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Roadster is one of the most iconic sports cars, gifted with all that's in and out. As a more nippy-looking version of the 8C Coupe, the Spider model rolled in 2008 and pulled off handling around five hundred customers in two years. Though the 8C Competizione (with Coupe and spider variants) was around for only three years, it soon became one of the all-time legendary sports cars as Alfa Romeo's only supercar.
The Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Roadster is undoubtedly a member of the elite. What makes it hold a candle to the likes of the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster is its Ferrari-made powertrain and the unique appearance that turns all the heads across the highway. Besides, there is a bag of signature characteristics to the 8C Competizione to scale up the individuality of the car, such as the special cloverleaf-looking alloy wheels and rich materials that make the interior distinguished from all the rest.
You might not know that this work of art is banned in the US, just like many other fascinating cars that are banned. The unfortunate US illegal patch didn't leave Alfa Romeo's 8C Spider Roadster alone either. What could be the possible reason, though? Let's find out.
A Ferrari-Blessed Powerplant Gives Spirit To The Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Roadster
It shouldn't be hard to guess about the heart of the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, as the name gives us a clue on the cylinders. The 8C Spider is powered by a naturally-aspirated 4.7-liter V8 that churns out a satisfying 450 HP. A total torque of 353 pound-feet at 4,750 rpm accompanies the 8C Spider. It's no lie that the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider distinctively feels like a vintage sports car as the 8-cylinder powerplant is designed and produced by the all-known Italian car manufacturer, Ferrari. But there's much more than Ferrari's involvement in this car, as a number of other mechanical units derive from the venerable Maserati GranTurismo.
The Alfa Romeo 8C's virtuoso engine can make the car hit a top speed of 181 MPH, revving at a screaming 7,000 rpm to make the exhaust note sound soul-relieving. Moreover, it can produce enough ponies to rocket the car to the 60 MPH zone in just 4.2 seconds.
The Alfa Romeo 8C's Performance Writes Off The Rivals, As Well As Its Seductively Garnished Appearance
Though the specs figures may lightly fall behind those of other rivals, the outstanding performance and smooth handling of the Alfa Romeo 8C give an other-worldly driving experience to leave the owners blessed and all. A set of 20-inch tires that are specifically made to suit Alfa Romeo's 8C Competizione establish an untainted connection with roads. They're embellished with alloy wheels that look like clover leaves— something that we don't usually see on cars. On top of that, the fiber touches for the body keeps the overall weight down at around 3,693 pound-feet for the 8C Roadster.
As we look inside the car, the cockpit can't be more ravishing as the expressions howl luxury all along. With a bunch of similarities to the mighty Ferrari Enzo, the Alfa Romeo 8C's interior offers utmost comfort along with practicality. Carbon fiber dashboard and all-aluminum pedals are some of the quirks that drags the 8C Competizione out of the realm of the ordinary.
What Did Cause The Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Roadster To Hover Outside Of US Territory?
As mentioned before, this Alfa Romeo beast can knock off the 60 MPH in 4.5 seconds if it doesn't get out of bed on the wrong side. We may take that as the coolest feature of the Italian Spider, but the US government holds the opposite opinion. Too much power that leads to the speedometer's pointer surpass the redline was the primary reason that caused the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Roadster to fail to hit American highways. That may sound ludicrous as there's no end of legal fast-cars that are setting new records all the time. But that's what it is.
Nonetheless, Alfa Romeo itself wasn't so interested in letting the 8C Competizione enter the Us market. Aside from that, Alfa Romeo intended to keep its charming 8C as a more heroic masterpiece rather than a means to make good profits (and they sure were successful in that regard). There were only 500 units of each model (Coupe and Spider) produced, while a massive demand for the 8C Competizione was guaranteed, as there couldn't be any more clear proof than the initial, out-of-bounds 1200 orders.