Autos

Alfa Romeo 8C

Where sold: Europe
Starting price: $90,000-plus (est.)

This sounds complicated, but Alfa Romeo could reintroduce itself to the U.S. market in two stages: first, with a single model, the new Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, via Maserati dealers; second, with additional models like its signature Spider convertible, and its own showrooms and dealers. Maserati and Ferrari dealers probably have the inside track since parent company Fiat owns all three brands. The 8C Competizione has a 4.7-liter, 450-hp V-8 engine, a steel chassis, and a carbon-fiber body. Based on the pictures, you can hardly blame Alfa for rushing the sexy two-seater to U.S. customers. However Alfa fans, known as Alfisti, will probably have to wait until 2008 or 2009 for it, and until 2009 or 2010 for the rest of the line. Alfa quit the U.S. market in 1995, plagued by slow sales and quality problems.