Alfa 8C Spider to debut at Geneva

Alfa Romeo plans to pull the wraps off its stunning 8C Spider at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show next week — and is moving ahead with plans to begin selling the soft-top edition of the 8C Competizione in North America as a 2009 model.

Images of the production-ready 8C Spider appeared Tuesday on the Web site Italiaspeed.com, which said the car will feature a carbon-fiber body and will be built in a limited run of 500 units.

First displayed as a concept at Pebble Beach in 2005, the two-seat Spider will feature a 450-horsepower 4.7-liter V8 and a six-speed sequential gearbox with paddle shifters. Brembo brakes and 20-inch wheels and tires also will be fitted.

The anticipated price is somewhere north of $250,000.