Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Sold Out In USA

Alfa Romeo's gorgeous 8C Competizione is now officially on sale in the United States. However, thanks to the USA's entire allocation of 84 cars being snapped up, prospective buyers will need to wait at least another year before their next chance arrives to snare the 336kW Maserati-built coupe.

The 8C spearheads a wider return to the 'States by the Italian automaker, which packed up and fled the country in 1995 after being dogged by a reputation for poor quality. A precise date for the marque's US revival has yet to be set, however current estimates put the brand setting up shop Stateside in either late 2009 or early 2010.

A number of all-new vehicles are rumoured to be in development as well, most of which should be ready by the time Alfa Romeo settles down in the US. Aside from the 8C Spider (above) that's set to arrive on US shores in 2010, there's also a RWD flagship sedan and luxury coupe said to be in the works. Alfa is apparently negotiating with Tata Motors about using a Jaguar platform, and if a deal is brokered in good time then both sedan and coupe could be ready for sale by 2012.

A slightly more oddball model that's believed to be in the pipeline is a mid-sized SUV/crossover designed to go toe-to-toe with BMW's X3. This project is apparently a good deal further along than the sedan/coupe and it's expected to launch in Europe sometime in 2010, with US sales beginning the following year.

[Automotive News - subscription required]