#Italy

If an automaker wants to play in North America, they need an SUV.

One of the most anxiously anticipated vehicles of the past few years is Alfa Romeo’s sultry new 4C sports car. Since the first concept version bowed in 2011 this product has seemingly whipped all of automotive journalism into a froth that’s stiffer than the peaks of a baked meringue. This much-hyped and oft-delayed product is set to launch this fall and we had a brief opportunity to sample it.

It might be time to start saying “buh-bye” to Italian automotive design house Bertone. 

Maserati’s upscale Levante SUV was slated to be built in the good ol’ US of A at Chrysler’s Jefferson North assembly plant in Detroit, but that plan has since changed.

Jeep just might be the thing to tug Fiat out of its European money mire like a winch-wearing Wrangler pulling a stranger’s truck from a mud bog. 

Recent reports suggest that BMW is among the finalists bidding to buy the defunct De Tomaso brand, but with no comment from the company and seemingly little to gain, it’s difficult to see any reason for the move.

Fiat’s latest commercial, “Immigrants,” gives a cinematic portrayal of the 500 making its journey from Italy to the U.S., but as anyone who watched it will know, several cars were apparently sacrificed in the process.

Staggeringly expensive, one of only 20 Lamborghini Reventóns will be auctioned this summer in the U.K. with an expected selling price of at least €1 million.

Profiling isn’t something you would necessarily picture happening to the sort of person who drives a Ferrari, but in Italy that is quickly becoming the case.

It used to be that wealthy Italians would often purchase exotic sports cars — often of the variety made in their home country, though that’s becoming less likely as the Italian government cracks down on tax fraud.

Tease up those bangs, put on your neon legwarmers, throw in a couple extra shoulder pads and get ready for the ‘80s-inspired MINI Ray.

Even though Italy’s Nardo test track isn’t as famous as Germany’s Nurburgring, it is still an incredible place to test out the limits of a car. Porsche Engineering has announced it will be taking over responsibility of the impressive track starting in May.

Porsche announced the news today, stating that they will be further optimizing the Nardo’s facilities.

CEO of Porsche Engineering, Malte Radmann said, “with its rich array of facilities, from dynamic surfaces to acoustic and off-road sections coupled with the numerous workshops, our clients can continue to make extensive use of Nardò for their vehicle trials in the future as well.”

The Nardo test track features a 7.7 mile oval circuit and 3.9 mile handling circuit, which can be used to test a wide variety of driving and racing conditions. It also holds the distinction of being large enough to be seen from space (image below).

Located at the actual birthplace and childhood home of Enzo Ferrari, an all-new Ferrari museum recently opened called Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari in Modena, Italy.

As a result, Italy’s Polizia launched a major operation across Milan in late January, setting roadblocks to halt high-end luxury vehicle drivers. When drivers hand over license and registration, their personal information will be passed on to the national tax agency to determine whether the owner of the car has declared accurate income and if the proper amount of income taxes has been paid.

If you had twelve children every year, would you love them all the same? It might be hard to keep track, but as is true with any parent, seeing one of your babies hurt would be tragic.

Fiat‘s iconic assembly plant on the Island of Sicily closed on November 24th and has been taken over by an investor.