The clamour for ITALIAN glamour
As Ferrari launches a new supercar, the allure of Italy’s classic fleet remains as strong as ever
Forget those Minis and Michael Caine in the Italian Job. And look beyond glamorous Charlize theron in the remake. the real star of the 1969 original classic shines brightest in the opening credits. Suave criminal mastermind roger Beckermann (played by Italian actor rossano Brazzi) drives a gorgeous orange Lamborghini Miura along the twisting alpine roads between Switzerland and Italy.
of course it all ends messily as the Miura collides with a Mafia bulldozer in a tunnel. But what unforgettable magic!
Although Italy remains off limits for a holiday, we can at least admire its spectacular cars at all prices — from classic and current Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Maseratis, to sporty Alfa romeos and affordable Fiats.
And it’s perfect timing to marvel at Italian engineering as Ferrari only yesterday launched a new supercar, the plug-in hybrid V6 296 gtB. So let’s take a look at some of the finest cars this country has to offer.
THE ORIGINAL ICON
ArguABLy, the most famous car brand in the world, the classic elegance of Ferrari sums up Italy for many. And yesterday the company unveiled a new mid-engined V6 plug-in hybrid sports car. With prices expected at around £250,000, the 3.0 litre 830 horse-power supercar accelerates to 62mph in just 2.9 seconds up to a top speed in excess of 205mph.
Ferrari’s first full production hybrid supercar, the SF90 Stradale, was launched in May 2019 with prices starting at £375,000.
the company is also about to dip a toe into the SuV crossover market with the Purosangue which was spotted in spy- shots and is due around 2022/2023. A fully electric Ferrari is also planned by 2025.
recently I drove the new Ferrari roma, the firm’s first front-engined V8, which bears more than a passing resemblance to an Aston Martin and is priced from £170,984.
Powered by a turbo- charged 3855cc V8 front-mounted petrol engine developing 620 horse-power, the car accelerates to 62mph in just 3.4 seconds and up to a top speed in excess of 200mph. It’s also practical, thanks to a 272-litre sized boot which expands to 345 litres. But expect a gas-guzzling 25.2mpg with Co2 emissions of 255g/km.
RAGING BULL
BoLd, fast and eye- catching, Lamborghinis have a wild reputation. So it’s only fitting the brand’s logo is a bull. Appropriately, chief executive Stephan Winkelmann is also renowned as one of the sharpest dressers in the motor industry. I recently asked him, what comes first — designer suits or his love for Lamborghini? He laughed: ‘I cannot run around naked. But it’s the cars. It’s always the cars.’ Although born in germany, Italy is his home. He led the firm for more than a decade from 2005 to 2016, and took the reins again last december.
Based in the small town of Sant’Agata Bolognese in Northern Italy, the company was founded in 1963 as a rival to Ferrari. Amazingly,
Britain is the brand’s fifthlargest market and ahead even of Italy.
Winkelmann’s plans include adding a delayed fourth model into the existing line-up which currently comprises Aventador, Huracan supercars and the capable Urus SUV.
He’s also accelerating plans to launch Lamborghini’s first pure electric car.
COMEBACK KID
MASerAtI, meanwhile, is seeking to recapture its supercar mojo with a new two - seater MC20. Powered by a 630 horse- power twinturbocharged 3.0 litre V6 petrol engine and weighing just 1,500kg, it accelerates to 62mph in under 2.9 seconds up to a top speed of 202mph.
the first electric Maserati, the 330 HP Ghibli Hybrid GranSport saloon, combines a 2.0 litre 4- cylinder petrol engine with a mild hybrid and will accelerate to 62mph in 5.7 seconds up to a top speed of 158mph. Base price was £63,700 but more than £20,000 of luxurious extras can take the final price to £85,785.
PEOPLE’S BRAND
FoUnded in 1899, Fiat is Italy’s oldest car company. And those of us with more modest means can be thankful the reborn Fiat 500 supermini (a modern recreation of the original Cinquecento) saved the company which is now part of the giant Stellantis conglomerate. the sporty Abarth brand adds venom to the Fiat mix.
MY FAVOURITE
An Alfa romeo Spider, as driven by dustin Hoffman in the movie the Graduate, was the classic opentopped car I desired as an impoverished young trainee reporter in the Midlands. Alfa romeo’s current line-up comprises two models, with a third in the pipeline. the sporty Giulia four-door saloon starts from £35,710 for the 2.0 litre 4- cylinder 200hp in ‘Sprint’ trim. the car accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 6.6 seconds with a top speed of 146mph. At the top end is the Giulia Quadrifoglio costing £ 68,055 and powered by a 510hp 2.9 litre V6 petrol engine that propels it from 0 to 62mph in 3.9 seconds ( top speed of 191mph). A track- focused but road legal limited edition GtA version with aerowing costs a whopping £181,000. It’s all a far cry from Michael Caine’s greatest line in the original movie, as the gang tests the explosives: ‘You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!’