Tag Archives: Alfa Romeo

BOTTEGAFUORISERIE: Italy’s New Temple of Tailored Performance

There are places where passion and precision meet—and Italy’s Motor Valley has just gained one more. Stretching from Modena to Turin and Arese, the newly founded BOTTEGAFUORISERIE isn’t just another design studio or restoration lab. It’s a statement: a collaborative powerhouse where the legacies of Alfa Romeo and Maserati intertwine to shape the next era of bespoke Italian motoring.

Led by Cristiano Fiorio, reporting directly to Santo Ficili (Alfa Romeo CEO and Maserati COO), this new initiative is less a department and more a living organism—part atelier, part skunkworks, part cultural revival. It’s the Italy of coachbuilt masterpieces reborn for the electric, digital age.

A Name That Means Everything

In Italian, Bottega evokes an image of a craftsman’s workshop—the kind of space where time slows down and creation feels sacred. Fuoriserie, literally “beyond series,” has long been a badge of automotive individuality, a term that once adorned the rarest Alfa Romeos and Maseratis built for clients who demanded something truly singular.

Together, BOTTEGAFUORISERIE becomes more than a place—it’s a philosophy. This is where artistry and engineering cohabit, where a sketch becomes an engine note, and where a single stitch can hold as much meaning as a horsepower figure.

BOTTEGA: The Sartorial Heartbeat

The Bottega division will be home to what Italians do best—crafting emotional, one-off creations. It’s where “few-off” projects like the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale and Maserati MCXtrema were born, hand-assembled in an ecosystem that runs on coffee, intuition, and obsessive attention to detail.

Every car created under BOTTEGA’s roof is Italian down to its carbon weave. Designers, engineers, and artisans collaborate with clients as co-conspirators, shaping cars that transcend customization and become personal statements. If Ferrari’s Tailor Made is haute couture, BOTTEGA feels like avant-garde artistry.

FUORISERIE: Bespoke Becomes Personal

Beyond ultra-exclusive builds, the Fuoriserie program opens the door to anyone seeking a personal connection with their car. Customers can now transform series-production Alfa Romeos and Maseratis into rolling self-portraits—each one a unique expression within the framework of two timeless design languages.

Dedicated design teams will assist clients in shaping everything from finishes to conceptual details, ensuring that no two cars emerging from the program ever feel the same. Think of it as the bridge between mass production and emotional ownership—a celebration of the individual within the industrial.

LA STORIA: Heritage as a Living Vision

BOTTEGAFUORISERIE’s soul doesn’t just live in the future—it reveres the past. Under the La Storia banner, the initiative will restore, preserve, and celebrate the mechanical poetry that built both brands’ reputations.

Vintage Alfa Romeos and Maseratis will be restored and certified under the watchful eyes of Officine Classiche. These are not static museum pieces—they’re dialogues between eras, reinterpreted through sustainable materials and contemporary craftsmanship.

The movement’s physical heartbeats already exist: the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese and the recently reopened Umberto Panini Maserati Collection in Modena. These are not memorials—they are launchpads for inspiration, where yesterday’s innovation fuels tomorrow’s creation.

CORSE: Racing DNA, Reimagined

In Italy, racing is not a department—it’s a religion. The Corse wing ensures that everything developed at BOTTEGAFUORISERIE remains anchored in competition. Lessons learned on the track feed directly into the design and performance of road cars, from aerodynamics to powertrain development.

Maserati Corse’s recent success in the GT2 European Series—clinching the AM Class championship—is more than a trophy; it’s proof that performance remains central to this new venture’s identity. Racing here isn’t nostalgia—it’s the crucible of innovation.

The Visionaries Speak

For Santo Ficili, BOTTEGAFUORISERIE signals a tectonic shift:

“This is the symbol of a new era for Alfa Romeo and Maserati,” he says. “It represents our unwavering belief in the power of Italian creativity, engineering and craftsmanship.”

Jean-Philippe Imparato, Maserati CEO, frames it as the union of art and discipline:

“This is where dreams will be shaped into reality. Where the extraordinary becomes tangible.”

And for Cristiano Fiorio, the man entrusted with steering this creative revolution, the mission is deeply personal:

“Past, present and future converge here. Our mission is to honour the legacy of Alfa Romeo and Maserati, and to write the next chapter in their history with boldness, beauty and authenticity.”

Beyond Series, Beyond Time

BOTTEGAFUORISERIE stands as a reminder that in an era of automation, there’s still room for soul. It’s a declaration that performance can be cultural, and that beauty—real, hand-built beauty—still matters.

From the echoes of Arese’s assembly halls to the polished marble floors of Modena’s studios, Italy’s most storied marques are rediscovering their shared heartbeat.

In a world obsessed with speed, BOTTEGAFUORISERIE dares to slow down—to perfect, to preserve, and to dream.

Source: Stellantis

2026 Alfa Romeo Junior Sport Speciale: Small Car, Big Passion

Alfa Romeo’s latest compact aims to prove that you don’t need a massive engine—or a massive bank account—to feel the pulse of Italian performance. With the new 2026 Junior Sport Speciale, the brand revives its long-running tradition of speciale editions that blend style, spirit, and just the right amount of indulgence. Following the success of the Junior Intensa, this new Sport Speciale becomes the centerpiece of Alfa’s refreshed lineup, alongside the recently updated Tonale.

Design: Compact, but Pure Alfa

At first glance, the Junior Sport Speciale doesn’t just look sporty—it looks expensive. The glossy black body kit, accented by silver inserts on the side skirts and bumpers, gives it a poised, planted stance. The lower guards feature bespoke finishes, while the new 18-inch “Fori” alloy wheels, done up in a dual-tone Matt Miron Diamond Cut, reinforce its athletic posture. A discreet Sport Speciale badge on the flanks lets keen-eyed enthusiasts know this isn’t your average Junior.

A two-tone roof—optional, but highly recommended—adds contrast to a shape that already feels quintessentially Alfa: taut, emotional, and free of unnecessary frills. Even the tinted rear windows manage to feel like an aesthetic statement rather than an afterthought.

Interior: Handcrafted Sophistication

Step inside and the cabin delivers that mix of craftsmanship and drama that Alfa Romeo interiors are known for. The heated, power-adjustable seats are wrapped in perforated Alcantara, with light-colored backrest inserts and “ice” accents that visually cool the otherwise dark cockpit. The same soft-touch Alcantara flows across the dashboard, center tunnel, and door panels, matched by a leather-and-Alcantara steering wheel with contrasting stitching.

Subtle details elevate the ambiance: luminous dashboard stitching, aluminum pedals, an illuminated logo, and ambient lighting that feels more Milan lounge than Milanese commuter. It’s not over the top, but you’ll know where your money went.

Technology and Equipment

Buyers can take the tech game further with the optional Techno Pack, which bundles a full suite of Level 2 driver-assistance features. That includes Adaptive Cruise Control, lane centering, and traffic-jam assist. The pack also brings Matrix LED headlights, a navigation system with integrated TSI, and—on Q4 all-wheel-drive models—an upgraded digital experience that keeps pace with the best in class.

Convenience touches abound: a 180° rear camera, 360° parking sensors, hands-free tailgate, wireless phone charging, blind-spot monitoring, and even heated mirrors. The Cargo Flex Kit improves trunk versatility, while a panoramic sunroof and heated windshield are optional for those who like their Italian flair with a side of practicality.

Powertrains: Choice Meets Character

Under the skin, Alfa keeps things simple but smart. There’s a 145-hp hybrid driving the front wheels, the same output available with Q4 all-wheel drive, and a 156-hp all-electric version for those who prefer their performance whisper-quiet. The BEV variant includes an 11-kW onboard charger for faster top-ups, while the hybrids get standard paddle shifters mounted on the steering column—a proper nod to Alfa’s performance DNA.

The Alfa You Can Drive Every Day

The Junior Sport Speciale isn’t about outright speed or Nürburgring lap times. It’s about feeling—about infusing every commute and corner with a sense of occasion. In a market flooded with sensible crossovers and homogenized EVs, this little Alfa stands out as something rare: a compact car with genuine soul.

Source: Alfa Romeo

Maserati and Alfa Romeo Join the Carabinieri Fleet

This morning in Rome, under the ornate ceilings of the General Command of the Carabinieri, a pair of unmistakably Italian machines took the stage—not for a concours d’elegance, but for duty. The national gendarmerie has officially added a Maserati MC20 (in special MCPURA configuration) and an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio to its fleet, each liveried in the force’s institutional blue and equipped for one of the most critical missions imaginable: the urgent transport of organs and blood.

The ceremony, held in the presence of General Commander Gen. C.A. Salvatore Luongo and top Stellantis executives, marked a rare moment when Italy’s storied automotive passion and public service ethos aligned perfectly. “This collaboration represents not only an alliance between Italian automotive excellence and institutional operational efficiency,” said Luongo, “but a true alignment of purpose in service of the community.”

A Maserati First

For Maserati, this delivery is historic—the first time one of its cars will wear the Carabinieri badge. The MC20 MCPURA packs the marque’s 630-horsepower Nettuno twin-turbo V6, a 3.0-liter masterpiece with pre-chamber combustion tech borrowed from Formula 1. Its carbon-fiber monocoque and mid-engine layout are designed for precision and stability at speed—qualities that take on new meaning when the mission is measured in seconds and lives. Special equipment for organ and blood transport has been seamlessly integrated into the supercar’s limited cabin space, transforming this track-bred thoroughbred into an instrument of life-saving urgency.

The Return of a Legend

If Maserati’s entry is groundbreaking, Alfa Romeo’s presence feels like coming home. The Giulia Quadrifoglio continues a lineage that stretches back to 1951, when the Carabinieri first adopted the rugged Alfa Romeo 1900 M “Matta.” One year later, the 1900 sedan became the original “Gazzella”—a term still synonymous with the Carabinieri’s rapid-response units. From the elegant 1960s Giulia to the sharp-edged Alfetta, 75, 155, and 159, Alfa’s four-leaf-clover-badged machines have long served Italy’s uniformed protectors.

Today’s Giulia Quadrifoglio channels that legacy with a 520-horsepower twin-turbo V6, rear-wheel drive, and a mechanical limited-slip differential—pure driver’s-car DNA, reimagined for emergency service. The sedan’s trunk now houses specialized systems for secure medical transport, but otherwise it remains a Giulia in full stride: aggressive, poised, and unmistakably Alfa.

A Modern Mission

For Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, the delivery goes beyond brand symbolism. “The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and Maserati MCPURA are not only symbols of performance and style,” he said, “but concrete tools to ensure speed and safety in missions of vital importance.”

In a world where every second counts, these vehicles stand as proof that Italy’s passion for design and performance can serve something higher than spectacle. They are rolling testaments to how engineering excellence, when paired with institutional purpose, can save lives.

Performance with a Purpose

While the sight of a Maserati or Alfa Romeo in police livery might stir envy among enthusiasts, for the Carabinieri it’s all about function. The MC20’s carbon tub and active aerodynamics deliver precision at triple-digit speeds on open autostrade, while the Giulia’s balance and agility are perfect for navigating Italy’s narrow, twisting city streets. Both are equipped with advanced communication systems and refrigeration units designed to maintain vital medical payloads at stable temperatures—because in this mission, speed isn’t about a quarter-mile time. It’s about survival.

Italian Icons in Uniform

In an era when public institutions often settle for utilitarian efficiency, the Carabinieri’s latest additions remind the world that practicality and passion can coexist. The partnership between Stellantis and the Carabinieri continues a decades-long tradition of Italian automakers supporting law enforcement and public welfare with engineering artistry and national pride.

For Maserati and Alfa Romeo, the assignment couldn’t be more fitting: serving the nation not through horsepower alone, but through heart.

Source: Maserati