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Italy Plans €160 Fine for Drivers Travelling Below 100 km/h in the Motorway Overtaking Lane

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Italy is preparing a significant change to its motorway traffic regulations that could see drivers fined up to €160 for travelling too slowly in the overtaking lane. The proposed legislation introduces a minimum speed requirement of 100 km/h in the far-left lane of motorways with at least three lanes in each direction, although several important exceptions will apply.

The measure is part of a broader effort by the Italian government to improve motorway traffic flow, reduce unnecessary congestion and discourage drivers from occupying the overtaking lane without sufficient reason.

Italy Proposes a 100 km/h Minimum Speed in the Left Lane

Under Article 50 of the proposed legislation, motorists driving below 100 km/h in the far-left lane of qualifying Italian motorways could face fines of up to €160.

However, the proposed restriction will not apply to every motorway in Italy. It will specifically cover motorway sections featuring at least three traffic lanes in each direction, where the leftmost lane is primarily intended for overtaking.

The proposal was approved by Italy’s Council of Ministers in mid-October and has subsequently entered the parliamentary process. Its final adoption is still pending, meaning the new minimum speed requirement is not yet an enforceable nationwide rule.

Although Italy currently has no specific statutory minimum speed for the overtaking lane, existing traffic regulations already require motorists to use motorway lanes correctly and avoid unnecessarily occupying the left lane.

Driving Slowly in the Overtaking Lane Is Already Prohibited

The proposed amendment builds on two important provisions of Italy’s existing Highway Code.

Article 141 requires drivers to adapt their speed to road conditions, traffic density, visibility and other circumstances affecting driving safety. Meanwhile, Article 143 establishes the principle of keeping to the right-hand lane whenever it is available, using the left lanes primarily for overtaking.

In practical terms, drivers should return to the right-hand lane after completing an overtaking manoeuvre rather than continuing to cruise in the far-left lane.

The proposed 100 km/h threshold would introduce a more specific requirement for certain multilane motorways, giving authorities an additional basis for penalising drivers who unnecessarily obstruct faster-moving traffic.

Exceptions for Bad Weather, Accidents and Roadworks

Importantly, the proposed legislation does not mean motorists will be forced to maintain a speed of at least 100 km/h regardless of driving conditions.

Exceptions will apply whenever road or traffic conditions make such speeds unsafe or inappropriate. These include heavy rain, dense fog, reduced visibility, traffic accidents and roadworks.

In these circumstances, drivers will be expected to adjust their speed according to the actual conditions, even if that means travelling below the proposed 100 km/h minimum.

This distinction is particularly important because road safety remains the priority. A minimum speed requirement should never encourage motorists to drive faster than conditions safely allow.

When Will the New Italian Traffic Rules Come Into Force?

Despite approval by the Council of Ministers, the proposed amendment has not yet completed the parliamentary process. Its final wording, implementation details and effective date will depend on the outcome of the legislative debate.

Until Parliament formally adopts the changes and the relevant provisions enter into force, drivers should continue following Italy’s existing Highway Code.

For international motorists, including tourists travelling through Italy on their way to other European destinations, the proposed regulation is worth monitoring. If adopted, it could introduce an additional traffic rule to consider when using Italy’s major three-lane motorways.

Ultimately, the government’s objective is straightforward: keep the overtaking lane moving, discourage unnecessary slow driving and make motorway traffic more predictable. However, whether a fixed 100 km/h threshold will deliver those benefits without creating new challenges for drivers remains to be seen.

Source: Automotive News

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Italy’s Twin Supercar Soul Takes Over Paris

At Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, where Rétromobile celebrates its 50th birthday in a haze of carburetors and nostalgia, a very different kind of history is being written. Ultimate Supercar Garage—the show-within-a-show dedicated to modern excess—has handed the spotlight to something new, something unapologetically Italian, and something wildly ambitious.

It’s called BOTTEGAFUORISERIE, and it’s what happens when Alfa Romeo and Maserati decide that regular supercars simply aren’t enough anymore.

For the first time ever, the two legendary brands are sharing a motor-show stage, and they didn’t come quietly. Four machines—each rarer and more intense than the last—stand under the same roof:
Alfa Romeo’s New 33 Stradale and Giulia Quadrifoglio Luna Rossa, alongside Maserati’s MCXtrema and GT2 Stradale. This isn’t a lineup. It’s a statement.

Bottega, Not Factory

The name BOTTEGAFUORISERIE isn’t marketing fluff. “Bottega” means workshop, and the whole idea is to treat each car less like a product and more like a commissioned piece of mechanical art. Think Savile Row tailoring, but with carbon fiber, V6s, and downforce instead of wool.

This philosophy is already paying off. Maserati says 80 percent of GT2 Stradale buyers are choosing Fuoriserie customization, proving that in the modern supercar world, individuality is the ultimate luxury.

And nowhere is that more obvious than in Paris.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Luna Rossa: The Sailboat Slayer

Let’s start with the most exclusive four-door you’ll probably never see: the Giulia Quadrifoglio Luna Rossa. Just ten examples exist, and every single one is already spoken for.

Born from Alfa Romeo’s partnership with the Luna Rossa America’s Cup team, this is the most aerodynamically aggressive Giulia ever built. A carbon-fiber aero kit—front canards, underbody vanes, side skirts, and a towering rear wing—creates five times more downforce than a normal Quadrifoglio. At 300 km/h, it presses itself into the pavement with 140 kg of aerodynamic grip.

That’s not a styling package. That’s physics.

Inside, the racing-boat theme continues, with Sparco seats inspired by the team’s flotation gear and dashboard trim made from actual Luna Rossa sail material. It’s weird, wonderful, and very Italian.

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale: A Legend, Reborn

If the Giulia is extreme, the New 33 Stradale is emotional. This modern resurrection of Alfa’s 1960s icon is limited to just 33 cars, all sold before most people even knew it existed.

Under the skin is a 630-hp twin-turbo V6, enough to launch this sculpted two-seat coupe to 100 km/h in under three seconds and on to 333 km/h. But numbers aren’t the point here. This car exists because Alfa Romeo still believes beauty and performance should be inseparable.

The Paris show car wears a deep green livery inspired by classics like the GTA and the outrageous Bertone Carabo, reminding us that for Alfa, color isn’t decoration—it’s identity.

Maserati MCXtrema: A Track Weapon With a Tailor

Then there’s the MCXtrema, a car that barely acknowledges the concept of public roads. Built in only 62 examples, it’s the most powerful track-only Maserati ever, with 740 hp from a Nettuno-based twin-turbo V6.

The version in Paris is a perfect example of what Bottegafuoriserie is about. Its blue-and-white matte livery references the iconic MC12, while the number 77 on the door honors its owner’s lucky digit. Inside, it’s all business—telemetry, rear-view camera, and a cockpit that feels more Le Mans than Monte Carlo.

It’s a racing car for collectors who want something no one else has—even in a world of extreme supercars.

Maserati GT2 Stradale: Race Car, But Make It Livable

Finally, there’s the GT2 Stradale, the road-legal evolution of Maserati’s GT2 race car. With 640 hp, a 2.7-second sprint to 100 km/h, and a top speed over 320 km/h, it’s the fastest and most powerful internal-combustion Maserati ever built for the street.

It’s also 60 kg lighter than the MC20 it’s based on, sharper in every response, and still elegant enough to wear a trident on its nose without irony. This is Maserati proving it can still build a proper driver’s car in an era increasingly obsessed with software.

A New Italian Power Duo

Underneath all the carbon fiber and couture paint, BOTTEGAFUORISERIE represents something bigger. Alfa Romeo and Maserati aren’t just sharing a booth—they’re sharing a future.

In a supercar world dominated by tech giants and billion-dollar hypercars, these two Italian brands are betting on something more human: craftsmanship, heritage, and emotional design, blended with modern performance.

And judging by the crowd around their stand in Paris, that gamble is paying off.

If this is what happens when Alfa and Maserati join forces, the rest of the supercar world should be very, very nervous.

Source: Stellantis

News

Lamborghini Opens New Showroom in Turin, Expands Italian Footprint with Hybrid Power and Heritage

Automobili Lamborghini’s growth streak shows no sign of slowing down. On October 30th, the raging bull planted yet another flag in its home territory with the grand opening of Lamborghini Torino — the brand’s seventh showroom in Italy and the latest symbol of its evolving identity in the era of electrified performance.

The new facility, located on Turin’s Corso Allamano, stretches across 1,400 square meters and combines an elegant showroom with a full-service workshop and a dedicated Ad Personam lounge — Lamborghini’s bespoke customization studio where customers can fine-tune everything from exterior paint to the stitching on the steering wheel.

The event drew around 500 guests and was headlined by Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, and Federico Foschini, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer. They were joined by Gabriele Vigo, General Manager of the Turin dealership, and Rinaldo “Dindo” Capello, three-time Le Mans winner turned automotive entrepreneur, to officially cut the ribbon.

“It is with great enthusiasm that we inaugurate Lamborghini Torino today — a concrete sign of our commitment to Italy,” said Winkelmann. “This opening stands as a testament to the strength of our global growth and hybridization strategy, which we pursue while continuing to offer highly emotional super sports cars and unique, authentic experiences to our customers.”

A Showcase of the Hybrid Era

Fittingly, the opening celebration spotlighted Lamborghini’s fully hybridized lineup — a historic first for the brand and the supercar segment. Front and center were the Revuelto, Urus SE, and the all-new Temerario, a twin-turbo V8 marvel that screams all the way to 10,000 rpm.

These three models embody Lamborghini’s new era: the Revuelto as a V12 HPEV (High Performance Electrified Vehicle), the Urus SE as the brand’s first plug-in hybrid Super SUV, and the Temerario as the latest bloodline of pure-bred performance distilled through electrification.

But the night wasn’t just about the future. Guests also took a nostalgic lap through Lamborghini’s history, with icons like the Miura, Countach, Huracán Sterrato, and Urus Performante reminding everyone where the legend began.

A Legacy Rooted in Sant’Agata

Founded in 1963, Lamborghini remains one of the most potent symbols of Italian automotive artistry. Its Sant’Agata Bolognese headquarters, which has been carbon-neutral for over a decade, continues to build every car by hand — blending old-world craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation.

Under its “Direzione Cor Tauri” sustainability roadmap, Lamborghini is decarbonizing across its entire value chain, showing that environmental responsibility and extreme performance can indeed coexist. The results speak for themselves: in 2024, the brand delivered a record 10,687 cars globally, proving that electrification hasn’t dulled the roar of the bull.

With around 3,000 employees and a network of 186 dealers in 56 countries, Lamborghini’s global reach has never been stronger. Yet, every time the company expands at home — especially in a city as historically automotive as Turin — it’s more than business. It’s a celebration of Italian engineering, passion, and identity.

As Lamborghini Torino opens its doors, it’s clear that the future of the brand — and of high-performance itself — is being written in both volts and velocity.

Source: Lamborghini