Tag Archives: Italy

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

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

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