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News

Arnaud Belloni Named CEO of FIAT, Abarth and Lancia

FIAT is entering a new chapter under Stellantis with a major leadership change designed to strengthen the Italian brand’s global ambitions. Effective September 1, 2026, Arnaud Belloni has been appointed CEO of FIAT, Abarth and Lancia, while also taking on the role of Chief Marketing Officer for Europe.

The appointment forms part of Stellantis’ broader organizational strategy following the company’s Investor Day on May 21 and its FaSTLAne 2030 strategic plan. Under the new structure, FIAT will play an increasingly important role in Stellantis’ global operations as one of the automaker’s four Global Brands.

Belloni will report to Emanuele Cappellano, Stellantis Chief Operating Officer for Enlarged Europe, and will be responsible for strengthening the connection between brand strategy, product development and marketing across FIAT, Abarth and Lancia.

Arnaud Belloni Returns to Stellantis

Belloni is returning to Stellantis with more than three decades of automotive industry experience and a strong background in global marketing and brand development.

Before his latest appointment, Belloni spent 16 years with Stellantis and its predecessor companies, where he held senior marketing positions involving several Italian and French automotive brands. He subsequently joined Renault Group in 2020, becoming Global Chief Marketing Officer in November of that year.

In May 2023, Belloni expanded his responsibilities at Renault Group by becoming Chief Branding Officer for all of the company’s brands.

His return to Stellantis puts a seasoned marketing executive at the center of the company’s plans to reposition and expand some of its best-known European automotive brands.

“We are delighted to welcome Arnaud back to Stellantis. His global perspective, creative leadership and deep knowledge of our brands will be invaluable assets, as we strengthen marketing across Europe and shape the next chapter for FIAT, Abarth and Lancia,” said Emanuele Cappello, Chief Operating Officer for Enlarged Europe.

Belloni’s experience could prove particularly important as FIAT attempts to balance its traditional strengths in affordable, practical vehicles with Stellantis’ increasingly global product and technology strategy.

FIAT Becomes a More Important Global Brand for Stellantis

The leadership change comes as Stellantis seeks to give FIAT a more prominent position within its global portfolio.

Under the FaSTLAne 2030 strategic plan, FIAT is designated as one of Stellantis’ four Global Brands. The strategy is expected to give the Italian automaker access to new global platforms, technologies and industrial solutions that can be deployed across a wider range of international markets.

For FIAT, that means the future will extend well beyond its traditional European strongholds.

The company is preparing to expand its market coverage with new products intended to meet the needs of customers in increasingly diverse markets. At the same time, Stellantis is looking to preserve the characteristics that have historically defined FIAT: simplicity, accessibility, ingenuity and a strong connection with everyday customers.

That combination will be critical as FIAT competes in an increasingly crowded global automotive market dominated by electrification, SUVs, crossovers and increasingly sophisticated vehicle technology.

FIAT, Abarth and Lancia Get Closer Alignment

Belloni will oversee the strategic direction of FIAT while also leading Abarth and Lancia.

The move is intended to create closer alignment between the three brands at the marketing and strategic levels while allowing each marque to maintain its own identity.

FIAT will continue to focus heavily on accessible mainstream vehicles, while Abarth will retain its performance-oriented character and Lancia will continue its broader premium repositioning.

The organizational structure could allow Stellantis to share technology, platforms and industrial resources between the brands while developing distinct customer propositions.

That approach is particularly relevant as the company expands its use of common vehicle architectures and technologies across multiple brands.

Gaetano Thorel Expands His European Responsibilities

Gaetano Thorel will continue to lead FIAT and Abarth in Enlarged Europe and will now also take responsibility for Lancia.

His new responsibilities will be supported by a functional reporting line to Belloni.

The expanded role is designed to improve coordination between the three brands and strengthen the execution of their commercial strategies throughout the European market.

For Stellantis, the arrangement creates a clearer connection between global brand strategy and regional commercial execution.

While Belloni will focus heavily on strategic direction and marketing, Thorel will continue to play a central role in translating those priorities into the European marketplace.

Olivier François Moves Into a Strategic Advisor Role

The leadership transition also marks the end of another important chapter for Olivier François, one of Stellantis’ most recognizable executives.

After more than 30 years of contributions to Stellantis and its predecessor companies, François will remain involved through mid-October 2026 to help Belloni complete a smooth transition.

François has held an unusually broad range of senior positions during his career. His responsibilities have included CEO roles at Chrysler, FIAT, Abarth, DS Automobiles and Lancia, as well as the position of Global Chief Marketing Officer.

He was also heavily involved in developing some of the automotive industry’s most recognizable advertising campaigns.

Following the transition period, François will remain connected to Stellantis as a Company Strategic Advisor.

In that role, he will contribute to broader strategic issues, including brand and product strategy, allowing Stellantis to retain his experience while giving the company a different leadership structure for its brands.

“On behalf of the entire Stellantis team, I want to thank Olivier for his many years of outstanding contributions and leadership across our brands and marketing organization. We wish him every success in his next career chapter and look forward to continuing to benefit from his experience and expertise as a strategic advisor to our Company,” said Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa.

Grande Panda Leads FIAT’s Product Expansion

The organizational changes come at an important moment for FIAT as the company prepares to expand its product lineup.

The Grande Panda is already playing an important role in FIAT’s product strategy, combining the brand’s traditional focus on practicality and accessibility with a more modern design and technology package.

But the company is not stopping there.

According to the FaSTLAne 2030 strategy, FIAT intends to significantly broaden its market coverage through a new generation of global products.

Among the next important additions will be the Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback, which are expected to strengthen FIAT’s presence in the C-segment.

The C-segment represents one of Europe’s most important automotive categories, particularly as customers increasingly move toward larger crossovers and SUVs.

Expanding into this market could therefore be crucial to FIAT’s efforts to increase its sales volume and improve its competitiveness across Europe and other international markets.

FIAT’s Global Ambitions Are Growing

The new leadership structure reflects a significant shift in how Stellantis views FIAT.

Rather than functioning primarily as a European volume brand, FIAT is being positioned as a global brand capable of using Stellantis’ worldwide industrial scale, technology and platforms.

That could give the company access to markets where it has historically had a smaller presence while also allowing it to develop vehicles designed from the beginning for international customers.

The challenge will be maintaining FIAT’s distinctive identity while expanding its product range.

FIAT has historically succeeded by making cars that are relatively simple, affordable and easy to live with. Its strongest products have often been defined less by technical excess and more by clever packaging, approachable design and everyday usability.

As the brand becomes more global, those characteristics will need to remain central to its identity.

What the New FIAT Leadership Means for Future Cars

Arnaud Belloni’s appointment is significant because modern automotive competition is increasingly about more than the vehicles themselves.

Brand positioning, digital marketing, customer experience and global product consistency are becoming just as important as engines, platforms and technology.

Belloni’s background makes him particularly suited to that challenge.

His responsibilities across FIAT, Abarth and Lancia could also encourage greater cooperation between brands while allowing Stellantis to reduce duplication and take advantage of shared technologies.

For customers, the most visible result should eventually be a broader FIAT lineup, more international products and a stronger presence in important vehicle segments.

The Grande Panda represents one step in that direction, while the upcoming Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback are expected to play an important role in expanding FIAT’s C-segment presence.

A New Chapter for FIAT

FIAT’s new leadership structure takes effect at a pivotal moment for both the brand and Stellantis.

With Arnaud Belloni leading FIAT, Abarth and Lancia, Gaetano Thorel managing their European commercial operations and Olivier François continuing as a strategic advisor, Stellantis is creating a structure designed to connect global brand strategy with regional execution.

More importantly, the changes underline FIAT’s growing importance within Stellantis’ global strategy.

The success of the plan will ultimately depend on the products FIAT brings to market. If the company can combine its traditional values of simplicity, accessibility and ingenuity with modern platforms, electrification and global technology, it could significantly expand its international footprint.

The next phase of FIAT’s transformation will therefore be closely tied to its expanding product portfolio. With the Grande Panda already establishing the direction and the Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback set to strengthen its C-segment presence, FIAT is preparing for a much broader role within Stellantis.

For one of the world’s best-known Italian automotive brands, September 1, 2026, could mark the beginning of a particularly important new era.

Source: Stellantis

News

Fernando Alonso Drives Ultra-Rare Aston Martin Valiant Through Monaco

Fernando Alonso has access to some of the most desirable cars in the world, but even for a two-time Formula 1 world champion, the Aston Martin Valiant is something special. The Spanish driver was recently photographed behind the wheel of the ultra-limited supercar outside the Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco, giving enthusiasts another rare glimpse of one of Aston Martin’s most extreme road-legal machines.

Finished in black, Alonso’s Aston Martin Valiant looks every bit as serious as its name suggests. Its round LED daytime running lights, aggressive bodywork, distinctive rear lighting and enormous rear spoiler give it a visual character that separates it dramatically from the Aston Martin Valour on which it is based.

A video shared by TheSupercarBlog on Instagram shows Alonso slowly driving the Valiant away from the famous Monte Carlo casino at night. While Monaco is hardly short of exotic machinery, the sight of a Valiant on public roads remains unusual. Aston Martin is producing only a very limited number of examples, and the entire production run has already been allocated to customers.

Fernando Alonso Has Been Seen Driving the Aston Martin Valiant and Valkyrie

The Valiant isn’t the only Aston Martin attracting attention around Monaco with Alonso behind the wheel. The Formula 1 star has also recently been spotted driving an Aston Martin Valkyrie through the principality.

The two cars, however, represent very different interpretations of Aston Martin performance.

The Valkyrie is an uncompromising hypercar developed with Formula 1-inspired engineering and an extremely low-slung design. The Valiant takes a different approach, combining Aston Martin’s traditional front-engined V12 architecture with an unusually focused chassis, aggressive aerodynamics and one of the rarest features in a modern supercar: a manual transmission.

For driving enthusiasts, that combination may make the Valiant even more interesting than its spectacular appearance suggests.

Aston Martin Valiant Has a 5.2-Liter Twin-Turbo V12

At the heart of the Aston Martin Valiant is a 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine producing 745 horsepower and 753 Nm of torque.

Unlike many modern high-performance cars, the Valiant sends its power to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. There are no paddle shifters and no dual-clutch gearbox to make the process faster or easier.

Instead, Aston Martin deliberately chose a traditional manual transmission to make the driver an integral part of the experience.

That decision is particularly significant in an era when even many of the world’s most exclusive supercars are moving toward electrification, automated gearboxes and increasingly complex hybrid powertrains. The Valiant goes in the opposite direction, embracing mechanical involvement and driver input.

For Alonso, a driver whose career has been defined by controlling some of the most sophisticated racing machines ever built, that philosophy is particularly appropriate.

Fernando Alonso Helped Shape the Aston Martin Valiant

Aston Martin’s relationship with Fernando Alonso goes beyond the conventional role of a Formula 1 driver serving as a brand ambassador.

Alonso was reportedly closely involved in the development of the Valiant, providing feedback that helped influence the car’s character. His Formula 1 experience contributed to decisions surrounding weight reduction, increased performance and the car’s more aggressive track-focused setup.

The result is intended to be considerably more than a cosmetic special edition.

Aston Martin developed the Valiant as one of its most driver-focused road cars, with a philosophy that moves it closer to the company’s track-oriented special projects while retaining the ability to be driven legally on public roads.

That makes Alonso’s appearance in Monaco particularly fitting. Few people are better qualified to demonstrate the character of a car created with such an emphasis on driver involvement.

Aston Martin Valiant vs. Aston Martin Valour

The Aston Martin Valiant is closely related to the Aston Martin Valour, but the two cars have distinctly different personalities.

The Valour was designed as a dramatic celebration of Aston Martin’s heritage, combining retro-inspired styling with modern performance and a manual transmission. The Valiant pushes the same basic formula further toward outright performance.

Its more aggressive aerodynamic package includes a large rear wing, distinctive alloy wheels and unique lighting elements. The bodywork gives the car a much more purposeful appearance, suggesting that it was designed with track driving in mind rather than simply cruising between luxury destinations.

The Valiant therefore occupies an unusual position in Aston Martin’s lineup. It retains the front-mounted V12 layout associated with the brand’s traditional grand tourers, but its character is far more focused.

Valiant Takes a Different Path From the Aston Martin Valhalla

The contrast becomes even more interesting when the Valiant is compared with the Aston Martin Valhalla.

The Valhalla represents Aston Martin’s move toward the next generation of high-performance vehicles, using a mid-mounted hybrid powertrain and technology developed around modern performance requirements.

The Valiant, by comparison, is almost deliberately nostalgic.

It uses a large twin-turbo V12, rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox at a time when the industry is rapidly moving toward electrification. Rather than attempting to hide its mechanical complexity behind software, the Valiant makes the driver responsible for shifting gears and managing the connection between the engine and rear wheels.

That makes it something of a modern automotive time capsule.

One of the Rarest Aston Martins You Can Buy

The rarity of the Aston Martin Valiant is an important part of its appeal.

The car was created in extremely limited numbers, and the production allocation has already been reserved. That means sightings such as Alonso’s appearance in Monaco are likely to remain exceptionally uncommon.

Unlike mainstream performance models, the Valiant is not a car enthusiasts are likely to encounter regularly at automotive events or even at major motor shows. Its limited production ensures that most people will experience it through photographs and videos rather than seeing one in person.

That exclusivity also places the Valiant firmly within Aston Martin’s growing portfolio of bespoke and limited-production performance cars.

Fernando Alonso’s Valiant Is a Snapshot of a Changing Automotive World

There is something particularly fitting about seeing Fernando Alonso manually shifting a V12-powered Aston Martin through the streets of Monaco.

The setting itself is synonymous with Formula 1, luxury and exotic cars. Yet the Valiant represents something that is increasingly disappearing from the performance-car landscape.

A front-mounted V12, rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox are becoming increasingly difficult to find, particularly in a car capable of producing 745 horsepower.

As supercar manufacturers continue to embrace hybrid technology and full electrification, the Aston Martin Valiant offers a very different interpretation of what an ultra-high-performance road car can be.

It is loud, mechanical, visually dramatic and deliberately demanding to drive.

And with Fernando Alonso behind the wheel, the connection between the car’s racing-inspired character and its real-world purpose becomes even more obvious.

The Aston Martin Valiant may not represent the future of the supercar, but that could be precisely why it is so fascinating. In a rapidly changing automotive industry, cars like this preserve a combination of engine, gearbox and driver interaction that enthusiasts fear may soon become a thing of the past.

For now, at least, Alonso can still be seen enjoying it on the streets of Monaco—one manual V12 gear change at a time.

Source: monaco luxurystyle via Instagram

Tuning

Liberty Walk Unveils Extreme Dodge Challenger LB-WORKS Widebody

Liberty Walk has transformed the Dodge Challenger into an even more intimidating street machine, unveiling a dramatic LB-WORKS widebody build finished in a jet-inspired shade of gray. With massively flared fenders, an ultra-low stance, exposed hardware and aggressive aerodynamic details, this modified Dodge Challenger looks less like a conventional muscle car and more like a fighter jet that somehow found its way onto the road.

The new Liberty Walk Dodge Challenger widebody follows the Japanese tuning company’s unmistakable design philosophy: keep the original identity of the car intact, then push its proportions, stance and visual aggression to the extreme.

And in this case, the formula works exceptionally well.

Liberty Walk Gives the Dodge Challenger a Fighter-Jet Attitude

The Dodge Challenger has never been a subtle automobile. Even in standard form, its long hood, broad shoulders and retro-inspired proportions give it an imposing road presence.

Liberty Walk’s LB-WORKS package takes that familiar silhouette and dramatically increases its visual width.

The centerpiece is a set of enormous front and rear overfenders that extend the Challenger’s bodywork outward. Rather than attempting to make the modifications appear factory-installed, Liberty Walk embraces its trademark exposed-bolt construction. The fenders are visibly riveted to the original body, creating the unmistakable motorsport-inspired appearance that has become one of the company’s signatures.

The result is deliberately raw.

Instead of hiding the modification, Liberty Walk makes it impossible to ignore.

The package also includes a front lip spoiler, hood vents and a distinctive three-piece ducktail rear spoiler. Together with the widened body, these elements give the Challenger an extremely aggressive profile that makes even a standard SRT Hellcat look relatively restrained.

LB-WORKS Dodge Challenger Package Is a Complete Conversion

This isn’t simply a concept rendering or an unfinished project. Liberty Walk lists the LB-WORKS Dodge Challenger package as a complete body conversion designed to dramatically alter the appearance of the American muscle car.

The kit includes:

  • Wide front overfenders
  • Wide rear overfenders
  • Front lip spoiler
  • Hood vents
  • Three-piece ducktail spoiler
  • Liberty Walk’s signature exposed-bolt mounting hardware

The construction method is just as important to the design as the parts themselves.

Rather than cutting away the Challenger’s original structure or extensively reshaping the body, the extended fenders are bolted onto the existing bodywork. That approach allows Liberty Walk to preserve the basic structure of the car while creating a significantly wider visual footprint.

It is a technique the company has used across its extensive range of widebody conversions.

Adjustable Air Suspension Gives the Challenger Its Extreme Stance

The widebody transformation would not be complete without an equally dramatic suspension setup.

This particular Liberty Walk Challenger sits on adjustable air suspension, allowing its ride height to be changed depending on the situation. For photography, shows or parked displays, the car can be dropped dramatically close to the pavement.

For normal driving, the suspension can be raised to provide more practical ground clearance.

That flexibility is particularly important on a car with such an aggressive stance. A fixed suspension setup at this ride height would make everyday driving considerably less convenient, particularly on roads with steep driveways, speed bumps and uneven pavement.

Black Y-spoke wheels tucked underneath the enlarged fenders complete the look. The combination of dark wheels, gray paint, exposed fasteners and exaggerated bodywork gives the Challenger an almost military appearance.

From V6 Muscle Car to 1,025-HP Demon

The Liberty Walk build is based on an early third-generation Dodge Challenger, the generation that first returned the iconic nameplate to Dodge’s lineup for the 2008 model year.

That generation remained in production through the 2024 model year and was offered with everything from relatively modest V6 power to some of the most outrageous V8 performance ever installed in a production muscle car.

At the top of the Challenger hierarchy sat the legendary SRT Demon 170.

With more than 1,000 horsepower available, the Demon 170 could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 1.66 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in just 8.91 seconds under the appropriate conditions.

The SRT Hellcat family was also capable of producing more than 700 hp, giving Dodge Challenger buyers an extraordinary range of performance options.

But Liberty Walk’s demonstration car isn’t attempting to compete with the Demon 170 in a straight line.

Instead, its mission is primarily visual.

Liberty Walk Challenger Focuses on Style Rather Than Maximum Power

Underneath the aggressive exterior, the Liberty Walk Challenger remains much closer to a street-oriented muscle car than an all-out drag racing machine.

Rather than attempting to extract Demon-level horsepower from the engine, the build focuses on creating a distinctive combination of appearance, stance and sound.

A custom variable-valve exhaust system adds another layer to the transformation. The system allows the car’s exhaust character to be adjusted, giving the Challenger the ability to sound more aggressive when desired without making every drive unnecessarily loud.

That approach makes sense for a car designed to attract attention on the street rather than dominate a drag strip.

After all, the Challenger already has enough performance credibility.

Liberty Walk’s job here is to make sure nobody mistakes it for an ordinary one.

Why Liberty Walk’s Exposed-Bolt Design Still Works

One of the most recognizable characteristics of Liberty Walk vehicles is the decision to leave the fasteners exposed.

Traditional body modifications often attempt to make wide fender extensions appear seamless. The additional panels are blended into the original bodywork, painted and smoothed until the car can look as though it left the factory that way.

Liberty Walk takes the opposite approach.

The bolts are part of the design.

The visible hardware creates a deliberately mechanical appearance and emphasizes the fact that the car has been extensively modified. On the Challenger, the effect works particularly well because the original car already has a muscular, industrial character.

The result isn’t intended to look like a factory Dodge.

It is supposed to look modified.

And that distinction is central to the LB-WORKS philosophy.

Does a Liberty Walk Widebody Increase a Car’s Value?

One interesting question surrounding heavily modified cars is whether an expensive widebody conversion can increase resale value.

The answer is complicated.

A professionally executed Liberty Walk build can dramatically increase a car’s visual appeal and potentially make it more desirable to the right enthusiast. A rare or particularly well-known build may even command a premium among collectors or tuning fans.

However, modification costs do not automatically translate into equivalent increases in resale value.

A buyer looking for an original Dodge Challenger may actually prefer a factory-standard example, while another enthusiast could consider the Liberty Walk conversion the most desirable version available.

That means the financial impact of a widebody conversion depends heavily on the quality of the work, the parts used, the underlying vehicle, documentation and, perhaps most importantly, the preferences of the eventual buyer.

In other words, a $20,000 modification doesn’t necessarily make a $50,000 car worth $70,000.

Sometimes it simply makes the car more interesting.

The Dodge Challenger Looks Right at Home With the LB-WORKS Treatment

The Dodge Challenger’s basic proportions make it particularly well suited to a Liberty Walk transformation.

Its long hood, short rear deck, broad body and squared-off styling provide plenty of visual mass for the enlarged fenders and aggressive aerodynamic components. Unlike some sports cars, the Challenger doesn’t need delicate bodywork to create an exotic appearance.

Liberty Walk instead amplifies what is already there.

The result is a Challenger that looks wider, lower and considerably more aggressive than the standard car. The jet-inspired gray paint reinforces the theme, while the black wheels and exposed hardware provide enough contrast to make the widebody components stand out.

It is an exaggerated interpretation of the American muscle car, but that exaggeration is precisely the point.

Liberty Walk’s Dodge Challenger Is About Presence

The final product isn’t necessarily the fastest Dodge Challenger ever built. It doesn’t need to be.

The Demon 170 will remain the benchmark when the conversation turns to quarter-mile acceleration and outright factory performance. The Hellcat family will continue to represent one of the most recognizable high-horsepower muscle car formulas of the modern era.

The Liberty Walk Challenger is playing a different game.

It is about presence.

The huge fenders, low ride height, exposed bolts, black wheels, ducktail spoiler and custom exhaust transform a familiar American muscle car into something far more theatrical.

And that may be the most impressive part of the build.

Liberty Walk hasn’t tried to erase the Challenger’s identity. Instead, it has taken everything people recognize about the car and turned the volume all the way up.

For enthusiasts who believe a muscle car should be impossible to overlook, the LB-WORKS Dodge Challenger widebody might be one of the most convincing interpretations of that philosophy yet.

Source: Liberty Walk