Alfa Romeo Spider 2006 Launch
Simon Park heads off to Sicily to drive the new Alfa Spider; but begins by asking why, with all God’s creatures to choose from, did the Italians originally pick a hairy-scary little monster to adopt as the name for their racy sportscar? His explanation is convincing; but open to debate.

Fiat Grande Punto 120 Eleganza
Editor Phil Ward takes a spin in the range-topping model – the only one in the new Grande Punto range that the mag hasn’t yet tested. And he comes to the conclusion that the best has been saved till last. “It goes well, looks good, it’s well made and reasonably priced. Job done.” But there’s more to it than that…

Giro di Sicilia
This is the centenary year of the fabulous Targa Florio and more than one event has been held in celebration on the beautiful island of Sicily – leading to some confusion among participants and spectators. Claire Bowen joins the annual retro-run held by the Veteran Car Club Panormus of Palermo.

Maserati Quattroporte III
Simon Park continues his chronological journey through the various eras of the Maserati Quattroporte series, with this ‘Battlecar Galactica’ of 1979-1990. “Forget images of Fangio and 250Fs – think the Athenaeum-on-wheels instead,” he says of the executive saloon seemingly styled along the lines of an aircraft-carrier. And to drive? “Not the quintessential driver’s car, no, but nor is it the flaccid old barge you might imagine.”

Golden Oldie – Lancia Flavia
When Peter Collins first met the Lancia Flavia, it was in his student days. “We all wanted a Ferrari,” he says, “so a mate bought a ‘pre-owned’ Lancia Pininfarina Flavia Coupe.” According to the mate, it looked “just like a 250 GT at night under sodium lamps.” Peter wasn’t convinced… but then he admits that, at the time, his knowledge of the wonderful Italian marque amounted to the legendary ‘hill of beans’.

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Tony Soper takes a marathon road test in one of Ferrari’s finest, when he covers two thousand kilometres from Spain to the UK in two days. Ferrari UK needed its ‘one hundred and eighty-three thousand pound and 540bhp’ car delivered back to the UK from the Ferrari Challenge race meeting in Valencia – and Soper offered to help out. Good of him, that.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Turbo
Being a virgin of the Giulietta kind,” says Richard Dredge, “I wasn’t too sure what to expect with Mike Spenceley’s 1981 Turbo example – so I sought the advice of somebody who supposedly knows about these things. ‘The worst bloody car ever to come out of Italy – and it’ll be even nastier if blown,’ I was assured.” But Richard discovers that his informant was wrong; and he grows rather fond of the UK’s sole-surviving Mathwall Giulietta Turbo.

Forgotten Fiats: the Millecento
Though built in large numbers, few Millecentos have survived. This is not least because repeated attempts to make the car look upmarket failed – and it always appeared, somehow, utilitarian. Turin-born Alessandro Sannia, a major Fiat historian, takes an in-depth look at this remarkable little car which stayed in production for an amazing 46 years.

Bologna-San Luca Hillclimb
Roberto Giordanelli heads off to this ‘hillclimb with a difference’. While Roberto was competing in the event, he points out that – as at all Italian hillclimbs – spectating is free. With bars and cafes at the bottom, sun or rain protection on the way up, and more bars at the top, it is a very pleasurable way to take in magnificent panoramic views of Bologna… and enjoy some historic motorsport action en route.

Ultima Alfa
A South-African trackday special, put through its paces at Kyalami by Roberto Giordanelli. We also get to hear what makes South-African trackdays rather different from our homegrown variety: “…a trackday at Kyalami is a balls-out competitive event. All cars are fitted with transponders. All laps are timed. All results are posted on the wall and prizes are given to each class.”