Fiat Panda 100HP, Pocket Rocket
“We’re at Balocco again. And I’ve just driven a regular Panda on the fast but sinuous road course to squidgy, understeery effect in order to calibrate my Panda-assessment head. Our blue 100 HP looks fundamentally different: has any other car in the history of the world managed to assume, convincingly, the roles of shopping car, 4x4 and hot hatch with no sheet-metal change?”

Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo
“Fiat’s modern classic hardly needs sprucing up, but we put a trio of curried coupes through their paces.”

Ilario Bandini
The name Bandini is synonymous with something fast and spectacular. We celebrate the achievements of a brilliant engineer who earned great respect in both Italy and the United States.

Alfa Romeo GTV6, Battle Wagon
“A proper old battle-wagon. This was my first impression when I clapped eyes on the historic racer. I am in South Africa at the Zwartkops Race Circuit. You see a lot of Alfa Romeos in South Africa because there was an Alfa factory here until 1986. Apart from this Italian influence, there is also that American car-sales philosophy in South African motorsport where you ‘win on Sunday and sell on Monday’. Media coverage is good, so informed buyers are often influenced by motorsport.” 

Maserati GranSport
“Masearti. Cool, sexy and sinister; like a cat-suited karate-kicking bad girl in a Bond movie. Which is exactly the vibe given off by the reception area where I’m required to wait. This dark, cavernous space was designed by the British-based bad boy of architectural brutalism, Ron Arad, best known, like the Sicilian mafia, for his work in concrete.” 

Ferrari 308 GTG
“Ferrari ownership need not be a nightmare if you do your groundwork properly”.

IMSA Gallardo
“A Sharper Image. New Lamborghini tuning specialist takes the bull by the horns.  

“For anyone who sees the IMSA Gallardo for the first time, the main draw will be the car’s unique body styling additions and wheels, which make the wedge-shaped baby Lambo look altogether more purposeful.” 

Alfa Romeo 1900M, The AR51 and AR52 ‘Matta’
“The very mention of Alfa Romeo conjures enticing images of charismatic coupes, sporting saloons and stylish spiders. Delve back into history and you discover cutting-edge engineering, vintage pedigree and a compendium of competition successes. Less well known is the company’s history relating to a full set of commercial vehicles – trucks, vans, buses, trolleybuses, even tractors and road rollers, and a jeep – the 1900M.” 

Lancia’s Centenary Celebrations, “100 years Young”
“Vincenzo Lancia’s eponymous company achieved its 100th birthday and, after much planning, a week of suitable celebrations took place in Turin.”