Mitomacchina
We report on an exhibition of automotive design excellence in Rovereto, northern Italy, a project that celebrates the passion behind car design and the impact it has had on modern culture. Mitomacchina features a large number of iconic Italian cars – from the early part of the 20th Century to future concepts – as well as technical drawings, wooden models, and photographs of the designers and research centres.

Black Beauty
The essential fashion accessory of the Hollywood set in the late ‘50s, we find what is probably the most original Ferrari 250 California Spyder, having been kept in storage and with only 13,000kms on the clock.  For some strangely arcane reason, we then decide to thrash this £1.5 million car around the Nurburgring Nordshleife. Oh dear.

Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato
A pristine, very low mileage example of the car that provided a fitting end to the ‘60s.  This particular Junior was restored to a very high standard in Italy. “As with so many Zagato designs the Junior Z’s figure-hugging bodywork gives the impression of being stretched tightly over the oily bits.”

Lola Tecno
As intimidating drives go, it doesn’t get much more hairy than this – a Lola racing car that weighs about as much as a packet of fags, powered by a thunderous 12-cylinder Tecno monster. The only driver who was man enough to put his hand up was our very own Roberto Giordanelli. He is either very brave, or completely insane. You decide.

Bore Wars
We investigate an Alfa Romeo with horns, fettled in the land of the Rainbow Nation: “No need to wait until the end of this story – I can tell you right now these big bore engine conversions are bad news. If you drive an ordinary V6 Alfa you will have to raid your savings and treat yourself to some torque. Drive a standard V6 Alfa after experiencing a big bore, and it’s like a Bloody Mary without the vodka or Worcester sauce.”

The Scottish Tour
Our cover story takes you on an epic journey to explore the potential of the Ferrari F430 as a grand tourer, while enjoying the fantastic Scottish scenery and enthusiastic hospitality of the distilleries on the Scotch Whisky Trail: “If you want even more excitement, click the Manettino switch to Sport and feel how the car flies…accompanied by a satisfying pop and crackle from the exhaust if you get it right.”

Ducati 1098
We have a good hard look at the new superbike from Ducati, launched at Kyalami in South Africa. Hands must have been slapped because the new model struggled to find enough oxygen to burn: “For here, at 5850 feet above sea level, there was only a hint of the new bike’s towering performance, thanks to the 18% loss in power and torque occasioned at such an altitude.”

Fiat 1100
The best things do sometimes come in small packages: “It was a very complex design with some baroque features and turbulent shapes…This unusual look, with red as the usual body colour choice, gave it the nickname of ‘diavoletto’ (little devil).”

Silver Flag
An Auto Italia favourite, the 11th Castell’Arquato to Vernasca hillclimb is covered by one of the drivers who took part, Simon Park: “Here, the crowd is alarmingly close to the action, but that’s what they’ve come to see – lots of revs, tyre-smoke, squeals and general hooliganism. So that’s what we give ‘em – none better than Roberto in his ex-works Elan 26R…”