With lines that would do justice to Lollobrigida or Loren, Italian cars have returned to America with a vengeance. Legendary names like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat are filling showrooms with luscious offerings.
You’ll have the opportunity to dip into your wallet at different levels, starting with the Fiat 500e with an MSRP of $34,095, all the way up to a ground-shaking Ferrari 812 at $429,815. In between, you’ll find sporty cars, crossovers, small SUVs, and yes, several that will try the patience of your local carabinieri (police). Here’s a look at what is arriving from the land of pizza, pasta and vino.
Maserati Quattroporte
This luxury sedan provides Italian style and driving enjoyment, pushed along by a 3.0-liter V6 turbo engine that can show 179 mph on the speedometer (opt for the Trofeo version for 203 mph!). Luxurious leather upholstery and wide doors make this pleasant for evenings on the town. MSRP $140,995.
Ferrari 812GTS
With its classic V-12 6.5-liter engine (789+hp), the exhaust sound is an aphrodisiac to car fanciers and is the latest in a long line of grand touring cars from this legendary company. Whether you’re en route to a black-tie event or a tasting at the local winery, the 812GTS is all about the driver, from the gorgeous interior to the neck-bending power. Choose a color besides blood red at your own risk. MSRP $429,815.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Say it joo-leah, and it’s a long-time name in the Alfa line, combining strong performance (149 mph) from the 2.0 turbo engine (all-wheel drive) with five-seater practicality. With everything from a wireless charging pad to ten-way heated power front seats, the Giulia is as comfortable for long vacation drives as it is around town. MSRP $44,670.
Alfa Tonale (photo featured above)
This is Alfa’s answer to American life, with a compact sports ute that can ferry kids to their soccer game as easily as cruise the turnpike. The Tonale (toh-nah-lay) offers up to 360 miles of total range using a hybrid electric/gas power package with its 1.3-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine and all-wheel drive. MSRP $45,440.
Lamborghini Huracan
Appropriate to Florida, the Huracan is just that, a hurricane with a 5.2-liter 600hp V10 engine and all-wheel drive. With unmistakable lines that say “Don’t mess with me,” this supercar is one of the fastest road cars with a top end of 199 mph and a 0-124 mph time of 10 seconds. Yikes! MSRP $249,865.
Regardless of which Italian stallion you choose, remember to dress with “sprezzatura,” which means nonchalance but without appearing planned. Men: think film director Federico Fellini with his blazer casually over his shoulders, linen slacks and handmade driving shoes. Women: black is always safe with bright scarves and oversized sunglasses. Both men and women must learn to say “Ciao,” “Grazie” and “Prego” (thank you, pray-go) with throwaway élan. Ah, Italia!
Chris Caswell is an award-winning writer and the former editor of several yachting magazines. He has appeared on Oprah as a boating lifestyle expert and hosted the Marine Voyager series on the Speed Channel.
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