The Montreal was a rare excursion by Alfa Romeo into the highly competitive super car arena, with a front engined V8 coupe. The shape, created by Bertone, had first been shown as a dream car at the world Fair in Montreal in 1967. However, the public were so surprisingly enthusiastic about it that Alfa Romeo [...]

The Junior Z was a beautiful and innovative aerodynamics study on the Alfa Giulia 1300 GT chassis by Zagato, first seen in 1969. Designer Ercole Spada created a glorious two seater coupe with a sharply cut off tail that incorporated an early form of internal spoiler. At the front the lights and grille were covered [...]

Of all the 105 series Alfa Romeos that come out of the 1960s and 1970s, it is the Bertone designed 1750 GTV coupe, first seen in 1967 that is closest to drivers’ hearts. When you look at the car it is easy to understand why. Although later 2 liter versions may have been quicker, the [...]

The Alfa spider ‘Duetto’ was launched at the Turin motor show in 1966, and was the last complete design by the Battista Pininfarina the founder of the famous styling house who deal that year. Although sales were initially disappointing when buyers resistant to the rounded, boat tail styling, the model went on to be highly [...]

Carlo Abarth establishes his tuning company in Turin in the year 1949. At the beginning he specialized in Fiats, but eventually built cars that were definitely separate models in their own right. By the early 1960s, his firm was turning out approximately 3000cars a year and employed more than 350 people, which put it on [...]

This is how the Mini will look when it veers off the road and onto the verge in 2009. Called Mini Crossover (how did they think of that?), it’s a Paris motor show concept, but will become production sports activity vehicle- and the biggest Mini yet. Ironic, isn’t it? While the rest of the world [...]

You know a car is seriously cool when Fahad Majidi tells you he’s ordered one before they are even on sale. This, is after all, a man who loves cars even more than he loves himself. And this is Olympic class adoration, trust me. The maserati granturismo Has that effect on people though. It’s the [...]

Like the Clio, the Mini John Cooper Works frustrates and delights in equal measure. On the positive side, the engine is utterly ballistic. Mini quotes 208bhp and 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds but, in reality, the Ayres Rock of a torque curve (192lb ft from 1850-5600rpm) makes it feel way, way faster. Few hot hatches pick [...]

Form the sharp suited, smooth talking ST to the hoody wearing Clio Cup. No hot hatch challenge would be right without an entry form the Renaultsport ASBOs at Dieppe. The Cup gets 7mm reduction in the ride height, upgraded springs, and stiffer dampers but no extra go form the 194bhp 2.0 liter 16 value engine. [...]