10 timeless Italian cars that will always catch the eye
Although many times this is not the case, people still have quite a few stereotypes about cars based on their origin or country. German cars, for example, are always well-designed and precise, but Volkswagen also has some confusing problems; Japanese cars are pragmatic and reliable; French cars have a reputation for being quirky, and this often comes at the expense of functionality, and so on.
Italian cars? They are known for being exceptionally stylish and aesthetically pleasing. Believe it or not, the Italians have proven this wrong many times, but in some cases this preconception is absolutely true. Italy has produced some of the most beautiful cars of the last century, and many of them are not only beautiful to look at, but also to look good even 10, 15, or even 20 years later.
The design of Italian cars gives a special touch to many car enthusiasts, and no matter how old these beautiful cars are, they are still able to attract attention.
玛莎拉蒂 Quattroporte(第五代)
While the fourth-generation Quattroporte and its somewhat unimaginative (but still attractive) styling still hold a special place in the hearts of many enthusiasts, the fifth-generation car launched in 2003 was a brave new step in the right direction.
Gone are the boxy, understated styling that was replaced by a completely modern-looking luxury sedan that looked ahead of its time and still looks great even today. Well, maybe, except for those headlight clusters. With the push of a few buttons, the fifth-generation Quattroporte also inspires the soul in terms of hearing. The two V8 engines powering this generation of Quattroporte came from Ferrari, except that they swapped out the planar crankshaft for a transverse planar crankshaft. The result is a V8 engine that produces a sound that, while less typical, is still a Maserati signature.
Of course, it is not without its drawbacks. The early fifth-generation Quattroportes used the notoriously unreliable DuoSelect semi-automatic transmission, which was prone to failure and extremely expensive to maintain. Fortunately, later models and their ZF automatic transmissions greatly improved the situation, and the Quattroporte became an alternative to the old German cars. With proper maintenance, it's still one of the cheapest used limousines on the market and a one-way ticket to make you look wealthy.
Murcielago
Not only was the Murcielego the last V12 Lambo to offer a manual transmission, but also the first model assembled after Audi took over completely, it had another very important feature. Following the launch of the Reventòn in 2008, Lamborghini began to borrow heavily from fighter jets in its exterior design. The Reventòn, Aventador, Siàn and all the other models make the Murcielago look a bit restrained.
In a way, the restraint inherent in Murcielago's design is what makes it so stunning. It manages to be simple and elegant, without hiding its true intentions: a fire-breathing V12 supercar that makes people smile. Speaking of the V12, it started out as a 6.2-liter engine, then changed from the facelifted Murcielago LP640-4 to a more powerful 6.5-liter V12.
Although most Lamborghini names come from bullfighting, Murcielago actually means "bat" in Spanish. It's much more than just a name, as one of the Murcielago's signature features is the aerodynamic batwing hidden behind the doors. Thanks to the internet, Aventador continues to steal the show, and now it's time for Murcielago to gain some love as well.
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV
It's incredible to think about, but in the '70s and '80s, Alfa Romeo had a real competitor that rivaled the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class: the Alfetta. Derived from Alfa Romeo's much-loved RWD era, the Alfetta features a rear-mounted transaxle for improved weight distribution, making it a fairly typical midsize sedan with a bit of Italian magic.
GTV is a spin-off from the Alfetta architecture and is absolutely stunning. The crazy quickback design is definitely worth a second look, and it will eclipse the Volkswagen Scirocco. The original design of the GTV was created by Giugiaro, who came up with such a striking design. A lot of the exterior styling bears a slight resemblance to the Montreal supercar, and that's never a bad thing.
What makes the GTV unique is not only the looks, but also the powertrain it provides. Sure, it has a Twin Spark engine, but the GTV also features one of the best V6 engines ever made: the Busso V6.
法拉利 Daytona SP3
Pininfarina has long been responsible for the design of Ferrari. During the Italian design house's time in power, Ferrari introduced some of the most beautiful-looking cars, with creations such as the F12berlinetta and the 458. While Ferrari's own designs may not be as classic and aesthetically pleasing as the Pininfarina models, the Daytona SP3 completely rewrites the established rules.
The SP3 is the third limited-edition, ridiculously expensive model in the Icona series, the first two being the Monza SP1 and Monza SP2. This is the first mid-engined V12 car from the automaker in a long time, this V12 engine is 6.5 liters and has 840 horsepower. Nothing to write about, is it?
All of this power is hidden in a stunning bodywork, which pays homage to the incredible 330 P race cars of the '60s of the 20th century, similar to the race car that challenged (and lost to the Ford GT40). It also includes a detachable hardtop, and in terms of pure drama, the Daytona SP3 is undoubtedly one of the best modern Ferraris and a nod to the original's brilliant 330 P4.
Alfa Romeo Brera
When starting career mode in Need for Speed Carbon Edition, players have three cars to choose from: a Mazda RX-8, a 67 Chevrolet Camaro, and an Alfa Romeo Brera. Much of the Western world was recognized by the Brera thanks to the 2006 NFS release, one of many sporty front-wheel drive coupes introduced in the mid-2000s. Based on the 159 platform, the Brera really stands out in a league of its own when it comes to looks.
It was part of a booming sporty FWD car boom of the 2000s and early 2010s, facing stiff competition from the Volkswagen Scirocco, Peugeot RCZ, and Volvo C30. In the eyes of many, especially the most outspoken Alfa Romeo enthusiasts, the Brera is stunning and without a doubt one of the best modern designs in Alfa.
It's also backed by pretty decent performance, with powertrain options including the famous 1750 TBi, a five-cylinder turbo diesel, and a 3.2-liter V6 (sadly, not a Busso). Still, with this curvilinear styling, triple headlights, and huge quad exhaust pipes, it doesn't matter what's under the hood, because the Brera's exterior already says it all.
Lamborghini Miura
When it comes to timeless and gorgeous Italian cars, one cannot fail to mention one of the most influential cars of the 20th century. The Miura was not the first Lamborghini, but it was the world's first car to be called a supercar. This is mainly due to its powertrain layout: the engine is located in the rear middle, not the front.
As soon as the Miura was introduced, other supercar manufacturers quickly jumped on board. Regardless of the version, Miura is breathtaking. When it was first introduced in the late 60s of the 20th century, it was unlike anything one had seen before. Nowadays we are used to mid-engine supercars, but at the time, it was all science fiction.
There are a number of unique, distinctive styling cues that set the Miura apart, such as the doors with built-in horns and the eyelashes that wrap around the headlights on earlier models. Sadly, like many early Lamborghini, it is prone to some minor problems. But when you get out of the car and turn around, Miura isn't just a piece of art to look back at; It was a complete revolution.
Children of the Pagani Wind
An important first step in Horacio Pagani's career was responsible for designing the stunning and high-profile Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition. After completing the project, he embarked on his own business. It's no secret that Ferrari and Lamborghini are unstoppable in their field, but Pagani was the first to really succeed in so many ways.
The first car launched by the Pagani Motors Company was the Zonda, named after the Argentine style, which was a tribute to Mr. Pagani's heritage. He was the designer of the car, and Zonda gave a new interpretation to the look of the supercar. With its incredibly aerodynamic shape, carbon fiber wrap, aero theme, and most importantly, four exhaust pipes, the Zonda is a beautiful supercar.
As you would expect from a supercar from Italy, this car is also a pleasant one. Power comes from a 7.3-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine from the Mercedes AMG division. They've built one or two good engines in the past, and this one is no exception. Unless someone messes with the exhaust pipe on their W140 S-Class, you can hear the Zonda from miles away and immediately know it's the Zonda. Despite releasing two full models in the last 25 years or so, it seems that Pagani can't stop producing the Zonda either.
Ferrari 458
The 355, 360 and 430 are all quite cautious steps in the evolution of the V8-engined Ferrari. The introduction of the 458 in 2009 was when things took a big turn. What a great revolution it is that evolution has been replaced by revolution. The 458 was designed by Pininfarina, and Ferrari showed its strong displeasure with some of the negative reviews of the 360 and 430 designs.
Vents next to the headlights, a completely different shape and, of course, a three-exhaust F40 tribute strap are just some of the features of the 458. And that's not even touching on the most unique aspect of its design: the apparent lack of cooling vents or NACA ducts throughout the body.
That's because Ferrari's engineers have hidden all the vents underneath the body, making it as smooth and tidy as possible, and it works well. When the 488 was launched in 2016 to replace the 458, it reinstalled some of the air vents on the body, and as a result, lost some of its simple, unostentatious charm. Not only does the 458 look good, but it's also powerful, thanks to a 4.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine that revs up to 9,000 rpm and makes 562 horsepower.
Fiat coupe
Fiat is known for producing economy cars that are affordable, fun to look at, and surprisingly reliable and sturdy. Back in the 90s, Fiat still had an interesting side, although the embodiment of this interesting side was not the 500 with the scorpion badge and the furiest exhaust pipe in the world (which is not a bad thing). The pinnacle of the Italian automaker's funny side in the 90s came in the form of a simply named Coupe.
The angular wedge shape and those truncated fenders have led many to refer to this Coupe as a mini Ferrari. Despite the subtle resemblance to Ferrari, this Coupe is far from a Ferrari because it is front-wheel drive and front-engine. However, if there's one thing it has in common with most Ferraris, it's its endless '90s cool style that catches the eye.
The situation under the hood is even better, as one of the powertrains of this Coupe is a 20V turbocharged five-cylinder engine, which makes a wonderful sound and is quite stable. Even the Pininfarina-style interior is a sight to behold, thanks to its exterior colored panels and awesome instrument panel.
Alfa Romeo 166
No one realized at the time that the 166 was Alfa Romeo's last attempt to compete with the 5 Series and E-Class. It came out in the late 90s and never made its way to the United States or Canada because it was designed primarily for Europe. That's a shame because, despite the expected flaws, the 166 is a great midsize sedan.
First of all, it has a classical beauty, as Alfa Romeo has almost always been. Even the early cars with small headlights looked great, but the facelift made everything more modern and even better-looking. The proportions are just right, nothing is too fancy or over-designed. When the E60 5 series came out, the 166 was still there, and since everyone had a hard time adapting to the Bangle design, the 166 had the upper hand in this regard. It was also one of the only production cars at the time to have LED turn signals in the taillights.
The choice of engines is also great, as one of them is the Alfa Romeo staple, the Busso V6. There's also a five-cylinder turbodiesel and a whole bunch of other engines. Unfortunately, the poor depreciation curve, combined with Alpha's reputation for reliability, led to the 166 being discontinued after a short production cycle, and it was never truly revived. Despite being 25 years old, it has aged gracefully.