Cylinder deactivation technology is quite common in modern cars, especially those equipped with larger engines. But what if I told you that, over four decades ago, Alfa Romeo built an Alfetta that seamlessly switched on and off half its cylinders according to driving conditions? — Cleaning up The onset of tailpipe emissions regulations in the USA during the late 1960s marked the beginning of automobile engineers’ ongoing efforts to marry performance and compliance.

When discussing companies that were pioneers in automobile safety, Fiat likely isn’t among the first names you’ll think about. Yet half a century ago, the Italian manufacturer took part in an ambitious international research program aimed at developing safer cars for the future, and here’s its story. — The ESV program The late 1960s and early 70s saw the first cracks appearing in the western world’s love affair with the personal automobile: the point the unintended consequences of mass motorization like air pollution, congestion, and road accident fatalities had simply gotten too severe to ignore.

Maserati’s designers stuck to an old recipe, but the result is arguably as tasty as they come… — It’s already been over three years since the last of the previous-generation Maserati Gran Turismos left the Trident’s historic Modena factory. Still, anyone who doesn’t follow the automotive news cycle closely could be forgiven for wondering if the model was ever gone at all, given how closely the recently introduced…

Presented in 1988, the unique Lancia ECV2 prototype represents a tantalizing glimpse into what could have been the evolution of rallies if the infamous Group B cars had been allowed to continue racing. Here’s its story. — Early into the 1986 season, while Lancia’s fearsome Delta S4 battled with the Peugeot 205 T16 for the World Championship, work at Abarth’s HQ was already well underway on the cars for the 1987 season and beyond.

We Italians often take our country’s cultural heritage for granted, but I’m determined to change that and rediscover Italy’s beauties one at a time, including Florence… — Italians typically feel a deep, almost primal bond to their land and customs, yet often pay surprisingly little attention to their country’s unique cultural heritage. And I’m no exception. But I’ve decided to finally go out and change that, devoting 2023 to rediscovering the beauty and culture of Italy one small piece at a…

2023 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the World Rally Championship, but what is the greatest rally car of all time? It depends on who you ask, but if you asked me… — … I would pick the legendary Lancia Stratos, and here are five reasons why. One: The first purpose-built rally car The Lancia Stratos marked a turning point in the sport’s development, as it was the first car to have been designed from the ground up for the sole purpose of winning rallies.

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to rediscover my homeland, one tiny, beautiful piece at a time. And Venice sure is one hell of a place to start… — I turned 40 last December and, despite being born and raised in Italy, I’ve only recently visited Venice for the very first time. I hear you and agree: it’s an embarrassing state of affairs. Hell, how come I’ve been to San Francisco (twice!) and Shanghai but have only ever seen Venice in pictures? …

The first step in the revival of the storied Italian brand Lancia has been the presentation of a curious sculpture, but one that echoes one of the greatest dream cars of all time… — Among the best, and perhaps least expected, outcomes from the formation of Stellantis in 2021 was a renewed commitment to relaunch the long-suffering Lancia brand, which had previously been sentenced to a slow death by the late Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, in his characteristically uncouth manner, back in 2014.

Unless you’re an Italian over the age of 40, you’re unlikely to have ever heard about the Autobianchi brand. Although it may be easy to dismiss it as a footnote, the Milanese firm’s role in automobile history is actually far from inconsequential… And here’s why. — From Bianchi to Autobianchi Few people know that the Italian brand Bianchi, mainly associated with high-end racing bicycles, also built automobiles, and began doing so as early as 1900.