Italy
European Car of the Year for the 1996 model year is the Fiat Brava and Bravo. The Brava is a five-door "fastback", and the "Bravo" is a three-door hatchback. Both replace the long-running and successful Tipo, and have the most distinctive styling currently seen on any European family car. Power comes from 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engines, though only the Bravo gets the 2.0 engine in powerful HGT V5 form - making it a swift competitor for a Golf GTI. Equipment and safety levels are also very good, with a competitive price tag to match. The Brava and Bravo will form the basis of the forthcoming Marea saloon and estate, which will give Fiat a much-needed new competitor for the Ford Mondeo.
Alfa Romeo has revived two of its most historic names for its re-entry into the sports car market. GTV was last seen in 1987 on an aerodynamic coupe, and it is now making its re-appearance on an extremely stylish 2.0 engined 2+2 coupe which offers brilliant handling but could do with a bit more power as well as more space in the tiny rear seats. Spider was the historic nameplate worn by a classic two-seater roadster between 1966 and 1993, and is now making its re-appearance on the open top version of the GTV. The Spider is identically styled to the GTV, but has no rear seats and is marginally more expensive.
Read more about this topic: 1995 In Motoring
Famous quotes containing the word italy:
“Everything in Italy that is particularly elegant and grand ... borders upon insanity and absurdity—or at least is reminiscent of childhood.”
—Alexander Herzen (1812–1870)
“the San Marco Library,
Whence turbulent Italy should draw
Delight in Art whose end is peace,
In logic and in natural law
By sucking at the dugs of Greece.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, bloodshed—they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love, five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did they produce? The cuckoo clock!”
—Orson Welles (1915–84)