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Touring displays Ferraris old and new at Villa d'Este

Arguably more than any other, Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera has long been a mainstay of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, and this year the coachbuilder chose to highlight its long history by showcasing two Ferraris: the first one it ever did and the most recent. The latter is the Berlinetta Lusso which Touring showcased at this year's Geneva Motor Show. A more subtle and elegant take on the visually aggressive Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, the Berlinetta Lusso is rebodied in handcrafted aluminum and carbon fiber and will be offered in a strictly limited run of five examples. The former, however, dates back a lot long than this past March. It's the 1948 Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta, one of the earliest Ferraris and the first (discounting the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815) that Touring was called on to clothe. The 166 Mille Miglia was the first car which Enzo Ferrari made in any serious numbers, but this particular show car wasn't just any example: this one was owned by Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli. It's a fitting display from the carrozzeria that won the Design Award with the Disco Volante just two years ago, displayed the Mini Superleggera concept last year and has been part of the Concorso since 1931. Sadly for the Milanese outfit, though, the Berlinetta Lusso didn't win the coveted prize this year: that went to the Bentley EXP 10 Speed Six, which also beat out the SCG 003C, Magna Mila Plus, Aston Martin DBX, Lamborghini Asterion and Zagato Mostro. Related Video: THE FIRST AND LATEST FERRARI DRESSED BY TOURING PARADE AT CONCORSO D'ELEGANZA VILLA D'ESTE 2015 - A rare opportunity to see on stage the acclaimed Touring Berlinetta Lusso and Gianni Agnelli's Ferrari 166MM Barchetta Touring. - Touring Berlinetta Lusso competes for the Concept Cars and Prototypes Design Award. - The magnificent Barchetta owned by l'Avvocato enters the "Gentlemen's racers" class after regaining its authentic shape at Touring Superleggera restoration atelier. Touring Superleggera is embedded in the Concorso since the early editions, having debuted in 1931. The hall of fame includes, among many, the prizes assigned to Isotta Fraschini 8ASS spider, Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider as well as Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider Coupe, Pegaso Z102 Berlinetta "Thrill" and recently Alfa Romeo Disco Volante by Touring. Touring believes the Concorso is the ideal stage to showcase innovative prototypes, give rise to new stylistic trends, surprise and amaze the selected attendance".

Former Ferrari chief Montezemolo to be chairman of Alitalia

Luca di Montezemolo may be 67 years old, but he's not quite ready to retire just yet. Not, at least, if the latest reports emanating from Italy are to be believed. According to Reuters, the longtime former Ferrari chief is due to be named chairman of Alitalia.
The troubled Italian airline is on the verge of being bailed out after years of financial difficulty, with Etihad Airways of the United Arab Emirates set to take a 49-percent stake in the company. While the reports have yet to be confirmed by the parties involved, Reuters cites multiple inside sources in revealing that the airline's board met last week and agreed to appoint Montezemolo as chairman, with current Etihad chief James Hogan to act as chief executive officer.
Montezemolo, of course, long served as chairman of Ferrari, having assumed leadership of the company not long after founder Enzo Ferrari died. He also served as chairman of the Fiat group for several years after the passing of Umberto Agnelli, and has headed numerous trade organizations and sporting bodies. But his tenure at Ferrari and the broader Fiat Chrysler Automobiles empire came to an end two months ago when clashes with Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne saw Montezemolo step down.

Ferrari Lusso ownership will add some time to your morning commute

If you've ever driven a vintage vehicle on a regular basis, you know the process from getting from point A to point B is a bit more convoluted than simply hopping in and going. There are rituals to observe, checklists to run through and processes to address before ever touching the ignition. Neglect any one of a number of small tasks and you're likely to find yourself on the side of the road. James Chen, the owner of Axis Wheels, knows all about that. You see, he owns a gorgeous Ferrari Lusso, and coaxing the V12 under the hood to life requires a certain amount of procedure.
Once it's rolling, of course, all that premeditation seems entirely worth the effort. Chen does his best to keep the machine out of traffic, but refuses to keep the coupe sealed away in a museum, so he gets up early and takes to the canyon roads around LA before anyone else is awake. Atta boy.
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