The automotive industry in Italy is experiencing confusing times: Ferrari has manufactured an electric car (Luce) that has little or nothing to do with the style of the legendary Maranello brand, while Maserati seems to be for sale and the Modena-based manufacturer is letting itself be courted by Chinese automotive groups. But the bleak transalpine landscape does not end there, as Abarth has not yet found the key to boosting model sales in a new electrified market and Lancia has become a brand that only sells a single model in a 100% electric format.

The Alfa Romeo 147 was the last great commercial success for the Lombard brand, with a total of 651,823 units manufactured and sold at the Pomigliano d’Arco plant (on the outskirts of Naples) between 2000 and 2010. Its distinctive, youthful, and bold aesthetic, and a dynamic performance superior to its rivals of the time, made the 147 the last car of the brand to win the award for best European Car of the Year in 2001.