PHOENIX — The Genesis of Alfa Romeo is a sporty 115 years old, centenary automotive brand that checks all the boxes of what one would expect of an Alfa Romeo: Aesthetically beautiful, comfortable, thrilling driving dynamics, reassuring behavior with a sense it can inflict at least a mild case of Stendhal Syndrome — a psychosomatic condition that can trigger a rapid heartbeat, fainting, even hallucinations when individuals become exposed to objects of art, great beauty or lust.

HERNDON, Va. — Enzo Ferrari drove for Alfa Romeo in the early 1920s, and campaigned the company’s race cars — under his Scuderia Ferrari banner — in the decade immediately before World War II. Italian driver Tazio Nuvolari would pilot various Alfa Romeo Grand Prix and sports cars throughout the ‘30s, compiling a record of legendary wins for Alfa, Ferrari’s Scuderia and — not incidentally — himself.

HERNDON, Va. — In the three plus years since last driving Alfa Romeo’s Stelvio a lot has changed in the Alfa Romeo showroom; admittedly, that’s important only if you can find an Alfa Romeo showroom — don’t look for one in smaller locales with other high-end imports. Of note is a recent J.D. Power survey, signaling a significant uptake in customer satisfaction for Alfa Romeo.

INDIANAPOLIS — Like Liza Minelli’s father, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is Italian.  It quite literally wears that fact on its fenders with the four-leaf clover, or Quadrifoglio, from the brand’s racing team.  Look beneath the skin for a track-tuned  barnstormer with Ferrari-derived engine, adjustable chassis, and the moves of a quick turn through Tuscany. This is a beast you’ll want to savor…then devour.
   

CHELESA, Mich. — Maserati, an Italian automaker with a rich and noble racing heritage delivered by its luxurious high-performance sedans, sports cars and coupes, has, for the first time, added the brand’s trident badge to a much needed sport utility vehicle. Named the Levante (pronounced la-von-tay) for the tropical Mediterranean winds, it is uniquely Italian and positioned to compete directly against vehicles like Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover Sport.

PHOENIX — At over 9,000 feet, Stelvio Pass is the highest and most dramatic paved pass in the Eastern European Alps. While not the most beautiful, it is a stunning road to view, and the wall of 48 hairpin switchback turns running up the north face renders it iconic for car enthusiasts around the world. Befitting the name, the all-new Alfa Romeo Stelvio has terrific handling, agility, steering and power to lend both credibility and worthy kudos sufficient to naming it after Italy’s most famous mountain pass.

INDIANAPOLIS — If your idea of an Italian car is something small, sexy, fast, and with two seats, then with the first-ever 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, two out of four ain’t bad. Named for the Stelvio Pass, the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps, Alfa Romeo’s suave new crossover looks ready to conquer its namesake — or America’s grand Interstates. It literally expands the definition of “Italian sports car.”