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Why Italians are no longer buying supercars

Italy is the wound that continues to drain blood from the body financial of Italian supercar and sports car makers. The wound was opened by the country's various financial police who decided to get serious about superyacht-owning and supercar-driving tax cheats a few years ago, by noting their registrations and checking their incomes. When it was found that a rather high percentage of exotic toy owners had claimed a rather low annual income - certain business owners were found to be declaring less income than their employees - the owners began dumping their cars and prospective buyers declined to buy.
Car and Driver has a piece on how the initiative is hitting the home market the hardest. Lamborghini sold 1,302 cars worldwide in 2010, 1,602 cars in 2011 and 2,083 cars in 2012 - an excellent surge in just two years. In Italy, however, it's all about the ebb: in 2010, the year that Italian police began scouring harbors, Lamborghini sold 96 cars in Italy, the next year it sold 72, last year it sold just 60. The declines for Maserati and Ferrari are even more pronounced.
Head over to CD for the full story and the numbers. What might be most incredible isn't the cause and effect, but where the blame is being placed. A year ago the chairman of Italy's Federauto accused the government of "terrorizing potential clients," this year Luca di Montezemolo says what's happening has created "a hostile environment for ­luxury goods." Life at the top, it ain't easy.

Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta frolics topless in the rain with Evo

With nearly 600 horsepower from a sonorous 4.5-liter V8 nestled in an already fantastic platform, Ferrari might have outdone itself with the 458 Speciale. At this year's Paris Motor Show, it took the idea to the next logical step by letting buyers drop the coupe's top with the limited-edition 458 Speciale Aperta. Evo recently got the chance to drive one of the 499 of them; unfortunately, it was pouring rain the whole time. Still, when you get an opportunity to drive such a special Prancing Horse, you don't pass it up, no matter what the weather is doing.
All of the standing water on the road does allow for a chance to see how the Aperta's traction control works in the slippery conditions, and the car handles it with aplomb. In fact, the host has a hard time taking the big grin off of his face for the entire clip. Check out the video to watch this special, new Ferrari and its wonderful V8 go singing in the rain.

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso rights the FF's wrongs

Enamored as we may be with the idea, there's a good reason that more automakers aren't making shooting brakes these days. A three-door wagon (or elongated hatchback) is tricky to get right, stylistically speaking. The Ferrari FF might have come closer than most, but even the most dedicated of tifosi would have to admit it was a little awkward. The new GTC4 Lusso goes a long way towards setting that right. Sixteen feet long, to be exact. Unveiled here at the Geneva Motor Show, the GTC4 Lusso is not only better looking than its predecessor, but is more powerful and technologically advanced as well. Though Maranello is working on supplementing its V12s with hybrid assists and its V8s with turbos, the new Lusso still packs an old school atmospheric twelve. 6.3 liters now produce 680 horsepower and 514 pound-feet of torque (up from 651 hp and 504 lb-ft). The muscle is channeled to all four wheels, helping it reach 62 miles per hour in just 3.4 seconds and top out at 208 mph with privileged disregard for the conditions. There may be some compelling competition vying for the kind of money Ferrari will charge for the new Lusso, considering that the previous FF commanded a princely $300k. But nothing else (since the Jenson Interceptor) can offer the same combination of space and pace – and dare we say, grace. Beauty being in the eye of the beholder and all, choosing to take home a new GTC4 Lusso will still be a matter of personal taste – but that's a choice we wouldn't mind having to make. View 14 Photos This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The Ferrari GTC4Lusso debuts at the Geneva Show: class-leading performance, versatility in all driving conditions, sublime elegance. Geneva, 1 March 2016 – The new Ferrari GTC4Lusso is Maranello's latest interpretation of the four-seater concept, which combines extraordinary performance in all driving conditions with sporty elegance and luxurious comfort for both driver and passengers alike. The GTC4Lusso's name references several illustrious predecessors, not least the 330 GTC or its 2+2 sister model, the 330 GT, as well as the 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, which married extreme performance with stylish design and sophisticated materials and craftsmanship.