FCA at the first edition of ‘Parco Valentino

 

Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Abarth and Jeep will be starring in the event from June 11 to 14. In addition to the motor show in Italy’s first public park, an extraordinary selection of classic cars will be parading to the gardens of the Reggia di Venaria on Sunday.

 

FCA will be taking part in the first edition of ‘Parco Valentino – Motor Show Grand Prix’ in Turin from June 11 to 14. The event is an integral part of the Turin, European Capital of Sport 2015 program and the action-packed calendar of events organised during Expo Milano 2015 of which FCA and CNH Industrial are Official Global Partners.

 

Inspired by the yearly Goodwood Festival (UK) and other international happenings, the event stands out for its twofold nature. Firstly, it is an opportunity for major auto manufacturers to showcase their newest products in Italy’s oldest public gardens in Turin. Entrance will be free from 10 a.m. to midnight from Thursday to Sunday. The event will take a more dynamic spin culminating in the parade on Sunday 14 when the most representative models of each brand will line up and travel nearly 15 kilometres from the centre of Turin to the Venaria Reale Castle.

 

The Valentino Park was home to the Parco del Valentino Grand Prix from 1935 to 1955. Today, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Abarth and Jeep will be showcasing their most representative models on the track on which so many great racing cars of the past competed. There are models for all tastes and needs, like Fiat 500X, Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, Abarth 695 Biposto, the iconic Jeep Wrangler and the new Lancia Ypsilon ’30th Anniversary’, to name but a few. A merchandising area will be set up by Mopar, the historical US brand which has now become the reference in Europe for services, spare parts, accessories and customer care for all FCA brands, along the avenues of the park.

 

Several classic cars famed for their racing results will also be on show: Alfa Romeo 155 V6 DTM and Giulia GTAm, Lancia Stratos and Fulvia Coupé HF, Fiat 131 Abarth Rally and 124 Abarth Rally. Some of these cars will be parading in the Motorsport section on the shorter three kilometre long circuit through the streets of the city centre to Piazza San Carlo, along with the Abarth prototype 695 Gumball and 695 EVO.

 

An innovative motor show in Italy’s oldest and Turin’s most famous public park

The three entrances to the park will be named after three legendary drivers who wrote some of the most memorable pages in car racing history: Nuvolari, Villoresi and Ascari.
Once again, cars will be the stars in an innovative, elegant event on the roads where the epochal Grand Prix was staged from 1935 to 1955.

 

Alfa Romeo

As its custom, Alfa Romeo is organising a high-impact presence. They will be showcasing four Alfa Romeo models currently in production: the 4C Coupé and 4C Spider supercars, the new Giulietta Sprint and the MiTo Racer special series.

Undisputed stars of the Alfa Romeo display will be the 4C Coupé and its open-air evolution, the 4C Spider, which was presented for the EMEA market during the International Motor Show in Geneva. Both versions of the 4C express the same sporty essence of the brand by combining a breath-taking style and excellent performance. The car fits the best technology derived from the racing world. Remarkably, with a carbon fibre monocoque and generous use of aluminium and composite materials for the body, the weight-to-power ratio of the 4C is less than 4 kilograms. Rear-wheel drive and a four-cylinder, direct injection, turbocharged, mid-mounted engine delivering 240 HP translate into supercar performance on the road: it has a top speed of 257 km/h, 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.5 seconds, 1.1 g of side acceleration and 1.25 g of maximum braking deceleration.

 

Giulietta Sprint will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the model which was launched at the Turin Motor Show. The car soon gained fans worldwide and made the dream of owning an Alfa Romeo come true for many. Today, Giulietta Sprint is taking up the baton with bolder looks, a thrilling driving experience, sophisticated technology and further improved aerodynamic efficiency. Alfa Romeo driving satisfaction is secured by a new 1.4 litre 150 HP engine, the most recent addition to the MultiAir family, characterised by innovative architecture and its many electronic systems.

MiTo also embodies the true ‘Alfa spirit’ and with Racer it does so with even more finesse. The new special series features elegant satin-finish chrome-plated door handles and front and rear light cluster frames. A sporty bumper, 17″ rims, a spoiler and a chrome-plated tailpipe complete the attractive outfit. Inside, MiTo Racer has vintage-look brown eco-leather upholstery and a sporty dark ambiance with contoured steering wheel and the Alfa Romeo logo printed on the head restraints.

 

Fiat

The spotlights will also be trained on Fiat with a range of models appreciated by a diverse customer base of different ages and tastes but all focused on functionality and attractive Italian design. So, here is 500X, the new Fiat crossover which expresses all the style and substance of Italian design in a comfortable, high-performance car that is always connected to the world. The focus during the event will be on the Cross Plus version which combines the best style and equipment in a top-of-the-range package. The same excellence is found under the bonnet and can be unleashed simply by pressing a button. The Full Keyless System technology starts the powerful, flexible 2.0 Multijet 140 HP engine which comes combined with a nine-speed automatic transmission and 4WD.

 

On display will also be Panda K-Way, the new functional, colourful special series created in collaboration with the famous rainproof jacket manufacturer. The model’s bold personality is asserted by the titanium painted details and four colour options for mirror domes and hubcaps. These details add precious touches to the famed concreteness and practicality of Panda.

 

Certainly packed with handsome details, the Fiat 500 Vintage ’57 on display at Valentino is a tribute to the automotive icon introduced in 1957 and is strongly reminiscent of its precursor’s old-fashioned appeal. Like its pastel blue livery with white roof, spoiler, aerial and mirrors and its tobacco-colour Poltrona Frau leather upholstery. The car is embellished with vintage style Fiat badges on the outside and on the steering wheel, a white dashboard fascia and 16″ alloy white and chrome-plated rims.

 

The Fiat team is completed by the particular Fiat 500L Trekking, a development of the 500 family with two perfectly fused souls which love to play off one another every day: one metropolitan, for breezing through the city, and one more adventurous, perfect for those little weekend emotions that make life worth living. The version on display is equipped with a 1.6 Multijet 120 HP turbo diesel and is packed with standard equipment, including 17″ alloy rims, two-zone automatic climate control system, cruise control and ESC electronic stability control with ASR/MSR, ABS + EBD and hill holder.

 

Lancia

Lancia, the brand which has always been the byword for elegance and expresses innovation and attention to the tastes of women drivers, could not miss this opportunity. Obviously, the star will be the car most appreciated by Italian women which will be celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this year: Lancia Ypsilon. Two special series will be showcased at the Valentino – Ypsilon ELLE and Ypsilon ’30th Anniversary’. The first springs from the partnership with the magazine of the same name. The car is a concentrate of glamour and elegance and is ideal for sophisticated, refined women, just like ELLE readers. It is distinctive and non-conventional with special colours and precious style details, like dark chrome trim, 15″ diamond-finish alloy rims or 16″ diamond-finish Cipria colour rims, complemented by exclusive houndstooth graphics on the pillars. Inside, the special leather and Alcantara upholstery is an example of classic Lancia elegance.

 

The second special series celebrates a history of success which in over thirty years has become firmly established in the collective imagination with over four generations and 2.7 million sold. Sporting a celebratory badge on the pillar and a beautiful Oltremare blue livery in the best Lancia tradition, the new version has black diamond-effect 15” alloy rims and black tailgate on demand like the first model launched back in 1985. The elegant black or beige fabric and Castiglio upholstery and the complete standard equipment are worth noting on the inside. Ypsilon ELLE and Ypsilon ’30th Anniversary’ reassert the exclusive character of the Lancia ‘fashion city car’ through sophisticated versions created to enhance the winning features of a model which over the years has proven to be an authentic style icon, a designer item and a vehicle always abreast of the times.

 

Abarth

The Abarth stand will be showcasing two cars that demonstrate the Abarth’s famed striving for ‘mechanical perfection’: this is the essence of a brand which has always continuously renewed itself by taking on and winning challenges which some see as impossible. 695 Biposto and 595 Competizione are the best expressions of Carlo Abarth’s motto: ‘Sundays on the racing track, Mondays in the office’.

 

695 Biposto is the perfect blend of a road and a racing car. A weight of 997 kg and 190 HP of power guarantee extraordinary performance. Its extreme vocation is obvious. Just get in and sit on the shell-shaped matte grey Sabelt racing seats, fasten the four-point seat belts and listen to the sound of the Akrapovic Dual Stage exhaust. It is an uncompromising car which promises unadulterated fun, thrills and Italian style design and is packed with genuine supercar solutions: a purposely no-nonsense passenger compartment, superb driving ergonomics and weight reduction with a dog clutch gearbox.

 

By its side, the 595 Competizione Cabrio, the latest arrival and best performing car of the Abarth 595 range delivers 180 HP of power allowing to reach 225 km/h of top speed and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds. All this power can be enjoyed in the open air by pulling down its panoramic soft top and in total safety. Standard equipment includes high-performance Brembo brakes, six airbags, fog lights, stability control system, xenon headlights and TPMS for monitoring tyre pressure.

 

Jeep

The public of the first edition of ‘Parco Valentino – Motor Show Grand Prix’ will also see a delegation of Jeeps representing the most awarded SUV range ever. In the spotlight will be the iconic Wrangler, Cherokee (the medium SUV), Renegade (the first Jeep to be made in Italy) and the Grand Cherokee (the Jeep flagship).

 

The iconic Jeep Wrangler is a perfect embodiment of the “Go anywhere, do anything” claim. Equipped with a 2.8 turbo diesel that delivers 200 HP of power and 460 Nm of torque, it owes its legendary off-road capabilities to part-time four-wheel drive, low range gears and Tru-Lock front and rear electronic differential locks for tackling the toughest terrain and distributing torque equally to the four wheels.

 

Cherokee, the medium SUV, has been recently refreshed and is designed to excel on all terrains. It is the perfect combination of innovative style and traditional, legendary 4×4 capabilities and technology. It is an important innovation in its segment fitting a 2.2 Multijet 185 and 200 HP engine, a nine-speed automatic transmission and an innovative rear axle disconnect.

 

The new Jeep Renegade, built in Melfi (Italy) and sold in over 100 countries worldwide, including the USA, has a bold personality and is the right size for use both in town and on off-road trails. It boasts class-leading off-road capabilities, excellent driving dynamics on the road, an exclusive nine-speed automatic transmission, two drive systems, remarkably fuel-efficient engines and a wide range of safety devices. This compact Jeep SUV with an Italian heart has rapidly climbed the best-sellers lists in its segment in Europe.

 

Grand Cherokee is the symbol of Jeep’s premiumness and is the most awarded SUV ever, the perfect combination of power, style, comfort and technological innovation. The Summit version was chosen to represent the model in Turin. It is packed with unique style accents: high-discharge intensity adaptive bi-xenon headlights, front bumper with elongated fog light, chrome-plated twin tailpipes sporting a novel rectangular shape and the exclusive chrome-plated aluminium 20 inch double spoke rims. The interiors are all characterised by superior quality featuring Premium Natura-Plus leather seats, faux suede lining on front pillars and roof and copper-colour accents which embellish the leather upholstery and the details on the dashboard and central console.

 

Mopar

The reference for services, spare parts, accessories and customer care for all FCA brands will have its own space at the Motor Show and will showcase  the MEC: Mopar Express Care. This is a vehicle, based on the Fiat Ducato, which becomes a real mobile workshop with an acceptance area, a diagnosis area, and an area for operations. In addition, the MEC is also organised for the sale of spare parts, accessories and merchandising. This will not be needed during the Motor Show, because Mopar will prepare a dedicated area for the official Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Abarth and Jeep products.

 

The link with Jeep will be further stressed by the presence of the Renegade “Hard Steel” and the Wrangler “Stealth”, two special versions that demonstrate Jeep’s natural tendency for customisation. This temperament is well suited to the countless possibilities offered by Mopar accessories, which accentuate either the aesthetic appearance or the off-road soul. For example, the Wrangler “Stealth” presents both an extreme technical preparation – suitable for the most demanding off-road use – and an aesthetic one, where no detail is left to chance.

 

The Renegade “Hard Steel” explores the potentials of a model that lends itself to countless customisations, as well as representing a panoramic view of possible future Mopar accessories dedicated to the new Renegade. The “technological” aspect of the show car is aesthetically rendered by the Brushed Steel livery, a bodywork treatment derived from the worlds of aviation and cutting-edge nautical applications. The whole is enhanced by the opaque black colour contrast used on numerous elements such as the grille, roof bars, mirror domes, 16″ alloy rims, side bumper strips, air intakes on the bonnet, mudguards and bumpers, and by the original Mopar accessories such as the grille and mirror domes, also in opaque black, the door sill, mats and tow hook.

Both vehicles will be taking part in the “Tribute Parade” on Sunday 14.

 

Excitement parades through the city streets

In addition to the thrilling exhibition area, the ‘Parco Valentino – Motor Show Grand Prix’ event includes a thrilling dynamic dimension which on Sunday 14 will culminate with the spectacular ‘Tribute Parade’. The most representative models of each brand will parade along a 15 kilometre route from the Valentino Park to the gardens of Reggia di Venaria through the centre of Turin.

 

This is a first of a kind happening: never before has a motoring event of these proportions been organised on the streets of a city. Sports cars, classic cars and impressive automotive icons will parade along crowd-lined streets paying tribute to each auto maker and representing the best production of each.

The show will be opened by a D-50, the only Lancia Formula 1. Driven by Alberto Ascari, this car came seventh (and last) at the Valentino Grand Prix in 1955. Today’s excellences will pick up the ideal baton: Fiat 500 Vintage ’57 and 500X, Alfa Romeo 4C Coupé and Spider, Abarth 695 Biposto, 595 Competizione Cabrio, Jeep Grand Cherokee (SRT version), the 468 HP SUV together with Renegade and Wrangler.

 

In particular, the latter will be sporting a special ‘Stealth’ outfit made by Mopar. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon ‘Stealth’ has extreme tuning: off-road bumpers, textured Iron Peltrox rust-effect paint, vintage style leather upholstered seats and components.

 

The championship winner celebrity showcase

The official celebrity showcase of the cars which made a name for themselves in various championships, such as Formula 1, GT-Series, Rally and Sport Prototypes, will line up after the ‘Tribute Parade’. The ‘Parco Valentino – Motor Show Grand Prix’ is part of the Turin, European Capital of Sport 2015 program, and this is picked up by specifically focusing on some outstanding examples of motorsport excellence.

 

The stars will include Alfa Romeo 155 V6 DTM and Giulia GTAm, Lancia Stratos HF and Fulvia Coupé HF 1.6 Rally, Fiat 131 Abarth Rally and 124 Abarth Rally; Abarth prototype 695 Gumball and 695 EVO. These cars have reaped awards in many competitions and contributed to fuelling and consolidating the competitive reputation of Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia and Abarth.

 

For instance, Alfa Romeo V6 155 DTM debuted in 1993 in the German Touring Championship, which was the pinnacle of technology in the world at its time. It fitted a V6 2500 cm3 engine which delivered 420 HP. Driven by Nicola Larini and Alessandro Nannini, the 155 won 12 times in 20 races allowing Larini to be made champion in 1993.
Before 155, Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm won the European Touring Championship for two years in a row in 1970 and 1971.

In rallies, Lancia Fulvia Coupé HF and Lancia Stratos can boast an extraordinary prize record. The first won the international manufacturers championship in 1972 and, driven by Sandro Munari, triumphed at the Monte Carlo Rally in the same year.
Lancia Stratos continued the winning streak and took the championship title in 1974, 1975 and 1976. The car on show sporting the Lancia Alitalia livery was the one to win the last title.
It was replaced as official car in the Rally World championship by the Fiat 131 Abarth Rally in 1977. Based on the two door body of the first series, it was equipped with a four-cylinder twin camshaft engine derived from the Fiat two-litre and developed by Abarth. The road version had a 1995 cm3 displacement and a power of 140 HP beefed up to 235 on the racing version. The Fiat 131 Abarth Rally was the rightful heir of the Lancia Stratos and won three world championships: in 1977, 1978, and 1980.
The Fiat 124 Abarth Rally also scored many wins coming first in the European Rally Championship in 1972 and 1975.

 

Some of these cars will be parading in the Motorsport section on the shorter three kilometre long circuit through the streets of the city centre to Piazza San Carlo, along with the Abarth 695 EVO and prototype 695 Gumball. Last year the latter, in its “Gumball 3000” livery, took part in the sixteenth edition of the famous non-competitive rally reserved for only 120 supercars. For the first time in the history of the rally, an official car was declared: the honour went to “the fastest Abarth ever” which sported the prestigious number #1 on its bodywork. The “Gumball 3000” travelled more than 3,000 miles, from Dublin to Ibiza, covering the distance in less than 10 days.

 

Torino, 8th June 2015