autoevolution's Italian Month

For a very long time, the Italians (and their predecessors the Romans) have been trying to take over the better part of Europe, including by means of force. This approach failed, but if you look around, you realize they have gained a strong grip on the world, not just Europe, and they did so through more peaceful means.

The Italian cuisine, with its amazing pastas and pizzas, can be found on dinner tables around the planet. The Italian football, or soccer as we call it here in the U.S., is among the most-watched sports on Earth. Fashion feels at home in Italy, from where it spreads its influence to faraway lands. And so does art.

As far as we’re concerned, the Italians finally managed to take over the world through the vehicles they make. The cars and bikes made in the Peninsula may not be the most widespread out there - some are not remarkable in any way, but others sure are the standard by which we judge everything else in the industry. Nobody ever dreams of owning a Fiat, but all of us drool now and then over a Ferrari. Maybe we’re not all into motorcycles or scooters, but billions of us have at least heard of Ducati or Vespa.

In one form or another, the Italian way of making vehicles has influenced the world. At times something good comes out of it, other times not so much. But the reality remains Italian engineering is right up there at the top of the food chain, ruling the world, and it got there without the need for marching armies and invasions.

Because we like how Italy plays the game, we decided to honor it with a month-long coverage this July, called Italian Month. We’re not going to talk about food or clothes, but about cars, bikes and other mechanical wonders that were designed to move people, both literally and figuratively.

Editor's note: This special feature by autoevolution was not sponsored or supported by a third-party.