Interfuture Media and Mangoletsi are pleased to introduce the 2nd Italiaspeed Italian Automotive Awards 2007; the annual awards devoted exclusively to the Italian automotive industry, voted for entirely by Italian car enthusiasts. The awards are available at the dedicated microsite: http://www.italianawards.com

Last year’s inaugural awards drew 119,436 votes cast across the nine categories with outstanding winners including the Alfa Spider (Production Car), Alfa 8C Competizione (Exotic), Fiat Ducato (Commercial), Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina (Coachbuilt), Lancia Delta HPE (Concept), Blue&Me (Technology), Ferrari 248 F1 (Motor Racing), Sergio Marchionne (Executive) and Michael Schumacher (Sportsperson).

This year has been another exciting one for Italian automakers right across the spectrum, with many superb, innovative and truly breathtaking new cars being launched. All the major Italian automotive brands – Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Iveco and Fiat Professional – have posted excellent results with both sales and turnover up, in several cases to record highs. At the same time, Italian sporting successes can be found in abundance across a swage of international disciplines, from racetracks to special stages.

The voting categories of the 2nd Italiaspeed Italian Automotive Awards 2007 will comprise ‘Exotic of the Year’, ‘Production Car of the Year’, ‘Commercial Vehicle of the Year’, ‘Coachbuilt Car of the Year’, ‘Concept Car of the Year’, ‘Technology of the Year’, ‘Competition Car of the Year’, ‘Executive of the Year’ and ‘Sportsperson of the Year’. 

The most exciting new car launch this year has undoubtedly been the Fiat 500 and it must be considered the runaway favourite to add the Italiaspeed Production Car of the Year award to its growing list of honours. Other top contenders in this category include the Fiat Bravo and Grande Punto Abarth. The competition in the Exotic category is also tough this year, including the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Maserati GranTurismo and Lamborghini’s Gallardo Superleggera and Reventón.

In the Commercial category, the new Fiat Fiorino is surely destined to be a hit; whilst on the racetracks Kimi Raikkonen’s sensational last-gasp F1 drivers’ title marks him down as the driver to beat in the race for Sportsperson of the Year. Likewise, the F2007 sped Ferrari to the F1 constructors’ title and it faces competition in the Motor Racing category from the sportscar winning Maserati MC12 and the rally world’s exciting Grande Punto Abarth S2000. Meanwhile, heavyweight industry executives such as Sergio Marchionne and Luca di Montezemolo continue to punch above their weight with impressive results.