Interfuture Media and Mangoletsi are pleased to announce the nine winners of the 2nd Italiaspeed Italian Automotive Awards 2007; the annual awards devoted exclusively to the Italian automotive industry and voted for entirely by Italian car enthusiasts'.

It has been another exciting year for the Italian car industry with a welter of impressive and successful new products; the renewed vigour has captured the attention of Italian car enthusiasts' and it was reflected in the voting: during the 18 days that online voting was open to everyone on the microsite, 122,732 votes were cast amongst the 88 top-quality entries, spread out into 9 different categories. View the individual categories to see the winners.

The 2nd Italiaspeed Italian Automotive Awards 2007 are supported by authorised Alfa Romeo and Fiat dealership, Mangoletsi.

Production Car of the Year

The Fiat 500 has taken the automotive world by storm this year, it is simply the only car that anyone is taking about at the moment and it has already collected a welter of important awards since its 4th July launch. Now the 500 adds Italiaspeed Production Car of the Year 2007 to the collection; and with 8,407 votes it was a runaway winner of the prize. Second place went to the Grande Punto Abarth (2,824) a performance car which heralded the rebirth of the famous sports brand; while third place went to the Alfa 159 TI (2,373), the latest Alfa Romeo to proudly wear the famous ‘TI’ acronym.

Exotic Car of the Year

The Maserati GranTurismo was presented to the world in Geneva and went on sale across the world in the autumn. A stylish, sensational car, it thrust the Trident brand into the international spotlight. With 4,179 votes it was the comfortable winner of the Italiaspeed Exotic Car of the Year 2007 award ahead of Ferrari’s latest F1-technology-for-the road machine, the 430 Scuderia (3,318), and Lamborghini’s limited edition stealth fighter inspired Reventón (1,470).

Coachbuilt Car of the Year

In November Autodelta introduced its latest high-performance bespoke model, the Spider J6 3.2 C (3,863) and it was a clear winner of the Italiaspeed Coachbuilt Car of the Year 2007 award. Second place went to Milanese atelier Castagna’s unique interpretation of the Fiat 500 (3,402), while the limited-edition Maserati GS Zagato (1,743) collected third place.

The new Fiorino van was the clear winner of the Italiaspeed Commercial Vehicle of the Year 2007 award; with 6,426 votes it collected more nominations than any other of the 88 options across the awards, except for the Fiat 500. Second place went to the Iveco Massif (2,226) while in third was the Fiat Scudo Panorama (1,659).

Concept Car of the Year

Bertone’s financial struggles have been well documented this year; however the historic firm still knows how to build a concept car: the stylish and innovative Panda based Barchetta was one of the big draws of the Geneva Motor Show. It was the voters’ choice too as Italiaspeed Concept Car of the Year 2007, racking up 5,670 votes; second place went to Fiat Centro Stile’s innovative-material-using Panda Aria (1,785), while third went to another Panda derivative, this time the cheeky tracked ‘Snowmobile’ (1,155).

Technology of the Year

The technology category saw an almost even split of votes being cast between three new Fiat Powertrain Technologies’ engines, each of which incorporate class-leading standards of power coupled to frugal efficiency. The new 1.9 JTD Twin Stage Turbo unit (3,213) eventually got the nod as the winner of Italiaspeed Technology of the Year 2007 ahead of the 1.4 T-Jet (3,087) and the SGE ‘Small Gasoline Engine’ (3,003).

Racing Car of the Year

With 4,767 votes the Formula 1 constructors’ title-winning Ferrari F2007 single-seater is the worthy recipient of the Italiaspeed Racing Car of the Year 2007 award following on from its predecessor’s which win this category last year. Second place went to the potent Grande Punto Abarth S2000 (1,617) which claimed the Italian Rally Championship title while third place went to the venerable Alfa 156 SuperTouring 2000 (1,344) which in its final year on the world stage just kept on winning.

Executive of the Year

The title of Italiaspeed Executive of the Year 2007 went once again to Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne (2,667) who, having led a turnaround in fortunes at the automaker, built on this solid base this year: profits were up, revenue was up and the share price was up. Second went to Luca De Meo (1,281) who led the re-launch of both the Abarth brand and the Fiat 500 before becoming group marketing chief while third went to Fiat Chairman Luca di Montezemolo (1,260), Italy’s most famous businessman and entrepreneur.

Sportsperson of the Year

There could only be one recipient of Italiaspeed Sportsperson of the Year 2007. In dramatic circumstances and against all the odds Kimi Raikkonen (4,767) clinched the F1 title at the very last Grand Prix of the year, the Finn immediately writing himself into the Ferrari history books and into the hearts of the Tifosi. Young Australian Casey Stoner (2,463) also made history: he gave Ducati the MotoGP title; while third went to Raikkonen’s Scuderia Ferrari team mate, Brazilian Felipe Massa (1,470).

visit the 2nd Italiaspeed Italian Automotive Awards 2007