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Video: How this Ferrari 250 GTE became Rome’s most famous police car

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, Ferrari, Police/Emergency, Luxury

We’re used to seeing fancy cars gifted to or bought by certain international police forces today, but the story of this 1962 Ferrari 250 GTE goes well beyond a gift. Because Rome’s anti-organized-crime unit, Squadra Mobile, was doing a terrific job in the early ’60s, the Italian president asked what they wanted as a token of appreciation. The answer, meant as a joke, was “A Ferrari.” The president, in all seriousness, got them two.

One was almost immediately destroyed during testing, the other remains in the care of Alberto Capelli today, whose father began attending military and government auctions just after World War II. Petrolicious visited Capelli to hear the 51-year-old tale of the most precious cop car you’re going to see for a while, and it involves outlaws, a French gangster in a Citroën, a policeman who was offered a spot on the Ferrari factory team by Enzo himself, and more. It’s a fantastic yarn, and you can watch the whole story below.

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How this Ferrari 250 GTE became Rome’s most famous police car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: We’re in Rome to drive the Lamborghini Aventador: What do you want to know?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lamborghini

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 in Rome – Click above to watch the video after the break

Rome is an amazing city. In fact, for some time the city served as the center of the world as the Romans exerted their power across the Earth. And it still sits at the very heart of Italy. Fitting, then, that our European Editor Matt Davis has descended upon the historic Italian city to drive the latest Lamborghini supercar.

Is Lamborghini ready to assert itself and its new Aventador LP700-4 as the new world supercar power? That’s what we’re about to find out. Here’s the best part: We want to know what you want to know.

So, go ahead and check out our little teaser video after the break, then leave all your questions in the Comments. We can’t promise to answer them all, but we’ll do our best to pick out the best of the bunch and incorporate them into our First Drive report. Stay tuned!

Click past the break to watch the video.

Gallery: 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Continue reading Video: We’re in Rome to drive the Lamborghini Aventador: What do you want to know?

Video: We’re in Rome to drive the Lamborghini Aventador: What do you want to know? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Formula 1 expands to 20-race calendar for 2011 as Rome signs on for 2012

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

Is bigger better, or is less more? Chew on that one while the FIA releases the calendar for the 2011 Formula One World Championship. Packed with 20 grands prix, it’s the largest the series has ever seen. And it’s only going to get bigger.

Starting earlier and ending later than the season currently underway, the 2011 calendar starts in Bahrain next March and ends in Brazil late November, a position which Interlagos regains from Abu Dhabi, which in turn moves to the second-to-last position after two years as the season closer. Near the end of the season in late October will be the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, still subject to homologation of the new circuit. Malaysia and China, Spain and Monaco, Germany and Hungary, and Japan and Korea will each be back-to-back.

Meanwhile, a new, five-year contract was signed at Monza this past weekend to hold a grand prix on the streets of Rome, scene of the Shell commercial pictured above and a Renault F1 roadshow exhibit in 2005. The new race could come as soon as the 2012 season, pending European approval. The race is set to run in addition to – not instead of – the Italian Grand Prix, which will continue to be held at Monza. The last time Italy hosted two grands prix was in 2006, which featured the final running of the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola.

The United States Grand Prix is set to race in Austin, Texas, also in 2012. However, neither the Chinese, Japanese nor Turkish grands prix are currently contracted beyond next season.

[Sources: Autosport, F1-Live]

Formula 1 expands to 20-race calendar for 2011 as Rome signs on for 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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