Autoblog

Some travelers insist that a country's character and culture are best understood by tasting their local food. We'll offer instead that you can tell the most about a country by looking at the special-edition cars honoring their football teams. In America, for example, you might find a pick-up truck spangled with decals honoring the local NFL franchise. In Italy, on the other hand, they've decked out a unique Lamborghini in the colors of their national soccer team.

This one-of-a-kind Gallardo has been painted the same shade of blue as the national team's jerseys. The roof has been painted in the tricolore, the red, white and green of the Italian flag. The interior is likewise trimmed in solid blue alcantara, and the engine – which is otherwise left completely stock with "only" 520 hp – is said to be adorned with a gold-tone engine cover.

The one-off Gallardo was produced through Lamborghini's factory personalization program, and is offered by the dealership in Padova at a whopping €230,000...a considerable €85k premium for what amounts to little more than a special paint job. That's more than a few yards difference over that Ford F-150 New England Patriots edition you've been eyeing.

[Source: OmniAuto.it -translated]

Every time we think we've seen the ultimate in over-the-top bling and luxe, somebody manages to come up with something even more outlandish. This time, it's a custom Maserati Quattroporte crafted by Studio M especially for the "Scrigno Tesori d'Italia" (roughly translated as the Italian Treasure Chest), a luxury show taking place at the Spazio Etoile & Palazzo Ruspoli in Rome from the 16th to the 18th of March.

We've yet to start an Autoblog Italian, and online translators will only take you so far, but here's what we could gather about the bling on this Trident. Most noticeable is the special paint job that blends actual 24-karat gold powder – similar to the silver powder technique used in collaboration with Fiat on the Panda Luxury – giving this Maserati what is undoubtedly an unrivalled luster. This Quattroporte is also fitted with some custom bodywork, and with bigger Trident badges, just in case anyone would miss it rolling by. Inside, of course, the premium touches continue with every surface covered in ultra-soft leather and Alcantara trim, even the trunk. The cabin is also highlighted by lacquered French briar wood panels, though Studio M can also outfit customer cars with woven panels of gold or platinum. The back of the front headrests are fitted with individual LCD panels with USB jacks and SD card readers, almost a foregone conclusion on modern pimped-out rides.

No word on how much this entire treatment would add to the cost of a Maserati Quattroporte, but pushing the limits of good taste as it does, any customer will likely be glad to tell you emphatically.

[Source: La Repubblica]