If there’s going to be a sequel to the “new” Vacation movie from 2015, Porsche might have just the car for Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms), should he decide he needs something with a bit more panache than the Tartan Prancer SUV from Albania. The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo that debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in March seems about perfect, though perhaps it might need some faux wood paneling added.
The Vesuvio Gray Giulia TI Sport I was driving quickly cast a spell over me as had not been the case with so many other contemporary cars. It was clear that it was both capable and characterful, but not with the kind of ‘quirky’ character that Italian cars can sometimes possess. That and the fact that it attracted an amazing amount of attention wherever I went sealed the deal.
“Glamorous” is not a word you hear to describe modern Italian sports and GT cars. It’s a bit of a bygone word in an era when car designers and marketers much prefer terms like “aggressive.” Indeed, the modern versions often seem styled with angry-looking visages, perhaps to frighten other motorists or small children. The Maserati Mistral, built from 1963-1970, wears a happy look up front. Times are different.