Cars

The story begins in the early 1980s at the Geneva Motor Show: Roland Affolter, son of a farmer and avid automobile dealer, fell in love with the razor-sharp Lamborghini Countach - and not long after, he became the cars' official importer in Switzerland. When, in the early 1990s, the Countach was succeeded by the Diablo, Roland Affolter began not only to sell, but also to customise the V12 supercars. With plenty of carbon, new body elements, headlights, wheels and even automatic sunroofs, he created striking 'Evolution' models that captured the hearts of his customers. 

Photos: Classic Driver dealers

Not even the schoolchildren of Sant’Agata could differentiate between all the different Gallardos

Many will be familiar with the story of the late 60s DBS. Somewhat larger than the DB6 it replaced – and now a full four-seater – its coachwork had the sharper lines in vogue at the time. But beneath that atypically square Aston grille lay a very familiar six-cylinder engine, as the planned V8 was behind in its developmental schedule.

1939 Antarctic Snow Cruiser: Much did little

The failed Snow Cruiser was abandoned in Antarctica

The first-generation Quattroporte might be remembered for its unconventional body – which carried plenty of passengers and their luggage in the type of sporting luxury for which Maseratis have become famous. However, if the party’s destination was a ski slope, they would be out of luck: the rear-wheel-drive luxury liner would be consigned to the roadside, its occupants forced to watch better-equipped groups head to the summit.

The optional double-clutch gearbox features a 'smokey burnout' setting

Both cars will be mechanically identical – they'll share the same 3.0-litre, twin-turbo, inline-six engine, which will provide 425bhp and 405lb ft of torque. That not only makes it the most powerful engine ever to be placed in an M3, but also the M divison's smallest-capacity unit since the 2.3-litre of the E30 M3 was retired in 1991. It's also the first time that there will be no M3-badged two-door coupé.

The car park at 1111 Lincoln Road in Miami was not only designed by star architects Herzog & de Meuron, but during Art Basel Miami Beach, it is transformed into a modern gallery: this year the show titled 'Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile' saw LaFerrari sitting next to artworks by Damien Hirst, Richard Phillips, Richard Prince, Tom Sachs and Franz West.