The theme today is "restoring the reputation of a brand". When the Ferrari 288 GTO was launched in 1984 it was with the intention of restoring the brands reputation for producing "real" cars, especially in the face of growing competition. Enzo, no longer in full control of his road car division, thought that the Ferrari range had become watered down and spread too thin. What it needed was something new, something that could stand up to the rising opposition from brands such as Lamborghini and Porsche, something that deserved to wear the prancing horse. Starting with a 308 they quickly threw most of it away and proceeded to; shrink the engine (by 100cc), strapped on a pair of turbos, rotated the engine by 90 degrees and installed a body kit (in addition to other, more serious modifications). The result was a car that now had close to double the power it started with, and a new fiery new attitude too. In classic Ferrari fashion, the GTO was road car that acted more like a race car. Contrary to popular belief, the 288 GTO was not built with the intention of being a racer. The idea to build a race car came from Nicola Materazzi, head of the racing division, who suggested entering the car in GT racing to allow owners to explore the full capabilities of their car. However, the class the 288 was intended to compete in, Group B, ended before the GTO could enter competition. Its engine was developed alongside that of the Lancia LC2 group C powerplant though...

Much like the 288 GTO, the Alfa Romeo Giulia (and the 4c) was meant to be the car to re-establish Alfa Romeo as the producer of everyday cars that you want to own. After years of selling rebadged Fiats in the Mito and Guilietta, the Giulia was based on an all-new platform that would form the basis of future models. A compact saloon with a selection of 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, competitive warranty and with a less offence grill than its BMW rival. The model that drew attention to the car was the range topping Quadrifoglio. Featuring a Ferrari-derived 2.9l turbo V6, RWD and a manual gearbox (sometimes), it would become a darling of the media world. While the Giulia wouldn't sell as well as intended, it did reestablish and reaffirm that Alfa Romeo could still make great cars, if they put their mind to it.