Alfa Romeo

The Alfa Romeo company has been building sporty cars for more than a century. This volume profiles its most notable classic models—such as the Spider featured in the movie The Graduate—as well as the latest models on the road today. Color photographs and comparison charts will help readers understand the features of each model as well as appreciate each model’s unique design.

Gr 4-6-Lavishly illustrated with full-color photos of sleek machines in fire-engine red, sunburst yellow, burnished silver, and sophisticated black (with occasional flashes of glossy blue and pearly white), these slim, oversize books will appeal to lovers of futuristic design and the roaring purr of six, eight, and even twelve cylinders. The simply written texts are full of specific data on components but also include a nifty bit on the history of the manufacturers and the designs. Up-to-date, with future forecasts into 2013, they should keep readers (including those with low skills) interested. All include comparison shots and spec boxes for those arguing about top guns-that diamond-white Ferrari Four (0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds) or that stealth-sleek charcoal gray Lamborghini Sesto Elemento made of carbon fiber? Along with the Vroom! factor, the publisher promises regular updates on their own website. Not essential, surely, but perfect for spiffing up this area of most collections.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.