Big Iron, Fast Cars Highlight ’Italian Style’ Event in Chicago

Fri October 03, 2008
Agricultural Equipment Guide

CNH was the presenting sponsor of “Italian Style,” a three-day exposition held Sept. 19 to 21 at Chicago’s Navy Pier. The event celebrated Italian fashion, design, technology, tourism and cuisine and was organized by the Italian-American Chamber of Commerce, Midwest.

CNH displayed more than 20 Case IH agriculture, New Holland agriculture, Case construction, New Holland construction and Kobelco farm and earthmoving equipment.

Case IH presented its 210-hp. (156 kW) Puma, a versatile tractor used for planting and cultivating, pulling tillage and loader work for hay or livestock operations; a four-wheel-drive Case IH QuadTrac for big farming operations to pull equipment; and the multitasking Case IH Farmall C series utility tractor.

New Holland Agriculture’s BR7070 round baler gathers cut hay and forms bales. Three tractors — the T8010, TT45A and T2320 Boomer — are specifically designed for use on today’s modern farm, for first-time buyers and for landscapers or part-time farmers.

Case Construction showcased its 1150K Series 3 crawler dozers, which use a blade to push material; Case 588G forklifts for moving materials on a job site; the Case SV208 vibratory roller that compacts underlying surfaces; and Case CX160B excavators used to dig trenches for laying pipe or digging foundations.

New Holland Construction featured the Kobelco 140SR excavator for digging trenches for sewer pipes or basements; a New Holland W130B LR wheel loader used in sand and gravel operations and road construction; a New Holland L185 skid steer loader for loading materials; and a New Holland B95B loader backhoe, which, according to New Holland, can in many instances take the place of an excavator and a wheel loader.

Fiat Group also was well-represented at the event by an Alfa Romeo 8C, which was presented for the first time in its final and clients version to the North American public; engines by Fiat Powertrain Technologies, automotive systems and components by Magneti Marelli, together with Ferrari and Maserati luxury cars.

The new Alfa 8C Competizione is a high-performance car that Alfa Romeo will produce a limited edition of 500 of, which includes just 84 destined for the North American market. Maximum engine performance is 450 bhp at 7,000 rpm, with a peak torque of 470 Nm at 4,750 rpm and top speed capacity at 7,500 rpm.

Ferrari provided expo visitors a close-up look at 599 GTB and F430 Spider.

The 599 GTB is Ferrari’s most powerful V12-engine production car of all time. The Ferrari 599 GTB is powered by a 5,999 cc V12 — derived directly from the Enzo Ferrari supercar — which produces no less than 620 hp at 7,600 rpm for a weight/power ratio of just 2.6 kg per horsepower.

The drop-top F430 Spider is the most popular Ferrari currently in production. The car includes a number of important technical features that give hints of the car’s F1 pedigree, starting with the innovative electronic differential — first developed by the racing division for the Scuderia’s F1 cars, which improves traction and road-holding under all conditions. The F430 Spider’s shape is the result of lengthy testing and features a pronounced nolder, which is integrated into the end of the engine cover, new bigger rear air intakes that emphasize the car’s muscular stance, and a new rear valance that incorporates a diffuser of competition derivation.

Maserati offered expo visitors an opportunity to preview a model new for 2009, the Maserati Quattroporte S, which is is equipped with a 4.7-L V8 delivering a maximum power output of 433 hp at 7,000 rpm, and an advanced six-speed automatic transmission.

In addition, FPT – Fiat Powertrain Technologies, showcased some of its engines, which well represent the extremely wide range of applications of FPT products: C13 500 (marine applications), F32 MRS (agricultural applications), C87 TE1D (power generations applications), S30 ENT 4 and the brand new 1.8 GDI (automotive applications).

The 2008 edition of “Italian Style” followed the successful showcase organized in September 2007 at Navy Pier’s Crystal Gardens, which attracted more than 70,000 visitors.

This story also appears on Construction Equipment Guide.