TURIN (ITALPRESS) – A very successful year for the Heritage Hub, the location that houses the company’s valuable collection of about 300 cars from the Fiat, Lancia and Abarth brands, as well as some examples of Alfa Romeo, Autobianchi and Jeep, has just ended. Located inside the historic Mirafiori plant in Turin, the exhibition space was opened to the public in 2023 and can now be visited after purchasing a ticket online and booking the day of preference.There were more than 12,000 visitors to the Heritage Hub in 2024, equally divided between Italians and foreigners, with a 10 percent increase in visits over last year. Classic car enthusiasts and experts in the field, tourists and many families with kids: this is the heterogeneous audience that has confirmed the Turin hub as an international reference point for automobile culture.The first aspect that intrigues Heritage Hub visitors is undoubtedly the building where these unique specimens are kept, namely the historic Officina 81 in Via Plava in Turin, one of Fiat’s mechanical production plants within the Mirafiori industrial district, whose roots go back to 1939. In order to accommodate the company’s marvelous collection, the original environment underwent a careful conservative restoration that respected its industrial nature, historic mustard and green colors, concrete flooring and grid of metal pillars.At the center of the exhibition space are 64 historic cars, divided into eight thematic areas: “Records and Races,” the protagonists that triumphed on the major circuits; “Concepts and Fuoriserie,” extremely rare cars, and extraordinary one-offs; “Archistars,” the models that revolutionized the architecture of the automobile, while respecting the dogmas of productivity and functionality; “Eco and Sustainable,” which brings together the cars that most distinguished themselves in respecting the environment; “Small and Safe,” models that have combined safety and compact dimensions; “Style Marks,” cars that have made design history; “Epic Journeys,” cars that have been the protagonists of unforgettable journeys; and “The Rally Era,” the milestones of the golden age of road and dirt racing.On the two long sides of the building, on the other hand, the rest of the collection is on display, divided by brand and arranged chronologically. On the left, the collection dedicated to Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Abarth. On the right, that dedicated to Lancia. At the bottom of the pavilion, on the other hand, is an area reserved for engines, with a selection of more than thirty of the most important engines designed and built by the Group’s Italian brands in more than a century, or futuristic prototypes. Certainly contributing to the record number of visits recorded this year were the two striking temporary exhibitions dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Abarth brand, a cornerstone in the history of motorsports. In addition, the temporary exhibition “Unusual and Surprising FIATs,” an exciting journey through some of the lesser-known models from the Italian brand’s long automotive history, which highlight its ability to progress in a constant evolution, is still ongoing. This exhibit has been arranged to run concurrently with the exhibition at MAUTO “125 times FIAT,” set up to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the famous brand.The journey through time offered by the Heritage Hub can be enjoyed through a guided tour available in Italian and English. In addition, to complement the service performed by the official guides, from today visitors can use the new audioguides – also in Italian and English – usable online through their smartphones once they have passed the entrance to the Hub and which can be listened to again later to relive all the emotions of this extraordinary immersive experience. A curiosity about the audio guides: the voice welcoming the Hub is that of Roberto Giolito, Head of Stellantis Heritage (Alfa Romeo, FIAT, Lancia, Abarth). For information and reservations, you can visit the Stellantis Heritage website. Finally, thanks to its multifunctional nature, Heritage Hub is increasingly proving to be an attractive site that can successfully host conferences, corporate meetings, workshops and cultural events. As many as 27 of these were held in 2024, with a peak of more than 1,500 people at a single event, demonstrating how the historical evidence and values of the automotive industry can happily coexist with contemporary entertainment. For information on venue availability, you can write to heritagehub@stellantis.com.
photo: stellantis press office
(ITALPRESS).
