Mille Miglia 2023 Outlook: Dislike for Stromer

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The Italian Dolce Vita has excellent food, fine wine and possibly the most beautiful cars in the world. The latter can be observed last week at Mille Miglia (Italian: a thousand miles) halfway across Italy. From 1927 to 1957, vintage car rally participants raced through the entire trunk each year to be the first to see the waving checkered flag. These days, the organizers run the Mille Miglia as a recreational event, tourist attraction, and unofficially for marketing purposes.

Two new classes

About 420 drivers set out with their old ones on the long five-day journey. Two more classes were allowed this year in addition to older vehicles. First up is the Ferrari Tribute Mille Miglia, with around 100 Ferrari models produced since 1971, from the historic Dino 246 GT/E to the new 812 Competizione. On the other hand, Mille Miglia Green, which includes only 12 electric cars such as the Abarth 500e, Tesla Model X Plaid or Mercedes Vision EQXX, took the regions of Italy under its electric wheels.

The question of meaning for us arises: Does such a traditional race of everything have to be done electrically? Of course, much of the engagement serves a marketing function: as the Mille Miglia passes through many major cities and even smaller villages with countless audiences, the vehicles are very common – the best advertisement for brands.

about this passion

But Mille Miglia is not primarily about selling new cars. A visit to Blick proves it: we come from Rome, stop the convoy over and over to photograph the ancients, and talk to some of the countless spectators cheering by the roadside. While we were waiting for the convoy near the town of Asti, we ordered a fragrant focaccia when suddenly an elderly gentleman approached us. He wants to know if we came all the way from Switzerland to see Mille. When we answer the question in the affirmative, she happily says: “I call it Passione! That’s what Mille Miglia is for!”

I didn’t like it for Stromer

In every village, fans of all ages applaud, laugh and wave flags at the smelly and noisy cars lined up by the roadside. You’d think there was a classic car fever all over the country! There is a state of emergency, the police accompany the vehicles, block the streets in city centers – unimaginable in other countries! The atmosphere is relaxed, the people are happy – that’s how it should be.

The situation is different with the passing of electric cars: The enjoyment here is – to say the least – within very narrow limits. Some of Stromer even gets thumbs up from fans! Like Focaccia, Mille Miglia, with its beautiful vintage cars, is part of Italian culture. Will electric cars ever reach this status? We don’t assume so after our visit.

Source: Blick