The Italian government has decided not to order 19 but 10 Maserati Quattroporte’s for the Ministry of Defense. Former minister of Defense La Russa ordered nineteen-armoured Quattroporte’s as daily transport for the head of military a couple of weeks ago. This caused some uproar in the government in a time when the country has to find billions to cut public debts. La Russa was quite down-to-earth in his statement that the Maserati’s, in the time when Berlusconi ordered Audi’s to replace an older generation QP’s, were according to him cheaper and above all Italian.

Between 2009 and 2010 the last Berlusconi government had spent tax money on 56 official state cars, but only 43 were necessary. The former ministers only needed 15 cars for their daily transport, but 21 cars were at their disposal. Not one of them being Italian. Now though, with Mario Monti in leading position, they have decided to cut back the order. Earlier this week Monti already demanded only Italian cars to be driven by state officials. This will mean past generations of Lancia Thesis’, Lancia Kappa’s and even some old Croma’s will be given a second life. Currently there’s not a lot on offer from FGA, as even the Alfa 159 has been taken out of production. Surely Consip, the financial department responsible for the car purchases, will have to do something on their lavish behaviour.