Italian companies are increasingly forming successful partnerships with foreign brands, enhancing their global presence. Here are some of the latest intriguing collaborations.
L’Artigiano collaborates with FIAT for Vintage 500 Gelateria Expansion
L’Artigiano, known for its authentic Italian gelato, has partnered with FIAT, the iconic Italian automaker, to expand its presence in the United States. This collaboration, facilitated by FIAT’s licensing representative IMG, builds on successful launches at The Shops of Columbus Circle and Fort Lee Park. The latest L’Artigiano Fiat 500 Gelateria—a vintage Fiat 500 reimagined as a gelato cart—has debuted at 52nd & Broadway in Manhattan, alongside Angelina Bakery, famous for its Bomboloni and Italian coffee. Eleven additional locations are planned for New York by next year, offering a variety of gelato flavors made in Italy, including Sicilian Pistachio and the new Caramel Affogato. Additionally, FIAT has launched the all-electric 2024 Fiat 500e, which boasts a range of up to 149 miles, making it an ideal vehicle for visiting L’Artigiano locations in New York.
Luxury meets innovation: The Bruce Wayne Townhouse and Pininfarina Exhibition
A luxury townhouse inspired by fictional Gotham City billionaire Bruce Wayne opened its doors in June 2024 in New York, as a part of the exclusive Wayne Enterprises experience, staged by Warner Bros. Consumer Products. The Automobili Pininfarina Battista hyper GT led a world-class exhibition of highly-curated luxury and tech products inside.
Automobili Pininfarina has created two exclusive versions of the B95 hyper Barchetta and Battista hyper GT, named ‘Gotham’ and ‘Dark Knight’, each featuring unique and previously unseen specifications. All four cars are powered by a high-capacity 120kWh lithium-ion battery and four motors to generate 1,900hp. That’s enough to propel each pure-electric model from 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in less than two seconds – faster than a current Formula 1 car.
Each has been meticulously curated by the Automobili Pininfarina engineering and design teams in Cambiano, Italy, and includes all-new Wayne Enterprises-inspired design features and tech. For example, navigation instructions are voiced by the Wayne family butler Alfred Pennyworth, while the infotainment system displays a customised welcome sequence with the Wayne Enterprises logo.
Milestone and Feld Motor Sports collaborated for Monster Jam™ Showdown release
Milestone, a leading global racing game developer and publisher based in Milan, has partnered with Feld Motor Sports, Inc.™, the worldwide leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment, to announce at the end of August 2024 the release of Monster Jam™ Showdown for all major gaming platforms. Developed with Unreal Engine 5, it features 66 official Monster Jam™ trucks and more than 140 paint outs to unlock and apply. The pillar of the single-player experience will be the Showdown Tour, a non-linear campaign where fans will enjoy official Monster Jam competitions such as Freestyle and head-to-head Racing, as well as original game modes combining speed and skills.
To immediately convey the feeling and excitement of mastering 1,500 horsepower mechanical machines, the game features comprehensive and customizable driving aids, allowing everyone to perform massive maneuvers and dynamic stunts. Importantly, the locations of the Showdown Tour are wild and out of the ordinary. Besides competing in stadiums inspired by real-life venues, fans will have the opportunity to drive their favorite Monster Jam trucks in three original environments inspired by the wilderness of Death Valley, Colorado, and Alaska. Monster Jam™ Showdown is now available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
Bing takes to the sea with Costa Cruises
An exclusive partnership between Costa Cruises and Acamar Films, has kicked off from this summer to bring the hit property Bing to Costa Cruises‘ ships.
Thanks to the Maurizio Distefano Licensing agency that managed the agreement, since June on the Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda cruise ships, the youngest guests have met Bing, the protagonist of the stories of the famous animated series by Acamar Films, the most watched on Rai Play for Italy, but also among the three most downloaded, for 10 consecutive years, on BBC iPlayer and available in more than 130 countries worldwide.
Each week, the two ships hosted events aimed at all families, such as Meet & Greets with Bing’s costume character, where children could hug their favourite cartoon character, theme parades and parties, and many other fun and musical activities.
The collaboration between Costa Cruises and Acamar Films was born from the need to make the experience on board unforgettable for the youngest guests, full of initiatives and surprises that can accompany children and parents on unprecedented holidays.
“The arrival of Bing on board our ships will allow us to enrich the holiday experience we offer families with something unique and special. Bing is extremely popular among children, so we are confident that our young guests will love participating in the entertainment activities that we have organized for them on Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda. Through this partnership, we not only offer entertainment, but we make them experience unforgettable moments that will remain in the hearts of families even after their departure” affirmed Paolo Reggiani, Entertainment Director of Costa Cruises.
Curated by Alessandra Maccaferri
