While strolling through a Phoenix shopping mall during January’s auction week I stumbled upon a showing of contemporary design organised by the Italian home furnishings industry. Though I prefer classic automobiles, where interior decor and architecture is concerned I’m an absolute modernist. (Go figure.) So, given the chance, I’d have jumped at the opportunity of attending the 2006 Milan Furniture Fair, a vast exhibition of Italy’s latest, where one of the highlights was a display organised by Fiat, which plans to relaunch the legendary Lancia brand. In a nod to Lancia’s heritage, it included a sampling of autos from the company’s past. Seen here, from Business Week’s excellent show coverage, is a 1925 Lancia Lambda Torpedo Ballon V Series, a Vincenzo Lancia masterpiece, then very avant-garde in its design and technology.

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