Some of the work has already been done by Fiat's managing director, Paolo Cantarella.

ECONOMIST: Car making in Italy: Driven by fiat | The

Mr Cantarella has led the development of the first coherent range of models that the company has had for ages.

ECONOMIST: Car making in Italy

The group, under Paolo Fresco, the chairman, and its chief executive, Paolo Cantarella, has begun a restructuring involving job cuts of 3, 000 in Italy, where Fiat's problems are most severe, and where it faces a price war.

ECONOMIST: Junked? | The