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==Logos== ===Original logo=== [[File:Paris - Retromobile 2014 - Alfa Romeo RL SS - 1925 - 003 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Laurel-wreathed 1925–1945 badges on a 1925 [[Alfa Romeo RL]] SS]] Alfa Romeo's logo incorporates two [[Heraldry|heraldic devices]] traditionally associated with its birthplace, the city of [[Milan]]: A red cross, from the [[Flag of Milan|emblem of Milan]], and the ''[[biscione]]'', a big [[grass snake]] and a child emerging from its mouth—emblem of the [[Visconti of Milan|House of Visconti]], rulers of the city in the 14th century.<ref name="The News Wheel 2015">{{cite web|url=http://thenewswheel.com/behind-badge-why-alfa-romeos-logo-features-snake-eating-guy/|title=Behind the Badge: Why Alfa Romeo's Logo Features a Snake Eating a Guy|date=17 June 2015|website=The News Wheel|access-date=8 November 2018 |last1=Widmar |first1=Aaron }}</ref><ref name="AutoBadge">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TUBWAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Romano+Cattaneo%22 |title=Autocar & Motor |volume=185 |page=67 |publisher=Haymarket |year=1990 |access-date=13 September 2010}}</ref><ref name="ultimateitaly.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.ultimateitaly.com/culture-antropology/visconti-family.html |title=The Visconti Family |access-date=17 August 2010 |website=ultimateitaly.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731015820/http://www.ultimateitaly.com/culture-antropology/visconti-family.html |archive-date=31 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The logo was originally designed in 1910 by a young Italian [[Technical drawing|draughtsman]] from the A.L.F.A. technical office, Romano Cattaneo.{{sfnp|Fusi|1978|page=807–808}} ====Origin==== In June 1910, the Società Anonima Darracq became Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, and was readying its first model, the [[ALFA 24 HP|24 HP]]. The board asked chief engineer [[Giuseppe Merosi]] to devise a badge for the radiator shell of the new car; Merosi turned to his collaborators.{{sfnp|Fusi|1978|page=807–808}} One of them, Cattaneo, was inspired by the [[coat of arms]] he had seen on the gates of [[Castello Sforzesco]] to include the ''biscione'' in the logo.{{sfnp|Fusi|1978|page=807–808}} Merosi liked the idea, and together with Cattaneo came up with a sketch, then approved by managing director Ugo Stella; Cattaneo was entrusted with doing the final design.{{sfnp|Fusi|1978|page=807–808}} The original badge was round, of enamelled [[brass]], measuring {{convert|65|mm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter, and carried already all the present day accoutrements: the red cross on a white field of Milan on the left, a green ''biscione'' on a light blue field on the right, all surrounded by a blue ring inscribed with the words "ALFA" at the top and "MILANO" at the bottom.{{sfnp|Fusi|1978|page=809–810}} In honour of the [[Kingdom of Italy|King of Italy]], the two words were separated by two [[figure-eight knot]]s—named Savoy knots in Italian, and symbols of the then-reigning [[House of Savoy]]. Originally solid brass, the lettering was changed to white enamel in 1913.{{sfnp|Fusi|1978|page=811–812}} In 1918, after the company had been bought by [[Nicola Romeo]], the wording "ALFA" was replaced with "ALFA-ROMEO". In 1925, to commemorate the victory of the [[Alfa Romeo P2]] in the inaugural [[World Manufacturers' Championship]] of [[1925 Grand Prix season|1925]], a silver metal [[laurel wreath]] was added around the badge, used (in varying form) until 1982.<ref name="AutoBadge"/>{{sfnp|Fusi|1978|page=112}} The addition of the wreath had enlarged the badge to {{convert|75|mm|in|abbr=on}} diameter; in 1930 it was reduced back to {{convert|60|mm|in|abbr=on}}.{{sfnp|Fusi|1978|page=809–810}} ====Post-war evolution==== In 1946, after the [[Italian constitutional referendum, 1946|abolition of the monarchy]] and proclamation of the [[Italian Republic]], the figure-eight knots of the Savoy were replaced with two curvy lines.{{sfnp|Fusi|1978|page=419}} Concurrently the badge was completely redesigned, and further reduced in size to {{convert|54|mm|in|abbr=on}}, a diameter unchanged ever since.{{sfnp|Fusi|1978|page=809–810}} Made of stamped steel, the new badge bore the traditional elements—the scripts, the cross, a newly stylized ''biscione'' and a thin laurel wreath—embossed in antique silver, over a uniform [[Rosso corsa|Alfa Red]] background, which had replaced the blue, white and light blue fields. This red-and-metal badge was used until 1950, when the company switched back to a traditionally enamelled and coloured one; in 1960 the badge was changed from brass to plastic, without substantial differences in design.{{sfnp|Fusi|1978|page=419}} At the beginning of the 1970s the all-new [[Alfa Romeo Pomigliano d'Arco plant]] (near [[Naples]]) was completed. When in 1972 the [[Alfa Romeo Alfasud|Alfasud]] produced there became the first Alfa Romeo passenger car manufactured outside Milan, the word "Milano", the curved lines and the hyphen between "Alfa" and "Romeo" were eliminated from the badge on all Alfa Romeos.{{sfnp|Fusi|1978|page=419}} At the same time it was redesigned, most notably acquiring a modernised ''biscione'' and [[type face]]. After a mild restyling in 1982, which deleted the wreath and changed lettering and all chrome details to gold, this iteration of the badge remained in use until 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.omniauto.it/magazine/31227/alfa-romeo-nuovo-marchio-logo |title=Alfa Romeo, il nuovo logo nel segno della tradizione |first=Adriano |last=Tosi |website=omniauto.it |date=24 June 2015 |language=it |access-date=7 July 2015 |archive-date=28 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628144445/http://www.omniauto.it/magazine/31227/alfa-romeo-nuovo-marchio-logo |url-status=dead }}</ref> ====2015 redesign==== On 24 June 2015, 105th anniversary of the company, a new logo was unveiled at a press event at the [[Alfa Romeo Museum]]; together with the [[Alfa Romeo Giulia (2015)|Alfa Romeo Giulia]] as part of the brand's relaunch plan.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/motori/sezioni/prodotto/2015/06/24/news/alfa_romeo_giulia-117607664/ |title=Alfa Romeo, ecco la nuova Giulia |first=Valerio |last=Berruti |newspaper=[[La Repubblica]] |date=24 June 2015 |language=it |access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> The redesign was carried out by Robilant Associati, who had previously reworked several other [[FCA Italy|Fiat Group]] logos—including [[Fiat Automobiles]]' and [[Lancia]]'s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alfa Romeo 2015 |url=http://www.robilant.it/it/clienti/cliente/alfa-romeo-2015/ |publisher=Robilant Associati |date=26 June 2015 |language=it |access-date=30 June 2015 |archive-date=14 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714014325/http://www.robilant.it/it/clienti/cliente/alfa-romeo-2015/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The logo colors have been reduced from four to three: the green of the ''biscione'', the red of the cross, and the dark blue of the surrounding ring. Other changes are a new serif type face, and the absence of the split white and light blue fields, replaced by a single silver textured background. ===The Quadrifoglio logo=== {{Main|Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio}} Since 1923, the ''quadrifoglio'' logo (also called the 'cloverleaf') has been the symbol of Alfa Romeo racing cars and since WWII, it has also been used to designate the higher trim models of the range. The ''quadrifoglio'' is usually placed on the side panels of the car, above or behind the front wheels—on the [[Fender (vehicle)|front wings]] in the case of modern vehicles. The logo consists of a green (or in some cases golden) [[clover]]leaf with four leaves, contained with a white triangle. ====History of the emblem==== [[File:Alfa-Romeo-P1-GP-byMerosi.jpg|thumb|[[Ugo Sivocci]] at the wheel of 1923 [[Alfa Romeo P1]]]] The ''quadrifoglio'' has been used on Alfa Romeo cars since the death of [[Ugo Sivocci]] in 1923. As a friend of [[Enzo Ferrari]], Sivocci was hired by Alfa Romeo in 1920 to drive in the four-man works team—[[Alfa Corse]]—with [[Antonio Ascari]], Giuseppe Campari, and Enzo Ferrari. Sivocci was thought to have enormous experience, but often hampered by bad luck and considered the eternal second-placer. To banish his bad luck, when the [[Targa Florio]] came around, the driver painted a white square with a green four-leaf clover (the ''quadrifoglio'') in the centre of the grille of his car. Sivocci had immediate success, crossing the finish line first. The ''quadrifoglio'' subsequently became the symbol of the racing Alfa Romeos with the victory at the Targa Florio. Almost as if to prove the magic effects of this symbol, Sivocci was killed while testing [[Giuseppe Merosi|Merosi]]'s new [[Alfa Romeo P1|P1]] at [[Monza]], a few months after winning the Targa Florio. The [[Salerno]] driver's P1, which went off the track on a bend, did not have the ''quadrifoglio''. Since this period in 1923, the bodies of Alfa Romeo racing cars have been adorned with the ''quadrifoglio'' as a lucky charm. The white square was replaced with a triangle in memory of Ugo Sivocci.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio History|url=http://www.alfaromeo.com/com/#/models/quadrifoglio-verde/history|work=Alfa Romeo Automobillismo Storico, Centre Documentazione|access-date=11 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115045605/http://www.alfaromeo.com/com/#/models/quadrifoglio-verde/history|archive-date=15 January 2013}}</ref> [[File:Alfetta 159.jpg|thumb|''Quadrifoglio'' badge on the [[Alfa Romeo 158/159 Alfetta|Alfetta 159]]]] ====Modern usage==== The first road car to bear the ''quadrifoglio'' was the 1963 [[Alfa Romeo Giulia]] TI Super, a variant of the Giulia saloon car devised for competition but put regularly on sale; it had green four-leaf clovers on its front wings, without the triangle. In the 1970s "Quadrifoglio Verde" or "Green Cloverleaf" became the trim level for each model's sportiest variant, equipped with the most powerful engine. The [[Alfa Romeo Alfasud|Alfasud]], [[Alfa Romeo Sprint|Sprint]], [[Alfa Romeo 33|33]], [[Alfa Romeo 75|75]], [[Alfa Romeo 164|164]] and [[Alfa Romeo 145 and 146|145]] all had Quadrifoglio Verde versions. Also in the 1970s and through the 1980s golden four-leaf clover badges were used to denote the most luxurious and well-equipped variants of Alfa Romeo cars, named "Quadrifoglio Oro" or "Gold Cloverleaf". The [[Alfa Romeo Alfasud|Alfasud]], [[Alfa Romeo Alfetta|Alfetta]], [[Alfa Romeo Alfa 6|Alfa 6]], [[Alfa Romeo 90|90]] and [[Alfa Romeo 33|33]] had Quadrifoglio Oro versions. In recent times the ''quadrifoglio'' was revived on the 2007 [[Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione]] and Spider sports cars. With the [[Alfa Romeo MiTo]] and [[Alfa Romeo Giulietta (940)|Giulietta]], the Quadrifoglio Verde was reinstated as the sportiest trim level in the range, and green four-leaf clovers on the front wings are once again the hallmark of high-performance Alfa Romeos. Alfa Romeo's 2016 sport sedan, the all-new [[Alfa Romeo Giulia (952)|Giulia]], was launched first in Quadrifoglio trim before the release of the base models.
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