The first brand that pops into people's minds when they think about iconic Italian sports cars is Ferrari. They are the figurehead of luxury sports cars. 

They are the perfect archetype of everything a sports car brand would ever want to be. Ferrari's are immaculately designed, have a stunning interior, and can plough straight into high speeds with enormous power without breaking a sweat.

Ferrari was founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939, it wasn't long until his brand became an unstoppable force in the world of racing.

Ferrari managed to set themselves apart from everyone else at the time for their pure racing prowess. 

Ever since those years, Ferrari has managed to keep raising its profile and achieve even higher racing successes. Ferrari produces luxury cars and luxury cars only. This means that their sales aren't as high as other brands featured on this list. 

Their vehicles aren't as in demand as other brands, they have an extremely high price tag, and they certainly are not family-friendly. Even with those caveats, Ferrari remains an absolute icon in the world of luxury cars around the globe.

Lamborghini is another classic car manufacturer that is proudly and famously an export of Italy. We just spoke about Ferrari, and Lamborghini actually started in 1963 as a rival to Ferrari. 

Ferruccio Lamborghini wanted to craft a sports car that could face off against Ferrari not only in sales but on the racetrack too. Lamborghini is well known for its relationship with the Spanish sport of bullfighting. 

Ferruccio had a passion for the sport, which is reflected in the logo for Lamborghini, as well as in the names for their vehicles, many of which are named after famous bulls or acclaimed families within the sport. 

Lamborghini has a focus on performance and speed, much like the bullfighters of Spain.

Maserati was founded in 1914 by the four Maserati brothers. Bindo, Alfieri, Ettore and Ernesto. They gained a passion for motors through their older brother, who developed combustion engines for racing motorised bicycles.

Since the company was founded, they have always been linked with motorsports. Alfieri Maserati was a staple of the racing community at the time and still had a passion for the sport many years after his name-sake company was founded.

Italy might be best known for sports cars, but they have another famous brand up their sleeves, Fiat. Originally founded in 1899, Fiat is by far the oldest brand included on this list. 

Fiat's success can be narrowed down to one exact car, the Fiat 500. The king of the small city hatchback. The car has been in production for over sixty years.

Fiat is the largest industrial organisation still operating in Italy. In 2014, they partnered with the American conglomerate Chrysler to create the Fiat Chrysler group. 

Also, not too long ago, they merged with the PSA group to create the Stellantis company. This company owns fourteen major motor brands such as Jeep, Peugeot and Dodge.

One of the most beloved motor businesses across the globe, Alfa Romeo, was founded in 1910 by French engineer Alexandre Darracq.

 Originally named simply ALFA, which stood for Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, the name was changed when Nicola Romeo became a shareholder in 1915.

Alfa Romeo is one of the world's motor racing royalty brands. Alfa Romeo has won more races than any other around the globe. 

The brand's history with racing is reflected in the vehicle's unique style and engine power, but also in the brand's Quadrifoglio line.

A series of racing vehicles that have top spec high-performance.

Italian sports cars are famous for their luxurious driving, which comes at an extremely high price. Alfa Romeo's Giulia is an affordable and practical vehicle that will let you experience the pleasure of a sports car on a daily basis.

The Giulia has a mighty turbocharged engine, an exquisite leather interior and rear-wheel drive. 

Giulia is extremely agile, so twisting and turning roads are absolutely no match for this automobile. Not to mention the exorbitant speeds this car is able of reaching.

Some downsides of the Giulia are the limited legroom in the rear seats of the car, and the vehicle's suspension can feel stiff on occasion.

The Maserati Ghibli is a really special vehicle. It combines style and quality to create a vehicle that can rival any competitors, such as the Mercedes E-Class and the BMW 5 Series, on the market. 

The most popular model of the car comes with a beastly 3.0L V6 Turbo engine.

Unfortunately, the car comes with steep ownership costs, with a relatively low MPG. 

The Ghibli is also known for having a weak sound system, which is highly disappointing for a luxury car of this kind.

The F8 is one of the most desirable cars currently racing around the roads. 

The car's phenomenal twin-turbo V8 engine, along with the F8's chassis, creates a motorsport like vehicle which boasts unbelievably thrilling speed and acceleration.

The F8 might not be the most practical vehicle for picking up the kids from school or doing your weekly shop, but the car's undeniable style and speed make it undeniably enticing. 

The car has fantastic handling and a beautiful style both inside and out.

There is a lot to love about the Ferrari Portofino. It is a glistening two-door convertible with a retractable hardtop roof. 

Ferrari's racing history shines through with the Portofino's 3.9-litre V8 engine, which allows you to reach high speeds almost effortlessly.

Though this car is not quite as agile as its top of the line competitors, and perhaps not the most desirable Ferrari on the market.

It certainly has an opulent and dazzling style that will appeal to anyone who has an interest in the finer things in life.

The Lamborghini Huracan STO allows you to feel the strength and power of a racecar in your day to day life. 

The Huracan STO is Lamborghini's last hurrah before their vehicles switch over to electric, and they're going out in style. 

The Lamborghini Huracan STO features a mid-mounted V10 engine which can not only creates some unbelievable performance but also produces a hell of a lot of noise. This car can really roar.

Fiat's 500 is just as popular now, in its new modern reinvention, as it was all those years ago when Fiat first began to produce the car. 

The cars latest incarnation is all-electric and is proudly leading Italy's electric march into the future. The change to electric hasn't changed anything. The Fiat 500 is just as stylish as ever and is an absolute joy to drive.

Of course, the Fiat 500 is a little pricier than other city cars on the market, with a starting price of just under £20000. But with Fiat's history, you can be guaranteed to have a good experience with the 500.

The sound of an Italian engine has been one of Italian manufacturers key identifiers for many years, so the switch to electric has been a massive blow to the Italian motor manufacturer market. 

One thing that will never change is the Italian's sense of style, and the Pininfarina Battista is proof of this.

The Pininfarina Battista is one of the most powerful and fast vehicles ever produced in Italy, even with a battery rather than an engine. 

The Battista also has incredibly precise and sharp handling, as well as a bespoke interior. 

At the steep cost of just over 2 million euros, the Pininfarina Battista is hardly an affordable vehicle, but the craftsmanship and performance on show here are immaculate.

Maserati has never quite gained the same recognition as its counterparts like Lamborghini and Ferrari. 

Their vehicles have always been viewed as an alternative to the most luxurious vehicles on the market. The MC20 is set to change all of that.

The car is loaded with an all-new turbocharged V6 engine and features an incredibly sleek and streamlined body which together create a car capable of reaching zero to sixty-two in a matter of three seconds.