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Pininfarina in the black for first time since 2004

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Earnings/Financials, Design/Style

Italian design house Pininfarina predicted last May that it would face an operating loss for 2012 but still come out with a net profit. Both predictions have come true - the company is reporting an operating loss of 8.2 million euros and a net profit of 32.9 million euros ($42.5 million US).

According to Reuters, the good news came because of a debt restructuring arranged last year that gives the company three more years to repay its $182.6 million in debt, and a one-time gain of roughly 45 million euros ($57.6 million US). It is the company's first profit since 2004, and is a more robust sign of forward progress than the retrospective museum exhibits held in the company's honor last year. Perhaps the company's better financial condition will help it pull the trigger on a limited production run of the Sergio barchetta concept (shown above) as rumored.

Pininfarina in the black for first time since 2004 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are the best days behind the Italian carrozzeria?

Matt DeLorenzo — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Specialty, Design/Style

Museums, Not Motor Shows, Take Center Stage In 2012

Two museum exhibitions, one opening and the other just closed, that recognize a pair of leading design houses, Pininfarina and Bertone, are celebrating iconic car designs that have come from their studios. At the same time, these events underscore the uncertain future faced by the independent Italian design community at large.

Pininfarina is being commemorated in an exhibition at Museo Ferrari in Maranello, which runs through next January, while Bertone, celebrating its 100th anniversary, was the subject of a display that closed last month at the Italian National Car Museum in Turin.

These two firms, along with many others including Italdesign Giugiaro, Ghia, Zagato and Touring, were the go-to guys when manufacturers the world over needed design and engineering services to create everything from concept cars to limited production runs. But changes in the industry, including massive consolidation of brands and tough economic times, raise the question of whether these carrozzeria are relevant or not.

It wasn't always so as both the Pininfarina and Bertone museum displays testify.

Matt DeLorenzo is the former editor-in-chief of Road & Track and has covered the auto industry for 35 years, including stints at Automotive News and AutoWeek. He has authored books including VW's New Beetle, Chrysler's Modern Concept Cars, and Corvette Dynasty.

Continue reading Are the best days behind the Italian carrozzeria?

Are the best days behind the Italian carrozzeria? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legendary designer Sergio Pininfarina passes away

Chris Paukert — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Ferrari, Celebrities, Design/Style

The world of automotive design has lost another great. Sergio Pininfarina - the honorary chairman of the Pininfarina Group that bears his family name - passed away last night at age 85.

Sergio took control of Pininfarina as chairman back in 1966 after his father, Gian Battista 'Pinin' Farina, passed away. He would hold this role until transitioning to honorary chairman in 2006.

Over his tenure, his Pininfarina firm worked on design projects for everyone from Alfa Romeo to Chevrolet to Bentley and Volvo, but he is perhaps most known for his work for Ferrari and Maserati. No stranger to edgy aesthetics, Pininfarina presided over designs like the 2002 Ferrari Enzo and the 1984 Ferrari Testarossa before it. Conversely, he was also responsible for some beautifully simple forms, including the lauded 1996 Peugeot 406 Coupe and 2003 Maserati Quattroporte.

Sergio Pininfarina is survived by his wife and two children. You can learn more about him by scrolling down to read the company's official statement.

Continue reading Legendary designer Sergio Pininfarina passes away

Legendary designer Sergio Pininfarina passes away originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pininfarina turns first net profit since 2004

Zach Bowman — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Earnings/Financials, Design/Style

Automotive News reports Pininfarina projects it will turn a profit for 2012, thanks in part to debt restructuring. The Italian design studio hasn't seen a profit in eight years, but signed a deal in April to restructure $182.6 million in debt. The move effectively stretched the studio's repayment deadline from 2015 to 2018. At the same time, Pininfarina announced it will likely see an operating loss this year, but a one-time gain of $57.6 million will result in the net profit. Last year, the company lost $8.3 million in the first quarter, though that figure has dropped to just under $4 million during Q1 2012.

Pininfarina also saw its net revenue increase by $2.9 million. The company designs vehicles for manufacturers the world over, including makes like Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls-Royce and Cadillac, though CEO Silvio Pietro Angori recently announced China is set to become the studio's largest market this year. That title was previously held by Germany.

Pininfarina turns first net profit since 2004 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 May 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sergio Scaglietti passes on to the big carrozzeria in the sky

Noah Joseph — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Ferrari, Design/Style

Late on Sunday, Ferrari confirmed the passing of its legendary coachbuilding collaborator Sergio Scaglietti. He was 91 years old.

The name Scaglietti is indelibly intertwined with that of Ferrari. You may recognize the name as belonging to the 612 - the twelve-cylinder 2+2 GT that preceded the current FF - but that model was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it came to the ties that have bound the two icons over the years.

The relationship started when Scaglietti's work, based in the same town of Maranello as Ferrari itself, caught the eye of Enzo Ferrari in the early days of the Scuderia. Scaglietti soon became Ferrari's preferred coachbuilder, and was responsible for the designing and crafting the bodywork on, among others, three of the most valuable collector's cars in the world: the 250 GTO, the 250 GT California and the 250 Testa Rossa.

Legendary for crafting sheetmetal into the most beautiful forms using only his hands and eyes with no blueprints or sketches, Scaglietti eventually sold his outfit to Fiat in the 1960s, and in 1977, it became part of Ferrari's operations. The Scaglietti department continues to craft the bodies for modern-day Ferrari models to this day.

Continue reading Sergio Scaglietti passes on to the big carrozzeria in the sky

Sergio Scaglietti passes on to the big carrozzeria in the sky originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Carrozzeria Zanasi is Enzo Ferrari's bodyshop

Noah Joseph — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Ferrari

Carrozzeria Zanasi - Click above to watch the video after the jump

There are body shops, and then there are body shops. This, ladies and gentlemen, is clearly the latter.

Established to meet the demands of the factory down the street, Carrozzeria Zanasi is Ferrari's go-to body shop for a wide variety of functions, from custom paint jobs to restoration of classics. The collaboration dates back to 1964, when Enzo Ferrari himself teamed up with company founder Umberto Zanasi - the rest, as they say, is history. And as you can tell from the video after the jump, Zanasi's facility is a touch more impressive than your average panel-beater wielding his rubber hammer in some greasy garage.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Continue reading Video: Carrozzeria Zanasi is Enzo Ferrari's bodyshop

Video: Carrozzeria Zanasi is Enzo Ferrari's bodyshop originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carrozzeria Touring reportedly to unveil coachbuilt Bentley Continental GTC in Geneva

Noah Joseph — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Geneva Motor Show, Bentley, Specialty, Design/Style, Luxury

Bentley Continental GTZ by Zagato - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you were enticed by Zagato's take on the Bentley Continental GT (pictured above), rumor has it Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera has a version of its own in the works.

Anticipated to be unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in two months' time, Touring's coachbuilt Bentley is slated to be based on the convertible Continental GTC, and could borrow its underpinnings from the upcoming GTC SuperSports.

Like Zagato's Continental GTZ, the second coachbuilt Continental reportedly received support from Crewe. Since its revival, the Carrozzeria gave us such Maserati-based creations as the A8 GCS and Quattroporte Bellagio Fastback, and was recently rumored to be working on a custom Ferrari design as well.

Gallery: Geneva 2008: Bentley Continental GTZ Zagato

[Source: Autoblog.nl]

Carrozzeria Touring reportedly to unveil coachbuilt Bentley Continental GTC in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat back in the mix as Bertone manufacturing unit goes up for sale

Noah Joseph — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings/Financials, Fiat

Bertone Mantide - Click above for a high-res image gallery

You could say that Fiat's on a bit of a spending spree lately. While everyone else is struggling to trim expenditures and sell off divisions, Fiat's been buying them up. So after moving in at Chrysler's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and making offers for GM's European and Latin American operations - including Opel and Vauxhall - it should come as no surprise that the Italian automaker is at it again, this time placing a non-binding offer to acquire Carrozzeria Bertone.

The offer is one of five currently being entertained by Italy's oldest coachbuilder and the courts administering its bankruptcy. Among other bidders reported are Domenico Reviglio (the Gruppo Prototipo chief who was slated to buy the company last year), former Lancia CEO Gianmario Rossignolo, Chinese automaker FAW and an additional unspecified Spanish concern. It is also not the first time Fiat considered rescuing Bertone after a previous attempt failed over two years ago.

Although the reports remain somewhat ambiguous, it appears that the unit in question is only the contract manufacturing division Carrozzeria Bertone SpA, a separate unit from the Stile Bertone design house under the Gruppo Bertone umbrella.

Gallery: Bertone Mantide

[Source: Automotive News Europe - Sub. Req.]

Fiat back in the mix as Bertone manufacturing unit goes up for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RetroVette: Castagna Aznom unveiled

Noah Joseph — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:26:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Supercars, Chevrolet

click above image for more pics of the Castagna Milano

One of the most exciting recent developments in the industry, by this writer's account at least, is the re-emergence of the coachbuilding industry. Cars like the Fisker Latigo and Zagato Ferrari 575 GTZ have heralded a revival of the long-lost segment that inherently gives birth to some of the most unique automobiles on the road. It was only a matter of time until the Italians picked up where they left off by crafting unique Corvette-based sportscars.

Italian coachbuilder Castagna Milano, originally founded way back in the 1850s and revived in the 1990s, has created a number of bespoke models, including the Imperial Landaulet concept and a slew of custom Minis. The carrozzeria's latest offering, the Castagna Aznom, was previewed in skeletal form back in April at Monaco's Top Marques show, and the firm has now released further details and images.

Based on the Corvette Z06, the Aznom also draws on retro Corvette styling elements, blended with thoroughly modern design features to create a heart-stopping supercar. The egg-crate grille is drawn from the original '53 Vette, slab-sided flanks from the '58 Stingray and fenders from the '56 SR-2 Sebring race car. On the contemporary side of things, LED rear lights, retracting rear wing, three-section rear diffuser and F1-style fender-mounted carbon-fiber wing mirrors round out the design. Those sharp five-spoke wheels measure 20 inches, shod in 285/30 and 335/30 Pirelli PZero rubber front and rear respectively, housing 356mm cross-drilled discs with six-pot calipers fore and 340mm discs with 4-pot calipers aft. The cockpit even features a Google Earth-powered sat-nav system.

Whether you love or hate the unique styling, the Aznom has the "go" to back up the "show". Castagna has thoroughly massaged the Z06's 7-liter V8 from 500 horsepower to a whopping 750, and with the use of carbon fiber, aluminum and magnesium bodywork, has trimmed the weight down to 1,400 kg. With that magical formula of more power and less weight, the carrozzeria puts the performance figures at 0-60 in a scant 3.4 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 217 mph.

[Source: Italiaspeed]

Gallery: Castagna Aznom

RetroVette: Castagna Aznom unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo Auto Salon: Mazda Mega-Gallery

Alex Nunez — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 15:08:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Japan, Mazda

Click for our gallery of 31 high-resolution photos

Mazda brought a ton of rides to the tuner-centric Tokyo Auto Salon this year. In addition to machinery like the CX-7 Bright Stylish Concept we brought you a few weeks ago and the Roadster (MX-5) Mazdaspeed M'z Tune Concept that Damon reported on earlier today, there are a host of other trick Mazdas prepared with a little help from folks like DAMD, Kenstyle, Pioneer (as Carrozzeria) and the aforementioned Mazdaspeed.

Nothing is off the table, so the range of models touches everything from the Mazda3 (Axela) to an ultra-lux MPV. The gallery shows all, and don't worry, each photo is labeled at the bottom so you'll know exactly what you're looking at. For a breakdown on each car (and a few we don't have shots of), follow the jump for the official skinny from Mazda. Enjoy.

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Tokyo Auto Salon: Mazda Mega-Gallery

Tokyo Auto Salon: Mazda Mega-Gallery originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Jan 2007 15:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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