Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé concept echoes 8 Series]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/bmw-pininfarina-gran-lusso-coupe-concept-echoes-8-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/bmw-pininfarina-gran-lusso-coupe-concept-echoes-8-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/bmw-pininfarina-gran-lusso-coupe-concept-echoes-8-series/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe - rear three-quarter rendering

BMW and Pininfarina are planning to debut a new concept at the 2013 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. The Gran Lusso Coupé is designed to be the next logical step forward from the Zagato Coupé, and the one-off creation boasts plenty of BMW earmarks to set the car off as a true member of the German automaker's family. With a long wheel base and a stretched nose, the two door can't help but channel the long-dead BMW 8 Series, and the potent V12 under the hood only reinforces the link.

BMW has been kind enough to slip the world a few teasers, and the images show what looks like it could be the low-slung grand tourer of our dreams. Check out the full press release below for more information, and stay tuned for the full unveiling.

Continue reading BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé concept echoes 8 Series

BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé concept echoes 8 Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 May 2013 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmw gran lusso coupebmw pininfarina gran lusso coupegran lusso coupepininfarinavilla destevilla deste 2013Tue, 14 May 2013 19:13:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20566720/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/14/bmw-pininfarina-gran-lusso-coupe-concept-echoes-8-series/20566720/article-detail.xml 20566720 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/gran-lusso-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/gran-lusso-628.jpg <![CDATA[Pininfarina in the black for first time since 2004]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/pininfarina-in-the-black-for-first-time-since-2004/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/pininfarina-in-the-black-for-first-time-since-2004/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/pininfarina-in-the-black-for-first-time-since-2004/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2013 Pininfarina Sergio concept - front three-quarter view at Geneva Motor Show reveal

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carrozzeriacoachbuilderpinin farinapininfarinapininfarina profitsilvio pietro angoriTue, 26 Mar 2013 10:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20516839/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/26/pininfarina-in-the-black-for-first-time-since-2004/20516839/article-detail.xml 20516839 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/pininfarina-sergio-concept-1364230099_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/pininfarina-sergio-concept-1364230099.jpg <![CDATA[Pininfarina to build handful of Sergio Roadster models?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/18/pininfarina-to-build-handful-of-sergio-roadster-models/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/18/pininfarina-to-build-handful-of-sergio-roadster-models/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/18/pininfarina-to-build-handful-of-sergio-roadster-models/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Pininfarina Sergio Roadster concept - live at Geneva Motor Show unveiling - front three-quarter view

At just about any other auto show, Pininfarina's Sergio Roadster would've been the uncontested showstopper - but at the Geneva Motor Show, where supercar reveals stack up like cordwood and there are plenty of coachbuilt classics-to-be, the Sergio was merely stunning.

But its beauty shouldn't be overlooked, and apparently it hasn't been - Pininfarina is seriously considering a very limited run of the roofless, windshield-free sports car. With just five or six examples in the possible production run, the Ferrari 458 Spider-based barchetta could fetch some three million euros. That's according to CEO Silvio Angori, who spoke with Automotive News Europe. At the time the Sergio was introduced, we had heard that Pininfarina was mulling production, but this is the first time we've had even rough numbers assigned to the car.

The Sergio's aesthetic success hinges quite a bit on the roll bar element, which also serves as a rear spoiler, and it's quite low, which could pose production challenges. If sold as designed, European law would mandate that helmets be worn whenever it's driven on public roads. Apparently, Pininfarina is aware that plutocrats tend to not want "helmet hair" when popping down to the shops or going out for dinner, so a small windshield could be added to make the car more palatable for actual road use.

Pininfarina to build handful of Sergio Roadster models? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>458 italiaconcept carferrariferrari 458 italiaferrari 458 spidergenevageneva 2013geneva motor showpininfarinasergiosergio conceptMon, 18 Mar 2013 17:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20507785/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/18/pininfarina-to-build-handful-of-sergio-roadster-models/20507785/article-detail.xml 20507785 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/pininfarina-sergio-concept-geneva_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/pininfarina-sergio-concept-geneva.jpg <![CDATA[Pininfarina Sergio Concept ditches windshield for crash helmets [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/05/pininfarina-sergio-concept-geneva-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/05/pininfarina-sergio-concept-geneva-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/05/pininfarina-sergio-concept-geneva-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Pininfarina Sergio Concept

To give you an idea of the ethos behind this concept, consider this fact: The Pininfarina Sergio comes with its own custom helmets for the driver and passenger. And yes, they match the sensuous red and black scheme so artfully applied to the car itself. Form and function, rolled into one machine.

It is, quite fittingly, based upon the guts of a Ferrari, the 458 in particular, as the Italian design house is most commonly thought of as the styling center for the Italian supercar manufacturer. Performance specs are as follows: 0-62 in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 199 miles per hour, courtesy of Ferrari's 570-horsepower 4.5-liter V8 engine.

According to Fabio Filippini, design director at Pininfarina, "We were motivated by the spirit of Pininfarina's best sports cars, Ferraris of the '60s and '70s designed under the leadership of Sergio Pininfarina. In particular, the Dino Berlinetta Speciale of 1965, the Ferrari 250 LM, the P5, the Modulo, and the Mythos."

We'll leave the subjective points of the car's styling to you, but we will say that the overall wedge shape, lack of windshield and forward-canted roll hoop are nothing if not memorable. If you like what you see, you'll be pleased to know that Pininfarina says it is "a real car that can easily be produced in limited series of a few units." In other words, get out your checkbook.

Scroll down to watch a video and read the official press release, but first be sure to meander your way through our high-res gallery of live images above.

Continue reading Pininfarina Sergio Concept ditches windshield for crash helmets [w/video]

Pininfarina Sergio Concept ditches windshield for crash helmets [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>genevageneva 2013geneva motor showpininfarinapininfarina sergiopininfarina sergio conceptsergioTue, 05 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20489017/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/05/pininfarina-sergio-concept-geneva-2013/20489017/article-detail.xml 20489017 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/pininfarina-sergio-concept-geneva_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/pininfarina-sergio-concept-geneva.jpg <![CDATA[Pininfarina Sergio makes official web debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/03/pininfarina-sergio-makes-official-web-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/03/pininfarina-sergio-makes-official-web-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/03/pininfarina-sergio-makes-official-web-debut/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Pininfarina Sergio Concept

You can be sure that we'll be bringing you live images of the Pininfarina Sergio Concept from the Geneva Motor Show next week, but in the meantime, we suggest you take a gander at the image above (click to view it in high res). As you can see, the concept sits as low to the ground as possible, in the best Italian tradition, and it eschews a windshield in favor of what we assume are precise wind-cheating aerodynamics and what appears to be a roll bar with headrests behind the passenger compartment. We'll have to wait a little longer for any more details, such as what's powering this wedge-shaped machine.

This is the first full image the Italian coachbuilder has published, which it says "renews the spirit of the extraordinary achievements born under Sergio Pininfarina's guide, projecting them towards the future in the name of exclusivity, innovation and passion." Built in honor of Sergio Pininfarina, Life Senator and Honorary Chairman of the Pininfarina Group, who passed away in July of 2012, this two-seat red barchetta would be a perfect prop for impromptu Geddy Lee impersonations. Feel free to read the extremely sparse press release below, and stay tuned for live images within the next few days.

Continue reading Pininfarina Sergio makes official web debut

Pininfarina Sergio makes official web debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Mar 2013 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pininfarina Sergio concept car teaser - vent image

Pininfarina has announced that it will debut an "innovative and exclusive" concept car at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show as a tribute to Life Senator Sergio Pininfarina, Honorary Chairman of the Pininfarina Group who passed away in July of 2012. Sergio took control of the company in 1966, after the death of his father, Gian Battista 'Pinin' Farina.

The concept, aptly named "Sergio," will celebrate the maestro of Italian style, who is credited with designing vehicles for countless automakers including Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Chevrolet, Volvo, Maserati and Ferrari - the 2002 Ferrari Enzo and 1984 Ferrari Testarossa were penned under his guidance, among others.

Continue reading Pininfarina teases Sergio concept car for Geneva

Pininfarina teases Sergio concept car for Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 geneva motor showgenevageneva motor showpinin farinapininfarinasergiosergio conceptsergio concept carsergio pininfarinaTue, 05 Feb 2013 16:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20449307/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/05/pininfarina-teases-sergio-concept-car-for-geneva/20449307/article-detail.xml 20449307 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/pininfarinasergio628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/pininfarinasergio628.jpg <![CDATA[Are the best days behind the Italian carrozzeria?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/13/are-the-best-days-behind-the-italian-carrozzeria/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/13/are-the-best-days-behind-the-italian-carrozzeria/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/13/are-the-best-days-behind-the-italian-carrozzeria/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bertonecarrozzeriafeaturedghiamatt delorenzopininfarinatouringzagatoTue, 13 Nov 2012 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20377418/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/13/are-the-best-days-behind-the-italian-carrozzeria/20377418/article-detail.xml 20377418 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/museoferrari-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/museoferrari-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Ferrari Museum opens exhibit celebrating works of Sergio Pininfarina [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/02/ferrari-museum-opens-exhibit-celebrating-works-of-sergio-pininfa/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/02/ferrari-museum-opens-exhibit-celebrating-works-of-sergio-pininfa/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/02/ferrari-museum-opens-exhibit-celebrating-works-of-sergio-pininfa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Automotive designer Sergio Pininfarina passed away in July of this year, but there is every reason to believe that the memory of the vehicles he created will never die. That prediction is bolstered by the fact that he designed more than 100 Ferraris, and that the Ferrari Museum has just put 22 of them on display in Maranello in The Great Ferraris of Sergio Pininfarina Exhibition.

Sergio didn't 'retire' from the chairmanship of the design house the wore the family name until 2006 (he took the role of honorary chairman after that, until his death this year), but he first put his pen to work for Ferrari with the 1952 Inter Cabriolet. Since then, right through to the F12 Berlinetta, Pininfarina was responsible for a heart-melting procession of cars, which kept the enthusiasts' attention on Maranello, and brought new definitions to words like "Italian," "scarlet," "racecar for the road" and "playboy."

The exhibit is open now and runs until January 7, 2013. The various samples of Sergio's work are broken up into race, road and concept cars and span the decades from the 250 LM to the 599 SA Aperta. A couple of videos and a press release below go into more detail, and no, it's not too early to ask Santa for a trip to Italy.

Continue reading Ferrari Museum opens exhibit celebrating works of Sergio Pininfarina [w/video]

Ferrari Museum opens exhibit celebrating works of Sergio Pininfarina [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exhibitionferrariferrari museummuseumpininfarinasergio pininfarinathe great cars of sergio pininfarinaFri, 02 Nov 2012 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20365358/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/02/ferrari-museum-opens-exhibit-celebrating-works-of-sergio-pininfa/20365358/article-detail.xml 20365358 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/ferraripininexhib-1351636669_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/ferraripininexhib-1351636669.jpg <![CDATA[Alfa Romeo's version of Mazda MX-5 Miata to be costlier, offer own engines]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/04/alfa-romeos-version-of-mazda-mx-5-miata-to-be-costlier-offer-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/04/alfa-romeos-version-of-mazda-mx-5-miata-to-be-costlier-offer-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/04/alfa-romeos-version-of-mazda-mx-5-miata-to-be-costlier-offer-o/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Geneva 2010: Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta concept by Pininfarina - front three-quarter view

If this comes to pass, it shouldn't be a surprise in the least, but What Car? is reporting that the Alfa Romeo version of the roadster it is co-developing with Mazda will be more expensive than the MX-5 Miata upon which it is based. Alfa's market perception alone would seem to encourage that scenario, but it sounds like intentionally avoiding competition is also be at play, as Mazda's CEO has told the magazine that "the two cars were unlikely to be priced or positioned to compete against each other."

The Miata is predicted to bow as early as year (we're hearing it will likely be later), the Alfa version in 2015. Although both are expected to be built at Mazda's plant in Hiroshima, Japan the roadsters will get engines from their respective parent companies. The MX-5 is speculated to get its motivation from a 1.3-liter, 200-horsepower four-cylinder. But if Alfa wanted to charge a little more for a MultiAir-engined, 300-horsepower production version of the Pininfarina-penned 2uettottanta concept showed off at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show... well, we'd have nothing bad to say about it.

Alfa Romeo's version of Mazda MX-5 Miata to be costlier, offer own engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2015 mazda mx-5 miata2uettottantaalfa romeofiatmazdamazda mx-5 miatamiatamx-5mx-5 miatapininfarinaTue, 04 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20312383/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/04/alfa-romeos-version-of-mazda-mx-5-miata-to-be-costlier-offer-o/20312383/article-detail.xml 20312383 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/alfaconceptroadster_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/alfaconceptroadster.jpg <![CDATA[Suzuki recalling 101,000 Forenza, Reno models over faulty headlamps]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/suzuki-recalling-101-000-forenza-reno-models-over-faulty-headla/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/suzuki-recalling-101-000-forenza-reno-models-over-faulty-headla/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/suzuki-recalling-101-000-forenza-reno-models-over-faulty-headla/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2006 Suzuki Forenza sedan - silver, front three-quarter view

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall of over 100,000 Suzuki models. The NHTSA recall extends to certain 2004-2006 Suzuki Forenza models and 2005-2006 Reno vehicles, These were vehicles produced from September 2003 through March 2006.

2006 Suzuki Reno hatchback - silver, front three-quarter viewAccording to the announcement, the recall pertains to potentially faulty headlight assemblies. A poor contact in the headlight terminals can result in the splice pack melting, resulting in partial or complete loss of headlamp functionality.

Suzuki is notifying owners of the Pininfarina-designed sedan and Giugiaro-penned hatch of the problem and instructing dealers to reconnect effected headlight wiring with a pair of a heat-shrink crimps.

Owners are asked to contact Suzuki or NHTSA. The recall of 101,688 units is expected to begin in September. Scroll down to read more in the government agency's official notice.

Continue reading Suzuki recalling 101,000 Forenza, Reno models over faulty headlamps

Suzuki recalling 101,000 Forenza, Reno models over faulty headlamps originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forenzagiugiaropininfarinarenosuzukisuzuki forenzasuzuki recallsuzuki renoTue, 21 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20304648/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/21/suzuki-recalling-101-000-forenza-reno-models-over-faulty-headla/20304648/article-detail.xml 20304648 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/suzuki-forenza-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/suzuki-forenza-628.jpg <![CDATA[Legendary designer Sergio Pininfarina passes away]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/03/legendary-designer-sergio-pininfarina-passes-away/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/03/legendary-designer-sergio-pininfarina-passes-away/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/03/legendary-designer-sergio-pininfarina-passes-away/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sergio Pininfarina kneels down to inspect a car - 1959

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto designcar designcarrozzeriacoachbuildercoachbuildingobituarypinin farinapininfarinasergio pininfarinaTue, 03 Jul 2012 10:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20270970/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/03/legendary-designer-sergio-pininfarina-passes-away/20270970/article-detail.xml 20270970 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/sergio-pininfarina-in-1959_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/sergio-pininfarina-in-1959.jpg <![CDATA[London celebrates Italian design with Pininfarina showcase]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/london-celebrates-italian-design-with-pininfarina-showcase/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/london-celebrates-italian-design-with-pininfarina-showcase/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/london-celebrates-italian-design-with-pininfarina-showcase/#commentsFiled under: ,

Pininfarina Birdcage model

Most tend to think of Pininfarina as the company that designs Ferraris. And indeed it is. Most every Ferrari to leave the factory in Maranello over the past several decades has been styled by Pininfarina. But that's far from the only thing the famous design house and coachbuilder has done over the years.

Aside from the endless stream of other automakers for which Pininfarina has designed cars, the studio has also styled all manner of other products, from coffee machines and desk chairs to yachts and monorails. The list is virtually endless, and to highlight that point Pininfarina is displaying its wares at the Italian Cultural Institute at London's swanky Belgrave Square during the Olympics.

If you're planning on heading to the British capital for the games and are as enamored of Italian design as many of us here at Autoblog are, it looks like it may be worth checking out. See what we mean in the high-res image gallery above and the press release below.

Continue reading London celebrates Italian design with Pininfarina showcase

London celebrates Italian design with Pininfarina showcase originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belgravebelgrave squaredesignlondonolympicspininfarinaThu, 21 Jun 2012 08:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20261472/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/21/london-celebrates-italian-design-with-pininfarina-showcase/20261472/article-detail.xml 20261472 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/pininfarina-model_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/pininfarina-model.jpg <![CDATA[Eric Clapton's Ferrari SP12 EC officially unveiled]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/26/eric-claptons-ferrari-sp12-ec-officially-unveiled/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/26/eric-claptons-ferrari-sp12-ec-officially-unveiled/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/26/eric-claptons-ferrari-sp12-ec-officially-unveiled/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ferrari SP12 EC

A few months ago a mystery Ferrari was photographed in a London dealership with various sources all but confirming it was a one-off creation built for musician Eric Clapton. Now Ferrari has made it official, formally unveiling the car named SP12 EC.

Built in cooperation with Ferrari's Special Projects program and Pininfarina, the SP12 EC is essentially a 458 Italia clad with all new body panels inspired by the 512 BB of the late 1970s and early 1980s, of which Clapton has owned three. The musician reportedly wanted one of Ferrari's 6.0-liter V12s squeezed into the engine bay, but all signs indicate that the 458 Italia's 4.5-liter is still in place. The only thing missing is a set of vintage series wheels from HRE.

Ferrari isn't revealing the price tag of Clapton's one-off SP12 EC, but estimates put the tally right around the £3 million mark, which seems to be the going rate for a bespoke supercar from the Italian manufacturer.

You can read the official announcement from Ferrari below.

Continue reading Eric Clapton's Ferrari SP12 EC officially unveiled

Eric Clapton's Ferrari SP12 EC officially unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 May 2012 21:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingeric claptoneric+clapton+ferrariericclaptonferrariferrariferrari sp12 ecferrari special projectsferrari+sp+12+ecferrarisp12ecpininfarinasp+12+ecsp12 ecsp12ecSat, 26 May 2012 21:25:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20245872/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/26/eric-claptons-ferrari-sp12-ec-officially-unveiled/20245872/article-detail.xml 20245872 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ferrari-sp12-ec_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ferrari-sp12-ec.jpg <![CDATA[Pininfarina turns first net profit since 2004]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/pininfarina-turns-first-net-profit-since-2004/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/pininfarina-turns-first-net-profit-since-2004/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/pininfarina-turns-first-net-profit-since-2004/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Pininfarina Emblem

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carrozzeriacoachbuilderpinin farinapininfarinapininfarina profitsilvio pietro angoriWed, 16 May 2012 18:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20238580/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/16/pininfarina-turns-first-net-profit-since-2004/20238580/article-detail.xml 20238580 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/pininfarina-emblem-628-1337105915_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/pininfarina-emblem-628-1337105915.jpg <![CDATA[Pininfarina Cambiano carved from wood for furniture show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/18/pininfarina-cambiano-carved-from-wood-for-furniture-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/18/pininfarina-cambiano-carved-from-wood-for-furniture-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/18/pininfarina-cambiano-carved-from-wood-for-furniture-show/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wooden Pininfarina Cambiano

You may remember the Pininfarina Cambiano as the creation that walked away with the honor of being named the most beautiful concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The design house decided to commemorate the honor by crafting something else special for the 2012 Milan Furniture Show.

Pininfarina turned to the craftsmen at Riva 1920 to put together a wood sculpture in the Cambiano's image. The piece is hewn from reclaimed Venice briccola wood - the same stuff that makes up all those mooring poles in the famous Italian city.

The 36-foot beams each carry unique markings, both from the lagoon water and the aquatic organisms that call the posts home. The result is a sculpture with many unique colors and markings.

Riva 1920 used the same wood to create the interior elements of the original Cambiano. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Pininfarina Cambiano carved from wood for furniture show

Pininfarina Cambiano carved from wood for furniture show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>briccolacambianopininfarinapininfarina cambianorivariva 1920wooden cambianowooden pininfarina cambianoWed, 18 Apr 2012 16:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20218646/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/18/pininfarina-cambiano-carved-from-wood-for-furniture-show/20218646/article-detail.xml 20218646 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/01-wooden-pininfarina-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/01-wooden-pininfarina-628.jpg <![CDATA[Rolls-Royce Hyperion for sale at Abu Dhabi showroom]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/rolls-royce-hyperion-for-sale-at-abu-dhabi-showroom/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/rolls-royce-hyperion-for-sale-at-abu-dhabi-showroom/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/rolls-royce-hyperion-for-sale-at-abu-dhabi-showroom/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Rolls-Royce Hyperion by Pininfarina at Prestige Cars, Abu Dhabi

It's not much of a stretch to imagine plonking down the six figures it would take to drive home in a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, assuming your pocketbook were so well endowed. After all, when it comes to boulevard cruisers, it doesn't get much more luxurious. That's what most might do, but Roland Hall is not most people. Instead of simply dropping by the local Rolls dealer and ordering his DHC, he commissioned Pininfarina to build him something more unique.

The result was the the Hyperion - a one-off Rolls-Royce convertible penned by no less regarded a talent than Jason Castriota. The car was rumored to be up for sale off and on, but has now popped up at a showroom in Abu Dhabi where it is for sale at an undisclosed price. Previous reports put its MSRP at around $6 million, and if anyone has that kind of scrap to blow on the ultimate status symbol, they probably live nearby.

Rolls-Royce Hyperion for sale at Abu Dhabi showroom originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abu dhabihyperionpininfarinapininfarina hyperionrolls-roycerolls-royce hyperionWed, 11 Apr 2012 07:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20211694/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/11/rolls-royce-hyperion-for-sale-at-abu-dhabi-showroom/20211694/article-detail.xml 20211694 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/pininfarina-rolls-royce-hyperion-web_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/pininfarina-rolls-royce-hyperion-web.jpg <![CDATA[Pininfarina designing luxury condos in Miami [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/pininfarina-designing-luxury-condos-in-miami/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/pininfarina-designing-luxury-condos-in-miami/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/pininfarina-designing-luxury-condos-in-miami/#commentsFiled under: ,

1000 Millecento Residences

Didn't get your deposit down in time to secure a condo in Porsche Design Tower? Not to worry, because just across town - that town being Miami - Pininfarina has been contracted to design another building.

Developed by the Related Group, 1100 Millecento Residences (pictured) is being designed by Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott at 1100 South Miami Avenue. So where does Pininfarina come in? Aside from Ott citing the famed Italian automotive design house and coachbuilder as a primary influence in his work, the developers have brought Pininfarina in on the project to design the interior space of the building - the first such project it's undertaken in America.

That includes all 382 apartments in the 42-story tower, along with the ninth-floor pool deck with club room, the rooftop infinity pool with private cabanas, the fitness center and the private theater. We're told to expect a lot of exotic woods and Italian leather. But then we'd expect no less from any project Pininfarina might undertake, automotive or otherwise. See below for the brief press release.

UPDATE: New gallery of high-resolution images added.

Continue reading Pininfarina designing luxury condos in Miami [UPDATE]

Pininfarina designing luxury condos in Miami [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1000 millecento residencesapartment buildingbuildingcondocondominiumcondominiumscondosmiamipininfarinareal estateMon, 26 Mar 2012 08:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20200574/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/26/pininfarina-designing-luxury-condos-in-miami/20200574/article-detail.xml 20200574 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/webmillecentoresidences-pf-02_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/webmillecentoresidences-pf-02.jpg <![CDATA[Pininfarina mulling limited production run of Cambiano PHEV concept]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/13/pininfarina-mulling-limited-production-run-of-cambiano-phev-conc/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/13/pininfarina-mulling-limited-production-run-of-cambiano-phev-conc/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/13/pininfarina-mulling-limited-production-run-of-cambiano-phev-conc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Pininfarina Cambiano concept

A design studio and contract manufacturer, when Pininfarina builds a car it's typically under another brand's auspices. That could change, however, with the Cambiano.

Unveiled just last week at the Geneva Motor Show, the 680-horsepower plug-in hybrid coupe concept - which we had the opportunity to examine close-up in the ramp-up to the show - is being considered for limited production.

If built for public consumption, the Cambiano is tipped to ditch the concept's diesel turbine in favor of a more conventional electric powertrain with its range extended by a diesel engine. If Pininfarina were to build just ten examples, the pricetag on each would amount to about 1 million euros (approximately $1.3 million at today's conversion rates) but if ramped up to 70 or 75 units, each would fetch around 400,000 euros (about $525,000).

Pininfarina mulling limited production run of Cambiano PHEV concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cambianopininfarinapininfarina cambianopininfarina cambiano conceptTue, 13 Mar 2012 18:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20192264/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/13/pininfarina-mulling-limited-production-run-of-cambiano-phev-conc/20192264/article-detail.xml 20192264 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/-pininfarina-cambiano-concept-geneva---01-1331657168_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/-pininfarina-cambiano-concept-geneva---01-1331657168.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog goes one-on-one with the Pininfarina Cambiano Concept [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/autoblog-goes-one-on-one-with-the-pininfarina-cambiano/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/autoblog-goes-one-on-one-with-the-pininfarina-cambiano/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/autoblog-goes-one-on-one-with-the-pininfarina-cambiano/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Italian Turbine-Powered Calling Card For A New Era...And A New Maserati Quattroporte?



The global meltdown that boiled to the surface in 2008 was really hard on a lot of car companies, but it was categorically horrendous for the tradition of Italian car craftsmanship out of Turin.

Of the three big players left in the traditional Italian design mecca - Italdesign Giugiaro, Bertone and Pininfarina - only Giugiaro has managed to avoid administrative takeover of its debts and assets by working out a major deal with longtime allies Volkswagen to sell them 90.1 percent of the firm. Both Bertone and Pininfarina are currently trusted to oversee their own operations but are nonetheless bonded to pay off significant operational debts to Italian banks after having hammered out merciful sweetheart low-interest deals. Neither has succeeded in closing mutually agreeable VW-style takeover bids, but both would probably prefer not doing so anyway.

The Geneva Motor Show has been treated as Italy's (and my) hometown gig ever since the once wonderful Turin auto show fizzled away in 2002. One of the great spectacles of the Swiss salon is seeing the three major houses unveil their trinkets to the press, their stands traditionally placed side-by-side for maximum effect. This year, Italdesign Giugiaro will naturally show off some Volkswagen conceptual thinking, while Bertone has once again chosen a whimsical dream showcar approach with its 1970 Stratos-inspired Nuccio concept meant to commemorate Corrozzeria Bertone's centenary.

But the Pininfarina stand will most likely steal the attention of showgoers. How can you lose with a spanking new and hot Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and a concept that seems to hint at a future replacement for the Maserati Quattroporte?

Continue reading Autoblog goes one-on-one with the Pininfarina Cambiano Concept [w/video]

Autoblog goes one-on-one with the Pininfarina Cambiano Concept [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cambianogenevageneva 2012geneva motor showmaseratimaserati quattroportepinin farinapininfarinapininfarina cambianoquattroporteFri, 02 Mar 2012 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20184073/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/02/autoblog-goes-one-on-one-with-the-pininfarina-cambiano/20184073/article-detail.xml 20184073 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/pininfarina-cambiano-concept-geneva---09-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/pininfarina-cambiano-concept-geneva---09-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Full Pininfarina Cambiano concept renderings leaked ahead of Geneva *UPDATE]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/full-pininfarina-cambiano-concept-renderings-leaked-ahead-of-gen/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/full-pininfarina-cambiano-concept-renderings-leaked-ahead-of-gen/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/full-pininfarina-cambiano-concept-renderings-leaked-ahead-of-gen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Pininfarina Cabiano concept renderings

Italian magazine Quattroruote has somehow procured a set of renders showing every angle of the plug-in Pininfarina Cambiano concept. The show car will arrive at the Geneva Motor Show and is heavyweight celebration of several Pininfarina milestones: the 10th anniversary of the company's Engineering Centre, the 30th birthday of its Styling Centre and it's named for the town of Cambiano where Pininfarina is located. What's more, it was inspired by the design house's Lancia Florida II from 1957, an example of which was reportedly owned and slept in by the company founder.

Are you ready for the word "coupe" to carry more baggage? The designers call the Cambiano a coupe, but it's got three doors: one on the left, two on the right. Other details are as novel: it's roughly 16 feet long, weighs 3,740 pounds and is gets its power from a diesel-fueled microturbine providing juice to four electric motors of 80 horsepower each. The stats are estimated to include a 4.2-second run from zero to 60 mph and an all-electric range of "better than 200 kilometers." That's 125 miles, which implies a big battery pack. When fully charged and filled with diesel, the car can go for a bladder-busting 800 km (497 miles).

There's a lot going on with the design so have a look at the photos in the gallery and judge for yourselves, but we find ourselves mesmerized by a Dodge Daytona Charger backlight that flows into an Intrepid rear end. Pininfarina designers spoke like there was more to this car than just a concept exercise, though, so we'll look forward to seeing it in Geneva.

*UPDATE: More information on the plug-in nature of this concept was added after publication.

Full Pininfarina Cambiano concept renderings leaked ahead of Geneva *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cambianogenevageneva 2012geneva motor showpinin farinapininfarinapininfarina cambianopininfarina cambiano conceptMon, 27 Feb 2012 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20180653/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/27/full-pininfarina-cambiano-concept-renderings-leaked-ahead-of-gen/20180653/article-detail.xml 20180653 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/pininfarinacambianocnc_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/pininfarinacambianocnc.jpg -1 2