Auto Design

From Giancarlo Perini.

Sergio Pininfarina, a truly honourable member “for life” of the Italian Senate and a legendary figure of the Italian design and sports cars history has passed away last night (July 4th, 2012) at his home in Torino. He was 85.

Sergio Pininfarina was not elected Senator but was appointed, just like current Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, for his merits by the president of the Italian republic. In 2005.

Through his crystal clear life and career Sen. Pininfarina was elected member of the European Parliament and awarded the most prestigious awards by nations around the world, such as

The French Légion d’Honneur, Honorary Royal Designer for Industry, Foreign member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Engineering science and Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan (2007) and Geneva (2008), but he was primarily the leader of the Italian design temple established by his father Pinin Farina and known world-wide with the Pininfarina name.

But he primarily was known and revered for his leadership in Italian design, following in the footsteps of his father, Pinin Farina, who established the Pininfarina name worldwide and helped make Italy synonymous with automotive styling leadership.

With him, Italian design and Italy loose a real Maestro.

When Pinin Farina reached a life-long co-operation agreement with Enzo Ferrari, it was his son Sergio who was appointed to ensure the success of the new alliance. Sergio Pininfarina delivered much more than that and today the Ferrari-Pininfarina is seen as a unique brand association worldwide.

Not a designer himself but quite a creative entrepreneur with a strong will and the elegance of a gentleman, he brought his company to the highest peak in the automotive design and coach-building business. He signed off most of the greatest Ferrari successes, built many successful sport cars for the carmakers around the world and created iconic design for Alfa Romeo, Cadillac, Fiat, Lancia, Peugeot and Rolls-Royce.

Under his direction Pininfarina designers created dream cars such as the Ferrari Modulo and the Ferrari Dino 206 C Competizione, and turned dreams into reality with the Alfa Romeo Spider and Duetto, the Fiar 124 Spider, a number of Peugeots, from the 403 to the 406 through the 504 and the 205; as well as their coupé and cabriolet derivatives. The Ferrari is a story apart. In more than half a century Pininfarina has created superlative sports cars that are legendary.

“An exceptional person, who connected his name indissolubly with our history and our success,” Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo said in a  public statement, adding: “Sergio was one of the most important advocates of ‘Made in Italy’ all over the world, a man who gave Italy credibility and splendor.

“Calling his relation with Ferrari legendary is not enough. First with Enzo (Ferrari) and then with me, he planned some of the most iconic models, such as the Testarossa or the Enzo, just to name two.”

Harald Wester, CEO of Maserati, says Sergio Pininfarina, who oversaw design of the current Quattroporte in 2003 “was the force behind the return of the Pininfarina design on contemporary Maseratis. His place in automotive history is assured and huge.”

By Giancarlo Perini ©

The world is getting smaller and smaller and a new première cannot take just in one place at a time.

Here again we go for a world première in Beijing (for the opening motor show) and a preview in Los Angeles at a radically different happening. A meeting of art and culture that Mercedes-Benz did not want to miss.

Here is the rather realistic “show-car” announcing what the next sporty premium compact from Mercedes-Benz looks like. Take off the usual “show-purpose bright and plush” make up and you have the sleek four-door, four seater Mercedes CLA (or B) that is in the pipeline for 2013.

Its official name is “Mercedes-Benz” Concept Style Coupé and its first official description is “the style rebel”. This suggests it is a revolutionary member of the family. Indeed the Style Coupé is the long due reaction to the intense attacks from Audi and BMW in a segment that is going to grow through downsizing. Mercedes-Benz new weapon is going to place the company in the centre of the field for style and emotion and you need not to have prophetic skill to anticipate that this “Style Coupe” will be an outstanding winner, if its style, character and dynamic force are not diluted on its way to regular production.

Gorden Wagener, head of Design at Mercedes-Benz, is in charge and I am sure he will fight to death to preserve this milestone to the return to the front font.

Gorden says that “The Concept Style Coupé is almost production-standard” and that “it sets a new benchmark for avant-garde design in the executive segment”, “Its breathtaking proportions, sinewy fluid surfaces and sculptural lines are the physical expression of our dynamic design idiom.”

He has Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, on his side.

He believes that “the Concept Style Coupé is expressive and powerful in its design” and is fully committing his company to it. “This is the model against which sporty vehicles in the executive segment will have to measure themselves in future.”

Mercedes-Benz does not publish the overall dimensions of its latest entry but considering that the wheels are 20 inches and the turbocharged, four-cylinder, petrol engine produce 155 kW (211 HP) one might see this as the little brother of the CLS.

Photo Gallery

by Giancarlo Perini (c)

The first official pictures of the all-new BMW i8 Concept Spyder, likely to be a star at the forthcoming Beijing Motor Show, are just out.

Whereas ppotential buyers have almost two years to ponder about their choice between the coupé and the spyder, BMW competitors will rush to look at the new show-car in every detail. In fact the new running prototype appears to be the next step toward the design that will actaully enter production next year.

It is obvious that when the new supercar from BMW is rready for the market Ferrari and Lamborghini will have a new powerful competitor to confront with. Not only the futuristic hybrid powerplant will make their current offering obsolete overnight but the design and the style of the new car will rock the establishement.

There is not much to add but, perhaps, the technical specifications of the show-car, getting closer and closer to the real two seater sport-car in the making.

BMW 2012 i8 Concept Spyder Gallery

Specifications. BMW i8 Concept Spyder.

Punta Secca (RG) - Italy

Petrol Station , after a test Drive – iPhone4

Turin Italy - Via Gramsci

Street picture by Ambra Zamuner

A new baby Porsche is born and i just could not be more happy and inspired about it !

Performance :  behind the seats are two flat-six engines with direct injection, thermal management and start/stop functionality. The base Boxster uses a 2.7-liter flat six, good for 265 horsepower (10 hp more than its predecessor) while the Boxster S is powered by a 3.4-liter six that produces 315 hp (an increase of 5 hp versus the 2012 model).

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Cassino (FR) Italy

Picture on the street – iPhone 4

Giancarlo Perini (c)

After proposing a series of concepts and teasers, Mini is now ready to launch on the market its sixth member of its range: the Mini Roadster. The charming kid is the first open-top two-seater in the brand history and to so me extent it links to the British tradition of open sports cars, with a light and simple manual soft-top roof. Read the rest of this entry »

By Giancarlo Perini. ©

We have driven, in a real environment, one of the some 1100 BMW ActiveE, that the German premium car maker will deliver as of December. This is the all-electric, plug-in, two-door, four-sweater, real-wheel drive sport car built from the first generation BMW 1 series coupé platform.  Handling, acceleration, speed and comfort are on a pair, or better, than the BMW120i Coupé and our feeling was that, indeed, we could go on for all the 140 km range promised by the lithium-ion batteries charged at 92% at start point. Read the rest of this entry »

By Giancarlo Perini ©

BMW Board of Directors,  managers and employees have presented their all-new 3 series limousine to the press gathered in Munich for an event that has been broadcasted on line for all car enthusiasts, in sometwhat retoric yet appropriate cerimony celebrating the BMW team at large and the Munich factory that produce the company most iconic and profitable range.

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