Auto Design

There is no doubt that the design of the Bentley Continental GT is a masterpiece, inside and out; and you would expect that everybody would be just happy with it. Actually, since its launch, the British brand is a striking success and sales are much better than anticipated.

Yet, Zagato – which are through their stimulating renaissance just like Bentley – has been able to give this very fast (600 HP turbocharged W12 engined) four-seater, two-door coupé a new personality, with a more emotional and indulgent style by simply re-shaping its skin. The car is more sensual now and yet its style is shaper, sophisticated and distinguished. It has the perfect style of a bespoke – tailor made – motorcar. Read the rest of this entry »

First written for Car Styling, Issue 173 (Tokyo, July 2006)

* Stories and cars from recent past you may like to read and see again.

LINEA PININFARINA.

Ten years after the front-engined Ferrari 550 Maranello replaced the mid-engined heirs of the mythical Testarossa in the upper, 12 cylinder, Ferrari class, the new 599 GTB Fiorano writes a new chapter in the history of Ferrari and of Supercar.  It is longer, higher, a lot more comfortable and yet it is lighter and dramatically faster around bends (and on straight lines). Even more relevant is the fact that, despite its dimensions, the 599 GTB looks more compact and nimble. (more on the car itself)

The fantastic performance of Ferrari technology called for a design capable of communicating the potential and of contributing to it, through aerodynamics, efficiency and the aesthetic harmony combining Ferrari power with Pininfarina elegance. Read the rest of this entry »

First written for Car Styling, Issue 173 (Tokyo, July 2006)

* Stories and cars from recent past you may like to read and see again.

Tecnica Ferrari.

To design a new Ferrari is the ultimate dream of every designer and student. However, actually designing one is probably the most difficult design job on earth, if not a nightmare.
Everybody always expects from Ferrari something that is really outstanding. From president and CEO, Luca di Montezemolo, to the young boy looking at a motoring magazine in a remote area in Guatemala, China or Kazakhstan.
Evidence of this came recently from the challenge presented to the top students of the most famous design schools around the world when Ferrari asked them to compete by submitting “new concept for the myth”. The students came up with excellent design propositions but no one with a new “concept”. Apparently only Pininfarina seems to be capable of delivering a convincing proposition that meets with Ferrari’s expectations.

The new Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is the latest evidence, and indeed this is a very convincing design job, despite the given industrial (read investment) restrictions and the conservative market it must keep attracting. Business sense force Ferrari (and Porsche) to seek for innovations that do not shock their traditional customers but possibly attract new ones.

Listen to Ken Okuyama and Jason Castriota, respectively director of design and chief designer at Pininfarina, as they explain the design process and every single decision it went through, and you fully appreciate why designing the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano was quite a challenge and why the outcome is going to be a winner; in the design circles as well as within Ferrari enthusiasts and collectors, and in the market world-wide.

The 599 GTB Fiorano is a strikingly sculptural car, with the purest Ferrari character and Pininfarina’s elegance.

When the project started at Ferrari and Pininfarina in the second half of 2002, the mission was clear: “create the most performing 12-cylinder Ferrari berlinetta” was Montezemolo’s directive to Okuyama. That is what they actually need to counter attack the strongest competition ever expected from an increasing number of powerful competitors.

Ferrari engineers had in mind what was needed to set the new standards in uniqueness, design and exhilarating driving. Their new two-seater GT supercar comes with the V12, 6.0 litre aspirated powerplant installed “mid-ship” behind the front axle. (see technical specifications and Evolution of the Ferrari V12 two-seater GT Berlinetta) Designed for the ultimate Ferrari Enzo, and newly tuned to deliver 620 HP (some 103 HP per litre of displacement), the engine has been engineered to play the magic music of a pure V12 soundtrack from both the intake manifold and the exhaust system.

The V12 is mated to the latest development of F1 transmission, a new generation that cuts overall gear-shift times to 100 milliseconds. On its turn a most sophisticated stability control system makes sure that the car has always the best grip to the road for cutting-edge performance in term of road-holding, safety and stability. Further innovations in the suspension system and the control of their oil viscosity greatly improve the driving experience through faster adjustments, reduced roll and superior body control when braking or accelerating.
At the same time the new Ferrari 599 GTB greatly benefits of the ultimate development of the aluminium construction technology and the revised architecture. Pininfarina had to dress-up this superlative ”performance” creature.

Click on the image for the complete photo gallery.   

Recently, I was in Munich to appraise and test drive a couple of models making up for the vast “new 3 series” model range. The programme suggested by my hosts was very efficient and provided plenty of time and many opportunities to drive or just look at the cars in every details. Considering that the new range is indeed a substantial update of the fifth generation that BMW launched four years ago, I reasoned that it would make sense to focus on the changes and the improvements and indulge in a closer analysis of the surface and of what makes the style of BMW cars so dynamic, modern and efficient, year after year, generations after generations.

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Part 1. The Dream. (See Part 2. The Reality)

  First written for Car Styling, Issue 175 (Tokyo, November 2006).

* Stories and cars from recent past you may like to read and see again.

This story is not about a new car, or a supercar.

This story is about a man and his passion for beautiful, powerful and extraordinary cars. Ferrari and just a few more.

I  confess I love him. Even though I have not met him so far, nor seen him person and despite the fact that he is actually threatening my job by telling everybody the entire story as it develops. It does it not for money but just for the pleasure of sharing his passion for Ferrari and Internet. He has done it long before I, as a professional journalist, got a clue of what is going.

Why do I love him? Simply because he is a generous and such a passionate man that he needs to share his passion with everybody else. His passion is simply too much for himself.

Sharing to me means joy, happiness, giving and taking, and I love this. Go to this web site: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92754&page=5 (after registering with FerrariChat.com) and you will see what I mean. His pen name is Napolis.

Read the rest of this entry »

Part 2. The Reality. (See Part 1. The Dream)

  First written for Car Styling, Issue 175 (Tokyo, November 2006).

* Stories and cars from recent past you may like to read and see again.

THE REALITY OF THE 2006 FERRARI P4/5 BY PININFARINA.

 We said that this is the story of a man, Yet we shall not forget the car, and what a supercar!

The 2006 Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina is absolutely unique, and that is not just because there is only one in the world but for its outstanding concept and contents: heritage, technical sophistication, extreme performance and design.

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STAR AT THE 2007 FRANKFURT SHOW.

  First written for Car Styling, Issue 181 (Tokyo, November 2007).

* Stories and cars from recent past you may like to read and see again.

Eventually the day came for the official unveiling of the new MINI Clubman. It had been announced and previewed for such a long time that we got tired of waiting for it. There was no reason to rush anyway because production could not keep up with the demand of the existing models and already 1.4 million units have been sold in the past 7 years.

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Team Work passionately orchestrated.

Since its introduction in year 2000 Minis have been seen as successful, “trendy and fashionable”, automobiles. The 2004 Mini Cabrio confirmed and consolidated the assumption. Now the Mini Clubman introduces a great deal of functionality and practicality while remaining very much a fashion item. Once again the question whether the Mini design is consequent with the “forms follow function” golden rule of design had to be asked.

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 DEDICATED TO ANDREA PININFARINA.

 Andrea Pininfarina has suddenly passed away on August 7^th; the very day one of his latest achievement was due to be air freighted to the United States, on behalf of its owner: Mr. Roland Hall.

The British gentleman who commissioned the design and construction of such an outstanding work of art, shocked by the tragic event, immediately wanted the car to be dedicated to the memory of Andrea Pininfarina “such an extraordinary man”.

 I am proud of joining him in dedicating this report (actually drafted before the fatal accident) to his memory, his work and his men, who passionately worked to deliver this unique “Fuoriserie by Pininfarina”.

___________ Read the rest of this entry »

From Car Styling magazine, issue 172, May 2006

 Something in between the fuoriserie and the prototype of a future limited production luxury car is the stunning Russo Baltique Impression, a monumental, 5.2 metres long, four seater coupe that marks the entry into the international scene of luxury automobiles by a Russian company.

Indeed Russo Baltique is not a new entry. The brand was established in 1907 by the largest Russian maker of all sorts of vehicles (including the biggest aircraft built by 1914 world-wide engineered by Igor Sikorsky) with factories in Riga and St. Petersburg in the early years of the 20^th century.

Russo-Baltique built its first car 1909. Production continued through 1923. Russo-Balt became the official supplier of vehicles to the Czar Court in 1917 after one of its earlier model, the 1912 Russo-Baltique C24-50, won two awards in the Monte-Carlo Rally, and on year later finished second in the San-Sebastian rally in Spain.

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