Auto Design

 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”.

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 Last month I accepted an invitation to interview Pininfarina’s designers on the Rolls-Royce Hyperion there were about to complete in Cambiano, at the condition that I would not publish my report before August 16th. This was required by their patron, the British gentleman who commissioned the car and will eventually own it. To honor my promise I am not going to add anything to what I have been allowed to write so far. But I have not promised not to offer you a fair chance to look at the first (digital?) images of the car published by Autoblog.it. Have a look here, and let me know what is your opinion, as soon as you like.

Ciao

A friend of mine called to talk about the stunning Rolls-Royce roadster Pininfarina and their client will show at Pebble Beach. He has offered me a couple of more accurate information I need to share with you. First the original wheelbase has not been cut, as the rendering has suggested, even though the roadster is a two-seater. Second, despite Pininfarina expertise on retractable hard top, Hyperion is not a convertible-coupé but will just do with a traditional soft-top. As for the material used for the all-new skin it is not clear whether it is alumium (polished) steel (stainless?) or carbon fibre.

Pininfarina’s director of design, Lowie Vermeersch, did not want add anything but said “you will be surprised”, and added: “there is also a surprise in the cockpit but you have to wait and see.”

BERTONE B.A.T. 11 UNVEILED IN GENEVA

IN “FUORI SALONE” STYLE .

By Giancarlo Perini © Photo: Archivio Perini ©.

From Car Styling magazine, issue 184, May 2008.

The other event that took place in Geneva, but not under the roof of the Motor Show, was the unveiling of the Bertone B.A.T. 11 at the La Sip nightclub, usually a reserve for Lesbians & Gays, but retained that night by the organisers for their “high level social networking” guests, whatever this means. An attitude that might explains why the event has modest sponsorships and is likely to keep sponsors away for some time.

Let’s make clear here that the clone of the original Automotive Designers Night, promoted and organised by Car Styling and his partners since the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show, has nothing to do with this “AutoDesignNight”.

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