Auto Design

In addition to the all-new Alfa Romeo Giulietta, designed in house, there were three more Alfa Romeo dream-cars to look and scrutinize at the Geneva Motor Show opening early this March. Read the rest of this entry »

by Enrico Leonardo Fagone.

“The automobile today is an individual means of transport within a complex system of collective transport. The relations within such a system can­not be ignored. The individual means of transport has to submit to the constraints imposed by the system. This implies a form of transport that fulfils certain fun­ctions: hence a functional vehicle. The designers of car bodies are clearly faced with new structures, new tasks: scienti­fic and technological evolution is a stimu­lus but at the same time a warning not to remain anchored to the positions of the past and present.” (Pio Manzù)

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The two-seater spider/roadster by Pininfarina

In addition to the all-new Alfa Romeo Giulietta, designed in house, there will be at least two more Alfa Romeo dream-cars to look and scrutinize at the Geneva Motor Show opening early this March. Read the rest of this entry »

The new Ferrari California attracted enthusiastic attention wherever it has been presented so far. How could it be otherwise? The California is two supercars in one but its development required more than twice the commitment that every new Ferrari commands. Yet, its design has been the most challenging task in years. Read the rest of this entry »

I.de.a. Institute Era for the Geneva Motor Show.

 All mouths are kept shout in Turin about what the Italian coachbuilder will be showing at the Geneva Motor Show, early next month, but it is already clear that Fioravanti, Italdesign and Zagato will be showing a world-première whereas Idea and Pininfarina will be displaying something “deja vu” but further developed. Pininfarina will take its ultimate development of the Bolloré Zero electric four door, four seater, all-round-city- sedan in new colour scheme and with a more sophisticated interior design. Read the rest of this entry »

Pininfarina fame and glory is expanding in the Far East, from where I got the news that one of the car designed and developed by Pininfarina, the middle-class JAC A 108 saloon has been nominated “Best car in Show” at the Guangzhou Motor Show run in the second part of November.

JAC is the brand name for Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co. and the model name in China is Tongyue. The A 108 is available with a 1.3- or 1.5-liter gasoline engine, at prices ranging between 7.300 and 9.800 U.S. dollars.

To international standards the choice of the jury might surprise those who are  not familiar with the Chinese market today.  There, with the price of fuel having sky-rocketed and the fear of the global recession, small cars have become very popular among car buyers who are in the market for fuel efficiency and safety. Being an entirely new and fresh project with high safety standards and a modern, fuel efficient four cylinder engine, the roomy and relatively small JAC by Pininfarina seems to have all it takes to conquer the market and be the “Best Car in Show”.

In Singapore, late last month, the Pininfarina Sintesi concept-car unveiled last March at the Geneva Motor Show has been selected for “Red dot Award” among a selection of 1900 design concepts from 48 Nations.

The Pininfarina Concept-car has been elected for its innovative technology and Pininfarina vision of the car of the future. The international jury quoted: “for the excellent quality of its design and the outstanding innovation of its technological content”. Read the rest of this entry »

It has been a long way.

It has been a long and twisting road to reach the actual design of the California, as we have seen it at the Paris Motor Show. If it were so easy to create a stunning Ferrari by Pininfarina, the world would be fully of look-alikes.

It has never been easy to design a Ferrari, despite the fantastic simplicity of its shapes. Indeed the simpler and dynamic the shape, the more difficult it is. Not to mention the fundamental issue of the overall proportions of any Ferrari. As we now see the California, we can understand why the designers’ job this time has been more difficult than ever: they had to design two Ferraris in one and they had to fight with the heavy restrains of it overall dimensions and – even more demanding – the proportions established by its main design feature: the retractable hard top. Read the rest of this entry »

Not to be missed.

Never before I have seen so many dream and concept cars in the same place ad the same time. This unique opportunity is offered by Torino 2008 World Design Capital and you must visit it before it closes on November 23.

For all details and a comprehensive introduction, go to http://www.torinoworlddesigncapital.it/portale/en/content_1.php?sezioneID=291&testoCompleto=1

Beware and please do not shoot the messenger: strangely enough, the exhibition closes at 6.20 p.m.

You also should not miss to get a copy of the Exhibition Catalogue currently on sale only in Italian but soon to be available also in English. Read the rest of this entry »

According to inside sources at Maranello, Jason Castriota, the most talented designers of Ferraris and Supercars in recent years, is leaving Pininfarina. The American-born Italian designer could not be reached so far but Pininfarina’s press officer, Daniele Cornil, did not deny the report, simply answering “no comment” to our request for confirmation. However, Cornil added “we will not make any comments before our press conference at the Paris Motor Show on October 2nd”.

The designers’ circle in Turin is excited about the rumours and everybody is wondering what Castriota is going to do. Whether he is going to join another company or will set up his own design consultancy. Read the rest of this entry »