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With two generations of legendary car makers behind him, Paolo Pininfarina has a lot to live on. Our visit to his Cambiano factory begins as he talks to us through two rows of cars arranged on either side of an open and bright room. Right, the work of his grandfather, Batista, who founded the company in 1930 and then left an indelible mark in the history of automotive design over the next few years. On the left, that of his father, Sergio, who wrote some of the most important concepts of the twentieth century and oversaw the expansion of the company in the fields of industrial design.
He explains this legacy to his own very important contribution: the Ferrari Sergio. Designed as a tribute to his father after his death in 2012, the design is inspired by his first solo project, the Dino prototype. It is based on the chbadis of a Spider 458 – although the new body is stiffer and weighs more than 100 kg less – and is powered by a special engine. At its unveiling at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the concept sparked such interest that it was commissioned to a limited production of six cars, for a sale price of about 2. , 5 million pounds.
It is because of this constant relevance that the name of Pininfarina remains familiar, but few people understand the real impact of the company over the years. The Cisitalia 202 of Batista of 1947 has forever changed the trajectory of automotive design; with a horizontal grid and integrated headlights in the wings; it presented for the first time a solved aerodynamic set, its beauty even worth a place at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.
Sergio's 1965 Dino prototype set the standard for all mid-engined Ferrari's that followed, with its mid-ship configuration, defensive wings, flying buttresses and side air intakes. Although this story weighs heavily on Italian society, it has never weighed on it. As Paolo says, "a generation is not enough" to implement such a global vision, and it is precisely the type of revolution that his ancestors realized he now seeks to replicate.
He intends to do it in a certain way, realizing his grandfather 's dream of seeing the name Pininfarina not only on the car side of someone else' s, but also at the back of itself. For this purpose, Automobili Pininfarina was recently founded as a separate company of Pininfarina SpA. Based just above the Alps in Munich, she stands out from the 88-year-old coach builder. However, in somewhat confusing circumstances, Automobili has just announced a 20m investment in SpA, funding a partnership that will see it design and develop its future models.
The first recruits of the new brand say a lot about his intentions, board members touting experiences ranging from Audi and SVR to Ferrari, McLaren and Bugatti and former F1 driver, Nick Heidfeld, playing the role of development engine. With the wealth of the Mahindra Group, which bought Pininfarina three years ago, Automobili is already working with partners such as Rimac – partner of Aston Martin on Valkyrie and Koenigsegg on Regera – on powertrain technology. and, of course, SpA for its design expertise. By relying on the services of others in this way, she hopes to function as a low-performing company, remaining flexible to new technologies and agile in the face of changing markets.
The first product of this new agile manufacturer, code-named PF0 ("zero", not "oh"), sets the stage for what follows. It will be the most powerful Italian supercar ever produced during its launch in 2020 after its official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show next year. A 100% electric rocket, its 1,925 horsepower and 1,700 pound-feet of torque will propel it from 0 to 60 in under two seconds and at a top speed of over 220 mph, while its unibody carbon fiber ride and influenced by Formula E will be charged. as the future of the hypercar usable.
"The clbadic, beautiful and pure design is successful, by definition," says Paolo, "Pininfarina's best design is one that shows a high rate of innovation." This is certainly the case here, the vehicle revealed to the badembled press bearing all the characteristics of a modern, driver-centered machine, with the generous addition of Pininfarina's new "Pura" philosophy. As few aspirations and vents as possible break the car's exterior lines, dihedral shaped doors sweep up and up the LED strips covering the front and rear. It looks more elegant and less difficult than many modern designs, certainly, but still aggressive enough and confident enough to hold its rank among them.
Built by hand in Italy, it will not make more than 150 copies. Potential buyers have already expressed a keen interest, even at a price of around £ 1.5 million. With a new shop supercar apparently announced every day, it's easy to be cynical about anything attached to so many characters, especially when electrification is involved. In the case of Pininfarina, however, it is important to keep in mind the decades of innovation that led to this point, to keep in mind that the company does not make the half things and note that this is only the beginning.
As for Paolo and Sergio, Pininfarina's youngest brands must now perpetuate the inheritance they inherited in the future. For now, she has the advice and experience of S.p.A. to help her navigate a crowded market, littered with challengers for her success. One day, however, she will have to become independent so that when Paolo's successor is in the same place as him, he will be able to signal to a new line of beautifully carved creations; a line that not only represents his own contribution to automotive design, but also the fulfillment of his grandfather's centennial dream.
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