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Pininfarina

 

(established 1930)

Established by Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina in Turin as a car body workshop (probably named Farina) the company established its reputation with cars such as the Lancia Aprilia Coupé (1937) with its flowing streamlined form. It came into its own after the Second World War with the Cisitalia Coupé (1947) the flowing lines and organic form of which paralleled the work of other contemporary Italian designers. This included Marcello Nizzoli's Lexicon 80 typewriter for Olivetti in 1948 and Gio Ponti's La Cornuta espresso machine for La Pavoni in 1949. Designs such as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider (1956) and the Ferrari 250 GT (1960) consolidated Battista's reputation and led to the decision to rename the company Pininfarina in 1961. The company's Institute for Design Research was established in 1966, the year in which the body of the Fiat 124 Spider was produced. Although many striking designs were produced for Ferrari (including the GTB4 Daytona of 1968 and the Mythos of 1989) and other luxury producers such as Rolls-Royce, the company also designed a number of mass-produced models such as the Austin A40 (1958) in Britain and the Peugeot 504 (1968) in France.

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Wikipedia: Pininfarina
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Pininfarina SpA
Type Public (BIT: PINF)
Founded 1930
Headquarters Cambiano, Italy
Key people Sergio Pininfarina
Honorary Chairman

Paolo Pininfarina
Chairman and CEO

Lorenza Pininfarina
Vice-Chairman
Industry Automotive
Employees 3,562 (2006)
Website Pininfarina.com

Pininfarina S.p.A. (BIT: PINF) (short for Carozzeria Pininfarina) is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.

Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers, including Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, Cadillac, Jaguar, Volvo, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia. It also has designed trams in France, high-speed trains in Holland, and trolleys in the USA. Since the 1980s Pininfarina has consulted on industrial and interior design.

Pininfarina was run by Battista's grandson Andrea Pininfarina until his death in 2008. Andrea's younger brother Paolo Pininfarina was appointed as successor.[1]

The Pininfarina Group employs more than 3,000 people in subsidiary company offices throughout Europe, as well as in Morocco and China. Pininfarina is registered and publicly traded on the Borsa Italiana (Milan Stock Exchange).

Contents

Pininfarina Sverige AB

2006 Volvo C70

Pininfarina Sverige AB in Uddevalla, Sweden, was established in 2003 as a joint venture (JV) between Volvo Cars and Pininfarina. The JV is owned 60% by Pininfarina and 40% by Volvo.

The C70 model—the first car built by the joint venture- - was launched on 13 April 2006, sharing the Volvo P1 platform used in the S40. This vehicle, designed by John Kinsey, is a coupé convertible featuring a three piece retractable metal hardtop that can raise or lower in less than 30 seconds. The new C70 replaces both the current cabriolet/convertible and the coupé absent from Volvo's lineup since 2003. For the first time, the C70 will be offered with a normally-aspirated gasoline engine, as well as diesel engines with variable geometry turbocharger and common-rail direct injection.

Prototype and custom vehicles

In addition to production vehicles, Pininfarina creates prototype, show, and custom cars for auto manufacturers, as well as private clients. Most prototypes -such as the Ferrari Mythos- have served solely as concept cars, although several have become production models, including the Ferrari 612 and Ferrari F50.

A recent privately-commissioned custom example was the Ferrari P4/5 of 2006, a one-car rebody (changing the exterior design) of the Enzo Ferrari according to the client's specifications. Its design began in September 2005 with sketches by Jason Castriota moving through computer aided sculpture and stringent wind tunnel testing. More than 200 components were designed especially for the car though the engine, drivetrain and many other components are simply modified from the original Enzo Ferrari. The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is unchanged from the Enzo it was derived from. The P4/5 was publicly revealed on August 18, 2006 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elégance and shown again at the Paris Motor Show in late September. Another recent prototype is the Pininfarina Nido, a two seater sub-compact that could possibly make airbags obsolete.

The Pininfarina B0 solar-electric concept, designed with Bolloré was shown at the 2008 Paris Motor Show featuring a range between charges of more than 150 miles (241 km) with an electronically limited 88-mile-per-hour (142 km/h) top speed, and an estimated acceleration to 37 miles per hour (60 km/h) in 6.3 seconds. [2] The car has solar panels on the roof and on the nose, while its battery pack is said to last up to 125,000 miles (201,168 km). .[3]

Pininfarina in the USA

After World War II, a number of automotive manufacturers were interested in working with Pininfarina, whose highly innovative Cisitalia 202 design had attracted wide attention.[4]

The subsequent cooperation with Nash Motors resulted in high-volume production of Pininfarina designs and provided a major entree into the United States market. In 1952, Pininfarina visited the U.S. for the unveiling of his design for the Nash Ambassador and Statesman lines, which, although they did carry some details of Pininfarina's design, were largely designed by Nash's then-new in-house styling staff when the original Farina-designed model proved unsuited to American tastes. The Nash-Healey sports car body was, however, completely designed and assembled in limited numbers from 1952 to 1954 at Pininfarina's Turin facilities. Nash heavily advertised its link to the famous Italian designer, much as Studebaker promoted its longtime association with Raymond Loewy. As a result of Nash's marketing efforts, Pininfarina became well-known in the United States.

A similar arrangement was repeated in the late 1980s when Pininfarina designed (and partially assembled) the Cadillac Allanté for General Motors. The car's bodies were assembled and painted in Italy before being flown to Detroit for final vehicle assembly.

Pininfarina was a design contractor for the development of Coca Cola Freestyle[5][6].

Models

Layout of volumes of cars in the past, the present and the future designed by Pininfarina with the Pininfarina Sintesi

The Pininfarina now designs, manufactures, assembles and test prototypes and cars set on behalf of other companies.

Current production

Cars designed by Pininfarina currently in production

Notable car designs

1961 Austin A40 Farina Mk II
1961 Fiat 2300
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine coupe by Pininfarina
1997 Lancia Kappa Coupé
1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300
1936 Lancia Aprilia
1938 Lancia Astura
1948 Cisitalia 202
1952 Ferrari 250
1952 Nash Ambassador
1952 Nash-Healey
1953 Four Berlinetta and one Spyder version of the Maserati A6GCS/53
1955 Ferrari 410 Superamerica
1955 Peugeot 403
1956 Austin A40 Farina
1957 Lancia Flaminia
1958 BMC Farina cars - Austin A55 Cambridge Mk II, MG Magnette Mk III, Morris Oxford V, Riley 4/68, Wolseley 15/60
1959 Fiat 1800/2100
1960 Ferrari 250 GTE
1960 Peugeot 404
1961 Fiat 2300
1962 BMC ADO16
1964 Ferrari 275
1965 Ferrari Dino 206
1965 MGB GT
1966 Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 Duetto
1966 Ferrari 330 GTC
1966 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
1966 Fiat Dino Spider
1966 IKA-Renault Torino
1966 Nissan Bluebird Datsun 411 series
1967 Proposal for replacement for BMC 1100 (ADO16)
1967 Proposal for replacement for BMC 1800 (ADO17)
1968 Ferrari Daytona
1968 Peugeot 504 Cabriolet and Coupe
1971 Fiat 130 Coupe
1971 Ferrari 365 GTC/4
1973 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB
1975 Ferrari 308
1975 Lancia Montecarlo
1975 Rolls-Royce Camargue
1976 Peugeot Peugette concept car[7]
1978 Jaguar XJ6
1983 Peugeot 205
1984 Ferrari Testarossa
1984 Ferrari 288 GTO
1984 Honda HP-X concept car[8]
1985 Ferrari 328
1985 Peugeot 205 Cabriolet
1987 Alfa Romeo 164
1987 Cadillac Allanté
1987 Ferrari F40
1987 Peugeot 405
1989 Ferrari 348
1989 Ferrari Mythos
1992 Jaguar XJ220 - Rebodied an unknown number of cars
1992 Ferrari 456 GT
1994 Ferrari F355
1994 Fiat Coupé - Interior only
1995 Alfa Romeo GTV & Spider
1995 Ferrari F355 Spider
1995 MG F - Roof Structure only
1996 Ferrari 550 Maranello
1996 Fiat Coupe (All Models Until 2001) Interior and wheels only
1996 Lancia Kappa SW
1997 Peugeot 306Cabriolet
1997 Peugeot 406 Coupé
1999 Mitsubishi Pajero
1999 Songhuajiang Hafei Zhongyi
2000 Daewoo Tacuma
2000 Ferrari 360 Spider
2000 Ferrari 550 Barchetta
2001 Citroën Osée
2001 Hyundai Matrix
2002 Daewoo Lacetti
2002 Enzo Ferrari
2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello
2002 Hafei Lobo
2003 Maserati Quattroporte
2004 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
2005 Hyundai Matrix
2005 Maserati Birdcage 75th
2005 Peugeot 1007
2006 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
2006 Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina
2006 Mitsubishi Colt CZC
2006 Volvo C70
2007 Brilliance BS4
2007 Ford Focus CC by Pininfarina
2008 Maserati GranTurismo
2008 Pininfarina B0 Electric Car
2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé Hyperion concept car
2009 Tata Prima concept car
2009 Ferrari 458 Italia

Other vehicles

1991-1997 Re 460 locomotive and IC 2000 train.
1987-2000 ETR 500 Italian high-speed trainset [9]
1991 SBB-CFF-FFS Re 460 (electric locomotive for the Swiss Federal Railways)[10]
1996 ALe 426/506 TAF "High Occupancy Train" for Italian commuter lines.
1997 IC 2000 (double-decker train for the Swiss Federal Railways, matching the electric locomotive Re 460) [11]
2000 Hispano Habit bus
2000 SBB-CFF-FFS RABDe 500 (tilting train for the Swiss Federal Railways) [12]
2001 AnsaldoBreda BM72 electric multiple unit trains for the Norwegian Railways.
2001 Cobra tram for Zürich.
2003 AnsaldoBreda Type 8 Green Line Trolley for the MBTA.
2004 AnsaldoBreda Sirio tram, Athens version [13]
2005 AnsaldoBreda IC4 inter-city diesel multiple unit trains for the Danish railways.
2008 AnsaldoBreda V250 Albatros high-speed train for NS Hispeed
2009 AnsaldoBreda-Firema Metrostar, suburban train for Circumvesuviana in Naples[14]
2009 Eurostar appoints Pininfarina to undertake design work for train refurbishment.[15]

Product design

Pininfarina also works with other companies such as SimpleTech for product design.[16]

Other Pininfarina product designs include the 2006 Winter Olympics torch and cauldron, as well as major appliance collections for Gorenje.[17]

Electric propulsion

Pininfarina B0

Pininfarina has an area dedicated to the new electric car Pininfarina Bolloré. Batteries are produced by Bolloré Group.[18][19]

Pininfarina, has introduced its own electric vehicle concept, the Pininfarina B0 (pronounced "B Zero"). The four-seat hatchback features a solid-state lithium-polymer battery, supercapacitors, and a roof- integrated solar panel to achieve a range of 153 miles. Developed in partnership with the Bolore Group, the vehicle is slated for limited production in 2009 [20][21][22].

Pininfarina Extra

Pininfarina Extra, founded in 1986, is the Pininfarina Group design company which does not work in the transport sector. Examples include:

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Pininfarina Group: Appointments of New Officers and New Assignments in the Sign of Corporate Continuity". http://www.pininfarina.com/index/finanza/financialNews.html?index.php&p=584. 
  2. ^ Lienert, Paul. "2008 Paris Auto Show: Pininfarina B0" Edmunds Inside Line, retrieved on December 25, 2008.
  3. ^ India. com. "The Pininfarina BO Electric Car" October 6, 2008, retrieved on December 25, 2008.
  4. ^ "Pinin Farina Cisitalia "202" GT at MoMA". moma.org. http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2002/autobodies/cisitalia.html. Retrieved 2007-04-29. 
  5. ^ Collier, Joe Guy (2009-09-29). "Coke targets Freestyle expansion for 2010". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/business/coke-targets-freestyle-expansion-149759.html. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  6. ^ Collier, Joe Guy (2009-09-16). "Coke tests new dispenser in Atlanta". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/business/coke-tests-new-dispenser-139555.html. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  7. ^ Carfolio page on Peugeot Peugette, retrieved on 20 April 2009.
  8. ^ 1984 Honda HP-X concept, retrieved on August 7, 2008.
  9. ^ "1980". Pininfarina. http://www.pininfarina.com/index/storiaModelli/timeline/1980.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 
  10. ^ http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?offset=0&where=|||Switzerland|Winterthur||||1|||||||||Switzerland|Winterthur|||||||||||||||||||&mewsort=9
  11. ^ IC2000 arrives next year, Railway Gazette, retrieved on March 13, 2009.
  12. ^ "Swiss Tilting Trains Modernisation Programme". Railway Technology. http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/sbb/. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 
  13. ^ "Athens Trams Project in Greece by Sirio LRV". Railway Technology. http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/athens-trams/. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 
  14. ^ Ferrovie On Line, T-I-M-O-N-E. "FOL - Metrostar, i nuovi treni della Circumvesuviana". Ferrovie.it. http://www.ferrovie.it/ferrovie.vis/timdettvp.php?id=1137. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 
  15. ^ "Eurostar refubishment design contract awarded". Railway Gazette International. 2009-04-08]]. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/eurostar-refurbishment-design-contract-awarded.html. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 
  16. ^ "New drives from SimpleTech designed by Pininfarina". Slashgear. http://www.slashgear.com/new-drives-from-simpletech-designed-by-pininfarina-104703.php. Retrieved 2007-05-10. 
  17. ^ "Gorenje Pinifarina". Gorenje. http://www.gorenjepininfarina.com. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
  18. ^ Pininfarina | Electric car
  19. ^ Start-Ups Race to Produce 'Green' Cars - WSJ.com
  20. ^ "EERE News: EERE Network News". Apps1.eere.energy.gov. 2009-07-22. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/enn.cfm#id_12040. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 
  21. ^ [1][dead link]
  22. ^ Posted by MINUTIA Editor (2008-10-11). "MINUTIA - Microcars & Minicars: New Electric Minicar from Pinifarina". Minutia-microcarsminicars.blogspot.com. http://minutia-microcarsminicars.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-electric-minicar-from-pinifarina.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 

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Modern Design Dictionary. A Dictionary of Modern Design. Copyright © 2004, 2005 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.  Read more
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