Automotive News - January 21, 2008 - (Page 28T)

28T • JANUARY 21, 2008 8 will enter European Automotive Hall of Fame T wo legendary Italian car visionaries, a fiery French chairman and a quintet of German brothers are the newest members of the European Automotive Hall of Fame. They will be inducted March 4 in Geneva. This is the largest group of inductees since the Hall welcomed 13 members in its inaugural class in 2001. Italy’s Sergio Pininfarina of Pininfarina and Dante Giacosa of Fiat created some of the most important cars of the 20th century. France’s Jacques Calvet left a life in politics to save PSA/Peugeot-Citroen from collapse. The Opel brothers of Germany turned a bicycle and sewing machine maker into a leading producer of automobiles. Pininfarina lifted family business to new heights Luca Ciferri lciferri@craincom.de Italy’s Giacosa: Fiat legend ➤ 28V Coachbuilding had to evolve from making handmade units for a few wealthy people to higher-volume, more industrialized products that a broader audience could buy. Following that philosophy, the company built its three highest-volume models on his watch: the Fiat 124 Sport Spider, Alfa Romeo Spider and Peugeot 406 coupe. A total of 172,863 Fiat 124 Spiders were produced between 1966 and 1985, 110,128 Alfa Spiders between 1966 and 1993 and 107,633 Peugeot 406 coupes from 1996 to 2004. Annual production peaked at 46,588 units in 1998, when the company had grown to three manufacturing plants. Sergio Pininfarina Sergio Pininfarina’s work on the 1965 Dino Berlinetta Speciale concept greatly influenced Ferrari design. Sergio Pininfarina began playing a leading role in his father’s small design and coachbuilding business in 1956. The year before, annual production at the company was just 934 handcrafted units. The young Pininfarina understood that the business had to change. LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS Standout design Pininfarina was born Sergio Farina on Sept. 8, 1926, in Turin, Italy. After graduating from Turin Polytechnic in 1950, he joined his father, Battista “Pinin” Farina, in the family-owned Carrozzeria Pininfarina. Battista Farina was inducted into the European Automotive Hall of Fame in 2002. In 1960, Sergio was named general manager. A year later he was promoted to managing director. Also in 1961, the family surname was changed from Farina to Pininfarina. After his father died in 1966, Sergio became chairman. Pininfarina was deeply involved in the design side of the business. For almost 50 years he made the final decision on every project. During his tenure, the coachbuilder created some of the most famous production cars and concepts of the second half of the 20th century. Notable production cars include the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT, the 1975 Lancia Beta Montecarlo and the 2003 Maserati Quattroporte. Born: Sept. 8, 1926 Present: Honorary chairman of Pininfarina Major contribution: Turned Pininfarina into a volume coachbuilder 1980 Pinin, a proposal for a four-door Ferrari sedan that was never built. Pininfarina says he is particularly proud of the 1965 Dino Berlinetta Speciale, a concept that has deeply influenced the design of rear-engine Ferraris for the past 40 years. A believer that form must follow function, Pininfarina also was excited by the potential of urban projects such as the 1999 Metrocubo hybrid concept. Equipped with a 500cc, twocylinder gasoline engine used only to charge a battery pack, the Metrocubo is driven by an electric motor. Although similar in appearance and concept to the Smart ForTwo minicar, the Metrocubo seats four adults in a footprint smaller than the original Mini. In May 2006, Pininfarina stepped down as chairman of the company. His oldest son, Andrea, 50, is now the boss. Sergio is honorary chairman. Now 81, he lives in Turin with his wife of 56 years, Giorgia. c Excellent, one-story, 358,300 sq. ft. facility on 44 acres • Two 250 hp compressors, one 60 hp compressor and one 10 hp compressor For complete details contact: BINSWANGER WORLDWIDE COVERAGE • WWW.BINSWANGER.COM/LITTLEROCK 1200 THREE LINCOLN CENTRE, 5430 LBJ FREEWAY, DALLAS, TX 75240 972-663-9494 • FAX: 972-663-9461 • E-MAIL: INFO@BINSWANGER.COM Enduring influence Standout concepts include such extreme sports cars as the 1968 Ferrari 250 P/5, the 1970 PF Modulo and the http://WWW.BINSWANGER.COM/LITTLEROCK http://WWW.BINSWANGER.COM/LITTLEROCK

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - January 21, 2008

Campi will move fast to buy global Ford rolls out new F series — but will it stay No. 1? GM will push metro megastores BMW: We may need a 'green' brand Competition claims traditions German summit Toyota: We have enough plants for now Chinese pitch innovation, not just price Mercedes in, Cadillac out as sponsor of Masters golf tournament Auto show walkaround: Chasing the YIPS around Detroit New Acura TSX will get a diesel Toyota: We'll crack 35-mpg CAFE before 2020 Audi predicts 1 million global sales in 2008 Toyota crosses over into tricky segment LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Digital edition is a 'quantum leap' KEITH CRAIN: Here they come, ready or not EDITORIAL: Incentives war isn't the answer to sales downturn LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Toyota over Chevy? Don’t be too sure DIGITAL EDITION: You did your homework Chrysler concepts show brand tweaks Chrysler: 'Hemi is not powertrain of the future' Some of what we heard at the Detroit auto show Corvette has a future — but maybe a lighter, greener one Nissan exec: Cube is coming to America Subaru relies on new Forester Farley: Ford must groom the market Ford still funds Jag, Land Rover product development Ford will probably develop its new rwd cars in the U.S. Volvo considers North American production Good design: Solving problems, making a statement Horbury wants a more aerodynamic F-150 Hyundai upgrades next Sonata's interior M-B could build C class in U.S. VW hints at vehicles for new N.A. plant Customer demand for CTS sedans strains production capabilities at Cadillac GM to test ZR1 carbon fiber weight savings Honda Pilot has more room, power Indiana plant will boost Honda's flexibility Zetsche sees 20% diesel mix for Mercedes-Benz GM hopes to have E-Flex test vehicles ready by June GM to increase Enclave output Cadillac aims high with Provoq Pontiac to launch G8 marketing in March Big-truck sales fall 43.5% in Dec. Personnel Buckle up for a rocky '08, economists warn Canada sales up 2.4% in '07 Gioia: Ford hybrids will be profitable by year end American Honda opens workplace diversity office Dealers From CDs to Sync: Auto industry races to adapt in-car IT trends Microsoft exec sees a car as 'another room in the house' China's Geely plans plant in Mexico Chrysler exec: China exporters need time Murtaugh: Nissan deal won't affect Chrysler-Chery venture Strike by writers makes TV iffy for auto marketers Super Bowl auto advertisers get pre-game jitters Final Say GM bumps buyout total to 46,000 GM considers U.S.-made Astra Good Karma: Mean, green, fighting machine Purves confirms it: The end is near Rehab for designers: A change can do you good Tata's achievement: Redefining 'cheap' Fans remember auto commercials with sports themes Which brand is stronger — Scion or Prius? Engine advances bring cleaner emissions a step closer Suppliers to the 2008 Ford Focus Varable compression ratio makes a comeback Change the engine's stroke Integrate components to boost efficiency Reduce the size of the engine Eliminate the cams and count the savings ZF expects surge in new orders American Axle's rising son may be another Dauch Honda taps Web for workers Trelleborg unit adds tech center Kia restricts hiring at Ga. plant to Web applicants Magna pursues Ogihara Supplier personnel Age of intelligent transportation is getting closer Plastic spoiler saves weight Automotive News' cartoonist looks at 2007 8 will enter European Automotive Hall of Fame Pininfarina lifted family business to new heights Merciless cost cutter Calvet rescued PSA Opel boys turned bicycle venture into automaker Giacosa fathered the Fiat 500 JCI to supply batteries to Chinese automakers Automakers will spend more on digital ads Ford snares star role in return of 'Knight Rider' GM Certified markets online to Hispanics Writers' strike could benefit auto marketers

Automotive News - January 21, 2008

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