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

28V • JANUARY 21, 2008 Giacosa fathered the Fiat 500 Wim Oude Weernink woweernink@craincom.de Dante Giacosa Few people have worked for a single car company for as long — or had as much influence over its development — as Dante Giacosa. Giacosa, a mechanical engineer, joined Fiat in late 1928 and stayed until 1970. He is most often remembered as the father of the original Fiat 500 and its beloved successor. In addition to those cars, his work included minicars, sports cars and front-drive technology during a career that lasted more than 40 years. Giacosa was born Jan. 3, 1905, in Rome. He grew up in Alba, Italy, near Turin. He graduated from Turin Polytechnic in 1927 at 22 and landed a job the next year as a design engineer at Fiat’s Lingotto complex in Turin. In 1933 he was promoted to head of car development. Giacosa did the design and development work on Fiat’s first minicar, the 1936 Fiat 500. More than 520,000 were sold by the time it went out of production in 1955. The 500 marked the beginning of Giacosa’s long reign over Fiat’s newcar programs and his love for socalled people’s cars. In 1946 he was named technical director of vehicle development with authority over all new-car projects. Giacosa’s masterpiece, the Nuova 500, came in 1957. Born: Jan. 3, 1905 Died: March 31, 1996 Major contribution: Created Fiat’s people’s car By the time production ended in 1975, 3.6 million Nuova 500s had been sold, and the car’s reputation was established. Fiat revived the name and model last year, hoping to recapture some of the magic. Giacosa retired In 1970. But he didn’t stop working. He wrote several books, including an autobiography, and consulted for Fiat. He died on March 31, 1996. He was 91. c CALVET Government’s loss was industry’s gain continued from Page 28U For more information on exhibiting, sponsoring, or advertising: Phone: 1-888-875-3976 or 1-724-772-4086 (outside U.S./Canada) E-mail: CustomerSales@sae.org 071866 By 1987, Peugeot’s breakeven point had fallen to 1.2 million cars a year, from 2.2 million in 1982, and sales jumped 13 percent to 1.85 million units. Calvet did not bring any engineering or automotive experience to the job. In fact, Peugeot’s savior was more likely to seek political office than run an automaker. Calvet was born Sept. 19, 1931. He pursued degrees in law and politics. From 1957 to 1959 he did postgraduate work at the Ecole Nationale d’Administration, the traditional finishing school for France’s political elite. For the next 23 years he concentrated on politics and finance. He was staff director for Valery Giscard d’Estaing in the early 1970s when Giscard d’Estaing, a conservative who later became president of France, was France’s finance minister. Calvet later became president of the state-owned Banque Nationale de Paris, France’s largest commercial bank. He, like many other politically conservative executives, was fired after the Socialists came to power in 1981. Government’s loss thus became the auto industry’s gain. Calvet, now 76, has never been afraid to speak his mind. He lobbied successfully for the European Union import quota on Japanese cars, which took effect in 1992 and lasted until 1999. Some credit the quota with giving the European car industry time to restructure and become more competitive. Calvet also showed his combative side to the French government. He threatened to resign to protest a proposal to provide $2 billion in state aid to rival Renault, knowing the conservative government at the time would be embarrassed if he did quit. The aid proposal quickly disappeared. In 1997, he was succeeded by JeanMartin Folz as chairman of PSA/Peugeot-Citroen. c “JATO solutions provide the highest quality automotive intelligence data in the industry” Accurate, Timely, Complete · Real time global automotive intelligence data combined with powerful analytical tools · Vehicle Specifications, Volumes, Pricing, Model Mix, Incentives, and Strategic Business Information from over 60 countries To find out more about JATO solutions: visit: www.jato.com; call: 248 409 5286; email: US_inquiries@jato.com http://www.sae.org/congress http://www.sae.org/congress http://www.jato.com http://www.jato.com

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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