pininfarina

Pininfarina Now Taking Orders for New Stratos

Back in August our correspondent Jonathon Ramsey brought you news of the New Stratos. A modern re-interpretation of the iconic Lancia rallying machine, the New Stratos was commissioned by wealthy German enthusiast Michael Stoschek from Italian design house Pininfarina. But though the project stood as a one-off, both parties considered building a small series of them if demand were sufficient.

Well according to the latest reports, the demand is both present and eager to get their hands on the New Stratos. Though that first example – absorbing all the development expenses – cost about €3 million, Stoschek and Pininfarina reportedly figure they could build more for about €400,000 apiece, covering €100,000 for a used Ferrari F430 on which the Stratos is based and €300,000 to convert it. At those figures, the pair reportedly have about 40 interestedcustomers anxiously awaiting, and could very well find more.

Gallery: New Lancia Stratos

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Tags: lancia stratos, michael stoschek, new stratos, pininfarina, stratos

Ferrari SA Aperta

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

After much trepidation and anticipation, Ferrari has finally released details and photos of its latest model. Called the SA Aperta, it's based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, only it's missing the roof.

In its place, Ferrari has increased the car's rigidity and installed a makeshift folding cloth roof. The name pays homage to Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina (the heads of the eponymous design house, hence the SA) while indicating its open-air body-style (Aperta). Only 80 examples will be made, making the SA Aperta one of the most exclusive Ferraris ever produced.

The SA Aperta follows a long line of limited-production V12 convertibles from Ferrari that has included such recent examples as the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina and the 575 SuperAmerica. Ferrari is also expected to unveil an environmentally-oriented concept based on the California at the upcoming Paris Auto Salon.

Tags: 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris motor show, ferrari, ferrari 599, ferrari 599 gtb fiorano, ferrari 599 sa aperta, ferrari sa aperta, paris, paris 2010, paris auto salon, paris motor show, pininfarina, sa aperta

Is Ferrari's New $265,000 Supercar an Accident-Prone Firetrap? [video]

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Video

Is there a curse on Ferrari's new $265,000 supercar, the stunning 458 Italia? In the mere 90 days that have elapsed since the first models were delivered to well-heeled customers, 458s the world over have been the victim of an inordinate amount of crashes, fires and other mishaps, the sheer number of which seem to indicate a mechanical flaw rather than mere idiotic driving. Their frequency and severity – such as the spontaneous combustion of one example on a Paris street (above) – has prompted Ferrari reps to declare that "We are taking it very seriously and investigating each incident" but they have declined to comment further or admit to any production flaw. Rumors abound however that faulty gas overflow tubes and vapor systems are to blame. Designed by famed styling house Pininfarina, the 458 has a 4.5-litre V8 engine boosting it from 0–62 mph in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph. There have been 11 recorded wrecks in all, making for nearly $3 million in trashed exotics. Check out a timeline of the 458 Italia incidents and a video of the one that recently caught fire in China after the jump:

[via JamesList]

Tags: car crash, China, Ferrari, Ferrari 458 Italia, Paris, Pininfarina, supercar, Switzerland

Continue reading “Is Ferrari's New $265,000 Supercar an Accident-Prone Firetrap? [video]”

Michael Stoschek's Wild Child: the New Lancia Stratos

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The Lancia Stratos is a racing legend and auto icon, winning the World Rally Championship from 1974 to 1976 and still making auto enthusiasts go all reverential when it comes up in conversation. Four years ago a wealthy German businessman named Michael Stoschek decided he wanted a new one, so he called Pininfarina and had them design it. Presumably, he then wrote a check with more zeroes than a Japanese WWII aircraft carrier. That is why today we have that malevolent ebony wedge he is standing next to, the new Lancia Stratos.

The design was begun by Jason Castriota, designer of the Ferrari 599, then turned over to Luca Borgogno when Castriota left Pininfarina for Stile Bertone. The carbon fiber bodywork sits on the shortened chassis of a Ferrari F430. But having lost all that weight in the conversion from aluminum to carbon fiber yet still using the F430's 483 horsepower engine, the Stratos should be monumentally fast.

There are 24 other wealthy folks out there who might get to find out whether that's the case. Although Stoschek paid for the car's development, Fiat is considering a limited run of 25 as a way to showcase the Lancia brand especially before it returns to America. Those who wish to be among that 25, assuming it happens, should know how to properly arrange these words: is, object, cost, no.

Gallery: New Lancia Stratos

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Tags: Lancia Stratos, Lancia Stratos by Pininfarina, michael stoschek, new lancia stratos, pininfarina

Did the Sultan of Brunei Buy 10 Aston Martin One-77s for His Billion-Dollar Car Collection?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth

Back in February we reported on the mysterious filthy rich individual who purchased 10 Aston Martin One-77 supercars, limited to just 77 examples, for $1.7 million apiece or $23 million in total including fees. Now educated insiders are speculating that the Sultan of Brunei bought the cars to add to his multi-billion-dollar, 7,000-strong car collection, the world's most expensive auto hoard. According to Guinness World Records the Sultan's collection includes over 600 Rolls-Royces, more than 450 Ferraris, 570 Mercedes-Benzes, 380 Bentleys, 170 Porsches, dozens of Koenigseggs, and 20 Lamborghinis to name a few. He owns several rare custom, one-off and concept cars, some worth tens of millions apiece, including a Ferrari Mythos, a Jaguar XJ220 by Pininfarina, a Bentley Java, a Bentley Dominator SUV, bespoke Rolls-Royce and Ferrari station wagons, a Porsche Carma and a Koenigsegg Agera. Known for buying multiple models of supercars in order to have one in every color, he owns several McLaren F1s, six Ferrari FXXs, four Ferrari F40s and three Ferrari F50s. The Sultan, who's worth an estimated $20 billion, stores the collection in five heavily-guarded airplane hangars and employs a team of mechanics and specialists to keep the cars in perfect working condition.

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Tags: Aston Martin, Bentley, Brunei, car collection, Ferrari, Ferrari F40, Ferrari F50, Ferrari FXX, Jaguar XJ220, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, McLaren F1, Mercedes-Benz, Pininfarina, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Sultan of Brunei, supercars, wealth

Bovet Ottanta Tourbillon by Pininfarina

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Pininfarina may be best known for designing Ferraris – just about every one, in fact, for the past several decades – but the Italian design house has a growing portfolio that extends far beyond automobiles to include furniture, trains and much more. This, however, appears to be new territory for the coachbuilder.

Collaborating with Swiss watchmaker Bovet, Pininfarina has designed a highly exclusive tourbillon. The Bovet Ottana Tourbillon by Pininfarina incorporates the complex movement you'd expect from the name, plus a large date indicator, 80-hour power reserve meter and minute repeater, all incorporated into the brass-crafted, 514-piece Calibre 16BA01 movement. The skeletonized case can be mounted facing forward or backward to display the intricate movement, with a secondary time indicator on the reverse, or can be separated from the suede-like calfskin strap to be worn as a wristwatch or used as a desk clock.

Only 80 examples will be offered, in either DLC-coated steel and titanium or titanium with rose or white gold detail, with a price tag approaching $300,000.

Gallery: Bovet Ottana Tourbillon by Pininfarina

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Tags: Bovet Ottana, Bovet Ottana Tourbillon by Pininfarina, bovet pininfarina, Bovet Pininfarina Ottana Tourbillon, Pininfarina, timepiece, tourbillon, watch

Get Your Very Own Jetsons Car for $3 Million

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Okay, so what you're looking at is not a car from The Jetsons. It doesn't fly and it doesn't fold into a briefcase when you get to your office in the sky. But it might as well. What it is, in fact, is a one-of-a-kind prototype made by Pininfarina – the same company that designs every Ferrari – in 1960 to demonstrate what was possibly in advanced aerodynamics. And now it's up for sale.

Called the X Concept, it has a unique wheelbase with one wheel front, one aft, and two near the center. It has a drag coefficient of 0.23...that's lower than a Toyota Prius, one of the most aerodynamic cars on the road today, but this was done fifty years ago. Only one was ever made, and the Aero Toy Store in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has it for sale with a price tag of $3 million. JamesList has it listed from the same dealership for $1.3 million, so it looks like the steep price is negotiable.

Gallery: 1960 Pininfarina X Concept

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Tags: aero toy store, concept, concept car, pininfarina, pininfarina x concept

Ferrari CEO Says They'll Never Make a Four-Door

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

There's no shortage of automakers – even exotic ones – on the market offering four door sedans. Aston Martin and Porsche recently joined their ranks, but don't count on Ferrari joining them. Ever.

This according to reports quoting Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa. Like arch-rival Lamborghini did with the recent Estoque concept, Ferrari toyed with the idea of a four-door model back in 1980 with the Pinin show car (pictured above), but the project never made it to production. Felisa suggests that if you want the closest thing to a four-door Prancing Horse, look towards the Maserati Quattroporte, made by Maranello's sister company with much input from Ferrari.

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Tags: ferrari, ferrari pinin, ferrari saloon, ferrari sedan, four door ferrari, four-door ferrari, pininfarina

Rare Ferraris and Maseratis from Coys in Monaco

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

In addition to the $1.5 million 1950 Ferrari 166/195S Cabriolet by Vignale being offered by Bonhams, and RM Auctions' one-of-a-kind 1937 BMW 328 Mille Miglia 'Büegelfalte', UK auction house Coys will sell a selection of rare Ferraris, Maseratis and more during the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique this weekend. Starring in Coys' Legende et Passion sale on April 30th is a 1955 Maserati A6G Zagato Competition Berlinetta (above), one of only 20 built, which is expected to fetch up to $1.3 million. Originally owned by an Italian count, the car has a documented racing history including the 1957 Mille Miglia, Coppa Intereuropa, and the 1957 Tour of Sicily (Targa Florio). Following a full restoration it is ready to compete in the highest profile international historic events and concours d'elegance. Also on offer in the stunning sale: the famous 1980 Ferrari 'Pinin' 12-cylinder, four-seater prototype saloon; a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Coupe; and last but not least, bodywork from the only Ferrari 250 GTO to carry distinctive, Le Mans Berlinetta-type coachwork.

Tags: auto auction, classic cars, Coys, Ferrari, Ferrari 250 GTO, Maserati, Mille Miglia, Monaco, Pininfarina, Zagato

Steve McQueen Style: 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Luso for Sale at $1.6 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

In honor of the 80th anniversary of Steve McQueen's birth, global online luxury marketplace JamesList is offering a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso for sale nearly identical to the one owned by the legendary actor. The "King of Cool"'s own 1963 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, the jewel in his collection of exotic sports cars, was sold at auction in 2007 for $2.3 million; this one is priced at about $1.6 million. In production for barely 18 months, only 350 of the coveted cars were built, making it one of the most sought-after of all Ferrari's front-engined V-12 powered gran turismos. The Berlinetta Lusso on offer was owned by world famous conductor Herbert von Karajan and was built in 1964. Originally introduced at the 1962 Paris Motor Show, the Lusso combined the best features of the 250 GT Short Wheelbase Berlinetta and the 250 GTO in one beautiful, refined, quick, responsive, luxurious package, wrapped in one of Pininfarina's most attractive designs. The car on offer, finished in silver with a red leather interior, was completely restored by the Modena-based specialist Brandoli in 1985 and remains in pristine condition.

Tags: Ferrari, Ferrari 250 GT, Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, JamesList, Pininfarina, Steve McQueen

2010 Geneva Motor Show: Italy's Finest celebrate 100 Years of Alfa Romeo

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Everyone likes a good party. Especially when there's something to celebrate. Like a big anniversary, for example. And this year's Geneva Motor Show had plenty.

Not only is the salon itself marking its 80th anniversary, but along with it Alfa Romeo is celebrating its landmark centenary. The storied Milanese auto marque founded way back in (you guessed it) 1910 came to Geneva to unveil the all-new Giulietta, a vital new product for the company. But that's not the end of it.

To help them celebrate, Alfa Romeo commissioned two of Italy's leading design houses to come up with their own vision for the form which the Alfa of the future should take. Follow the jump to read about the Alfa-fest in Geneva and view our photographs from the show floor.

Tags: 2010 geneva motor show, 2uettottanta, alfa, alfa romeo giulietta, bertone, bertone pandion, geneva, geneva 2010, giulietta, pandion, pininfarina, pininfarina 2uettottanta, pininfarina duettottanta

Continue reading “2010 Geneva Motor Show: Italy's Finest celebrate 100 Years of Alfa Romeo”

Rare Ferraris On Offer from Gooding & Co. at Amelia

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

On March 12th Gooding & Company will offer an exceptional collection of Pininfarina-styled Ferraris during its debut Amelia Island Auction. The main attraction is this magnificent 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast Coupe, one of only 36 examples created, boasting a mere four owners from new, including Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan and Pierre Bardinon, owner of the famed Mas du
Clos racetrack, estimated at $800,000 – $1 Million. Also on offer is a 1968 Ferrari 330 GTS, one of only 100 constructed, estimated at $650,000 – $800,000; a 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, which placed first in the vintage class of the Ferrari North American Challenge Rally and won an award at Concorso Italiano, estimated at $250,000 – $325,000; and a 1985 Rosso Corsa Ferrari 288 GTO, estimated at $550,000 – $650,000.

Tags: Aga Khan, AgaKhan, Amelia Island, AmeliaIsland, Ferrari, Gooding Company, GoodingCompany, Pininfarina

Italy's Finest to Unveil Trio of Alfa Romeo Concepts in Geneva

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Alfa Romeo is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Along the way, the Italian automaker has collaborated with some of Italy's finest design houses and coachbuilders. And they plan on reviving those relationships at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March with not one, not two, but three new concept cars.

Pininfarina – the design house responsible for crafting most modern Ferraris, among others – will present a roadster concept (previewed in the blue sketch above) targeted to succeed the Alfa Romeo Spider. Stile Bertone – responsible for the BAT series of Alfa Romeo concepts – will present a new coupe design (teased in the black and white sketch at top). And finally ItalDesign Giugiaro – which was responsible for the original design of the achingly beautiful Brera coupe – will present its proposal for a replacement for the 159 sedan.

All the while, Alfa Romeo itself will present the new Giulietta in its major motor show debut. Geneva, it appears, is gearing up to be a real Alfa love-fest.

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Tags: 2010 geneva motor show, 2010GenevaMotorShow, alfa, alfa romeo, AlfaRomeo, bertone, geneva, geneva 2010, geneva motor show, Geneva2010, GenevaMotorShow, giorgetto giugiaro, GiorgettoGiugiaro, GiugiaroVadho, italdesign, italdesign giugiaro, ItaldesignGiugiaro, pininfarina, stile bertone, StileBertone

Rare $2 Million Ferrari & More in Scottsdale Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

One of the most beautiful Ferraris ever made, a 1959 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet (above), is expected to fetch over $2.2 Million at Gooding & Company's Scottsdale sale on Jan. 23. One of only 40 Series 1 Pininfarina Cabriolets ever built, upon its completion the car was immediately shipped to the United States to be proudly displayed on Ferrari's New York Auto Show stand, and the sale marks the first time one of coveted models has crossed the auction block in many years. Also on offer: a highly prized 1956 Jaguar D-Type Sports Racer, painted cream with blue racing stripes, expected to fetch above $3.5 million; and a stunning 1959 Costin Lister Jaguar Sports Racer, estimated at $1.5 million.

[via Duncan Quinn]

Tags: Ferrari, Gooding Company, GoodingCompany, Jaguar, Pininfarina, Scottsdale

Rare 1962 "Ferrari of Kings" on Offer in Paris Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

A rare 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupé Aerodinamico, known as the "Ferrari of Kings" due to the model's popularity with aristocrats and heads of state, is being offered for sale during Bonhams' Retromobile auction in Paris on Jan. 23. Expected to fetch up to $1.5 million though possibly quite a bit more, the Superamerica Series I was created by Enzo Ferrari and Battista Pininfarina for introduction at the 1961 Geneva Salon. Quickly becoming one of the most coveted Ferarris ever made, the model's list of illustrious owners included the Shah of Iran, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, President Juan Peron, Emperor Bo Dai of Viet Nam, his wife Princess Nam Phuong, Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata, Count Graf Fritz Somsky, and comedian Peter Sellers.

Tags: Aga Khan, AgaKhan, Bonhams, Enzo Ferrari, EnzoFerrari, Ferrari, Juan Peron, JuanPeron, Paris, Peter Sellers, PeterSellers, Pininfarina, Shah of Iran, ShahOfIran