Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Mini, Design/Style, Electric, Diesel, Luxury
Italian Firm's Turbine-Powered Calling Card For A New Era
The global meltdown that boiled to the surface in 2008 was really hard on a lot of car companies, but it was categorically horrendous for the tradition of Italian car craftsmanship out of Turin.
Of the three big players left in the traditional Italian design mecca - Italdesign Giugiaro, Bertone and Pininfarina - only Giugiaro has managed to avoid administrative takeover of its debts and assets by working out a major deal with longtime allies Volkswagen to sell them 90.1 percent of the firm. Both Bertone and Pininfarina are currently trusted to oversee their own operations but are nonetheless bonded to pay off significant operational debts to Italian banks after having hammered out merciful sweetheart low-interest deals. Neither has succeeded in closing mutually agreeable VW-style takeover bids, but both would probably prefer not doing so anyway.
The Geneva Motor Show has been treated as Italy's (and my) hometown gig ever since the once wonderful Turin auto show fizzled away in 2002. One of the great spectacles of the Swiss salon is seeing the three major houses unveil their trinkets to the press, their stands traditionally placed side-by-side for maximum effect. This year, Italdesign Giugiaro will naturally show off some Volkswagen conceptual thinking, while Bertone has once again chosen a whimsical dream showcar approach with its 1970 Stratos-inspired Nuccio concept meant to commemorate Corrozzeria Bertone's centenary.
But the Pininfarina stand will most likely steal the attention of showgoers. How can you lose with a spanking new and hot Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and a concept that seems to hint at a future replacement for the Maserati Quattroporte?
Continue reading Autoblog goes one-on-one with the Pininfarina Cambiano Concept [w/video]
Autoblog goes one-on-one with the Pininfarina Cambiano Concept [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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