Arguably one of the world's best design houses is Italian-based Pininfarina. And at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the iconic company decided to pay homage to its former leader of 40 years who passed away last year.
Using the base of a Ferrari 458 Italia, the Pininfarina Sergio concept is certainly something to behold. It's a simple, cleanly designed, make no bones about it automobile.
It's so simple, in fact, that if you want a roof or windshield, you're going to have to search somewhere else.
Imagine flying down the closest country road in a vehicle with the 458 Italia's power supply yet no roof or windshield? Wow, that has to be something.
The cool thing is that actually could become a reality because as Pininfarina points out, this car is sitting on top of a 458 AND Pininfarina loves doing one-offs for special clientele.
Personally, I can't think of a better to celebrate its esteemed leader...
Pininfarina's press release follows:
Pininfarina in Geneva with the concept car Sergio
At the Motor Show world debut for the Sergio, a modern interpretation of the 2-seater barchetta
As a tribute to the Senator, the stand is also displaying one of his most beloved masterpieces, the Dino Berlinetta Speciale, 1965
It is named Sergio, after the man who led Pininfarina for 40 years and conceived some of the greatest car legends. It is the new, amazing concept car created to celebrate the Life Senator Sergio Pininfarina. At its world debut today at the Geneva Motor Show, the Sergio joins the brand that has so marked the history of Pininfarina: Ferrari.
Universally known as Master of Italian style, the signature of Sergio Pininfarina left its imprint on the whole history of design with his creative genius, from the age of the great bodyworks to modern industry, often anticipating trends. The concept car dedicated to him renews the spirit of the extraordinary achievements under his leadership, translating it into a modern vision in the name of exclusivity, innovation and passion.
The Sergio, in fact, is a two-seater barchetta that looks to the future, very compact, very sporty, racy, pure and sensual. An exercise that Pininfarina decided to undertake on Ferrari 458 Spider mechanicals. Its formal interpretation is absolutely free, in the best tradition of the Pininfarina research which has produced so many Ferrari-based concept cars or unique models now recognised as masterpieces.
Its exclusivity and development on the basis of a production car, in fact, sets the Sergio in the tradition of the great Pininfarina custom-made cars specifically designed for "special" clients. It is therefore a real car that can easily be produced in limited series of a few units.
"My father would be proud of this concept car", said Chairman Paolo Pininfarina, "because it expresses the aesthetic values that always inspired him: the purity of the lines, the harmony of form, and balance. Furthermore, he would be happy with this latest concept on Ferrari base, a brand to which we are related by a history that has helped define the most beautiful cars of all time in an evolution that has lasted 60 years and shows no sign of ending".
On its stand in Geneva, Pininfarina has placed the new Sergio next to one of the Senator's most beloved Ferraris: the Dino Berlinetta Speciale, a unique model presented at the 1965 Paris Motor Show, which ledto the lines of subsequent Dino production cars. Since 1967, the Dino has been part of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest Collection and is exhibited along with other historic prestige cars in the Musée de l'Automobile of Mans.
With the new Sergio, Pininfarina confirms its excellence in design, the cutting edge of a Company deeply involved in engineering services, research applied to sustainable mobility and brand enhancement activities.
"This concept", says the CEO Silvio Pietro Angori, "is the best way to confirm the role of Pininfarina as a bearer of the aesthetic values of Italian design in the world and to strengthenthe brand name, the Company's real distinguishing feature. Together with design, Pininfarina is highly focused on all the traditional activities aimed at providing vehicle manufacturers with an all-round service: engineering: product development, testing, prototype construction. The enhancement of production assets and know-how is expressed in the creation of unique pieces like the Sergio or limited edition cars realized thanks to unique craft skills gained in over 80 years of activity".
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