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"Automotive design has lost one of its legendary leaders, Sergio Pininfarina. The honorary chairman of the Italian styling house bearing his name died last night at age 86. His wife, Georgia, daughter Lorenza and son Paolo were present when he passed away.   Sergio Pininfarina was born in Turin on September 8, 1926. He graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from Polytechnic of Torino in 1950. He then began his career in the family firm, Carrozzeria Pinin Farina, which already had a reputation as one of the best coachbuilding firms in the world, thanks to his equally famous father, Battista &amp;quot;Pinin&amp;quot; Farina. (In 1961, both the family and company names were changed from Farina to Pininfarina by a decree of the President of the Italian Republic.)   In 1961, Sergio Pininfarina became general manager and managing director. Five years later, after his father&amp;#039;s death, he took over the chairmanship of the company, becoming honorary chairman 10 years later.   During his time, Pininfarina oversaw the construction of new facilities in the Turin municipality of Grugliasco, and the new Studies and Research Center inaugurated in 1966. Pinifarina&amp;#039;s 1:1 wind tunnel\u2014the first in Italy and one of only a few in the world at that time\u2014was opened in 1972.   Pininfarina&amp;#039;s work went beyond his design firm. He was a member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1988 and he served on numerous Italian and international design and business committees through the years.        2003 Ferrari Enzo    Pininfarina is best known for its work with Ferrari. Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari chairman, recalls the man: &amp;quot;Calling his relation with Ferrari legendary is insufficient. First with Enzo and then with me, he planned some of the most iconic models, such as the Testarossa or the Enzo, just to name two. I wish to remind you of the work we&amp;#039;ve done together for the Maserati Quattroporte, which remains one of the most beautiful cars ever built. He was a great advocate of Italian design, thanks to his sense for elegance.&amp;quot;   Those of us who had contact with Sergio Pininfarina will remember him for his demeanor. There was a gracious ease about him, a sort of European aristocracy minus any pretense. When you interviewed him, you knew you were getting the truth.   If you want to get a sense of the influence of Sergio Pininfarina and his family&amp;#039;s company on everything from cars to trains to the Keating Hotel in San Diego, you can find it here.   Also, take a look at the company&amp;#039;s museum here. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a18326/remembering-sergio-pininfarina-1926-2012/>