Last night the automotive world lost one of the biggest names in car design. Sergio Pininfarina passed away at age 85. The man was responsible for some of the most iconic cars of all time from Ferrari and Maserati. Trained as mechanical engineer, Sergio mixed his engineering skills with pure Italian art to create timeless cars that will live on forever. Pininfarina company is now headed y his son Andrea, who’s been in this position since 2006.

Ferrari and its CEO  Luca di Montezemolo are especially sad of Sergio’s death, seeing as these two companies are closely connected, and he was a personal friend of Luca. Sergio Pininfarina had a close relationship regarding collaboration with Enzo Ferrari and Luca di Montezemolo, for exceptional teamwork and great understanding. This lead to models from the Prancing Horse, which embellished the history of cars.

Every great Ferrari car has Pininfarina badge o it. The design house means so much to Ferrari that they launched a model dedicated to them. The SA Aperta has been made in honor of Sergio and Andrea.

“An exceptional person,” Luca di Montezemolo said, “who connected his name indissolubly with our history and our success. Sergio was one of the most important advocates of Made in Italy all over the world, a man who gave Italy credibility and splendor. An example not just of an entrepreneur, but also known for his civic duties, he spread with great passion for his country. He demonstrated it as President of Confindustria, Member of Parliament and Senator for life. 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’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. He was part of Ferrari’s board of administration for many years and I will always be profoundly connected to him, so much that I wanted to dedicate a model to him and his son Andrea: the SA Aperta.”