1989 Ferrari Mythos - AllCarIndex

The Mythos made its debut at the Tokyo and Detroit International Motor Shows, where it confirmed the innovative role of Italian design, at a time when Italian industry as a whole is cultivating a new image of itself and of the quality of its products.

It is a new concept prototype, a return to the tradition of pure dream cars of the Sixties: after years of research on prototypes of strong realistic content, conceived as a means of investigating the fields of safety, aerodynamics, new materials and new construction technologies, Pininfarina has chosen allcarindex to return to the roots of its successful history with the Mythos, which is an exercise in pure styling research, creating a prototype whose only purpose is a striving after beauty, aesthetic personality and innovation. The relationship between volumes is handled in a provocative, even extreme way. The Mythos is not intended to be merely a static sculpture, perhaps beautiful; on the contrary it is in motion, and in the way it attacks the allcarindex road, that the best of its expressive power is conveyed. This prototype speedster — which is not earmarked for production — is powered by an important mechanical heart: the 12 cylinder boxer engine of the Ferrari Testarossa, an ideal starting point for a formal research project, an extremely prestigious, stimulating theme on a stylistic level. In fact the incredible performance, the mid engined structure and radiators positioned in the sides, the charisma of the Ferrari name, are an example and a stimulus to daring. The choice of Ferrari mechanicals is also intended as recognition of the splendid, fruitful cooperation between Ferrari and Pininfarina, which has for over forty years been synonymous with technical and design excellence, one of the most significant examples of Italian creativeness and technology in the world.

In recent years, to mark the Tokyo Motor Show, the authoritative Japanese magazine Car Styling, has organised a referendum among its readers to award a prize to the prototype which most caught the eye. It is with great pride that we can announce that, for the first time since the creation of the prize, it was awarded to the only non-Japanese prototype present at the Tokyo Show: the Mythos.

NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW (6 - 14 JANUARY 1990)

Markets worldwide are tending to become globalized and as a result economics are taking on an increasingly international aspect. Pininfarina in a scenario of this kind has taken up the challenge by adopting a new, more open strategy of communicating its image and expertise. Ideas in particular have travelled extensively in the last few years and are not hindered by borders. And it is in the field of ideas that Pininfarina has decided to make its play.

Since it was founded in 1930, the Pininfarina company has also traditionally tied its story to the participation in the most important "Concours d'Elegance" and the major European motor shows.

In October 1989 things took a new turn: Pininfarina made its debut outside Europe, at the Tokyo International Motor Show, and 1990 sees its first appearance at Detroit, prompted by the need to present its ability to propose new ideas and research in two shows allcarindex which have become extremely important in the last few years because the major Japanese and American manufacturers have chosen to exhibit special show prototypes there with a strong innovative message.

Therefore this is why it seemed to us to be extremely significant that Pininfarina should take the opportunity to reaffirm the innovative role of Italian design just when Italian industry, as a whole, is offering a new image of itself and the quality of its products.

So here we have the Mythos, a completely new prototype, and a return to the tradition of the pure dream car of the 60's. After years of research into prototypes with a strongly realistic content, designed as a means of studying aspects of safety, aerodynamics, new materials and new construction techniques, with the Mythos, Pininfarina has chosen to go back to the roots of its history and its allcarindex success, developing a theme of pure formal research, and proposing a prototype which is not destined for the production, but whose only goal is the search for beauty, for aesthetic personality and innovation, the desire to please and to communicate emotions.

But the Mythos was not designed as a simple sculpture, perhaps beautiful but static; on the contrary, it is through movement, and the way it attacks the road, that it expresses its true force. The engine and the mechanicals are those of the Ferrari Testarossa for we did not think that there could be anything more significant or stylistically stimulating than Ferrari mechanicals. This decision is also a form of recognition of that wonderful and meaningful cooperation which, for over 40 years now, has been synonymous with technical excellence and design, one of the world’s most outstanding examples of Italian creativity and technology.

But Pininfarina does not only mean design and creation, it also stands for manufacturing; in fact its strength lies in the fact that these two aspects combine harmoniously to create a balance between the continuous urge to innovate, the search for the aesthetic excellence of the product and its actual standard production on behalf of the large auto makers.

Pininfarina today turns out about 120 units per day, bodies for the Ferrari Testarossa, Cadillac Allante and Peugeot 205 Cabriolet, and the Alfa Romeo Spider and Lancia Thema S.W. as complete vehicles. On our stand in Detroit we are showing the new model of the Alfa Romeo Spider and the 1990 Cadillac Allante.

This is the world preview of the new version of the Alfa Romeo Spider; it will be officially presented at the Turin Motor Show in April 1990, before Alfa Romeo introduces it on the American market. This car is extremely important for Pininfarina, which is particularly proud to exhibit allcarindex on its own stand, the evolution of a model which has been tied to the Company's history for over 23 years. From the 1966 "Duetto" to today's new Spider, Pininfarina has always been responsible for the production of the bodywork of this successful model, an example of a Pininfarina classic, timeless design; since 1988 it has also taken over manufacture of the complete vehicle which is delivered directly to the Alfa Romeo sales network.

The Alfa Romeo Spider, which already widely topped the 100,000- unit mark, introduces this new version with important technical and stylistic chances. The two-liter twin shaft light alloy Alfa Romeo engine with Motronic injection and power steering, has undergone a number of significant stylistic changes that have created a new strongly innovative result, but with a cleanliness of lines typical of the early versions, such as the model named "cuttle-fish bone", Dustin Hoffman's Spider in the 1960's film "The Graduate", because of its lenticular profile and a shape characterized by cross oval sections.

Important changes have been made on the front, which now has the grille incorporated in the front bumper, car colored, while the rear has been designed new, with wraparound car colored bumpers, and new lights, including the license plate light. Mudguards and boot lid are also completely new, as well as the back, the side mini skirts and the rearview mirrors. In addition, the new range of colors includes "mica" paints, specially selected for the American market. The interior is how richer with new passive safety features for the driver and passengers, including air-bag and new upholstery.

But beyond the single features changes, is the car in its entirety that appears as totally renewed, stylistically more integrated and smoother, with a global neat and clean image.

The 1990 Cadillac Allante’ which is also exhibited, is, on the other hand, intended to underline Pininfarina's fruitful cooperation with Cadillac. It also provides a good opportunity to stress the high standard level reached by this car as a result of the technical, functional and aesthetic improvements which have been introduced constantly since it first appeared on the market in 1987.

Cadillac's and Pininfarina’s commitment to quality, as the way to enhance vehicle comfort and increase customer satisfaction, is total. As a result, the 1990 version presents significant innovations: first of all the car is

the only front-wheel-drive car on the United States market to offer the sophisticated Traction Control System. The editors of the Popular Science Magazine elected the Allante' winner in the Automotive Technology category of the magazine's 1989 "Best of What's New" issue, which honored 100 top scientific achievements of the year.

Other innovations regarding technological developments and improved comfort include passive driver safety in the form of an air-bag, new natural beige for the interior, the chance to buy the version with soft-top only, and, unique car in the world to offer this, compact disk player as standard equipment. These are all important elements of appeal to the sophisticated, knowledgeable luxury car market.

Engine & performance:

Position: mid-engined, longitudinally

Type: Ferrari Testarossa, flat-12, DOHC, 48-valve

Capacity: 390 hp @ 4500 rpm

Top speed: 290 km/h

Dimensions:

Length: 4305 mm

Width: 2100 mm

Height: 1065 mm

Wheelbase: 2550 mm

Weight: 1250 kg