Leonardo Fioravanti – designer of dreams

Before being a designer, a great designer, Leonardo Fioravanti was above all a lover of beauty in general and racing cars in particular.

Leonardo Fioravanti.

He was a driver himself and a key figure at the Pininfarina studio before landing at Maranello to fulfill his childhood dream.

Ferrari Testarossa.

It is also thanks to him that the Ferrari legend was formed, as he was a key figure in an important era for Ferrari. Some of Maranello's most beautiful cars were conceived by his pencil. He had a close and mutually respectful relationship with Enzo Ferrari.

Leonardo Fioravanti and a red Ferrari.

In short, a protagonist, a presence who left his mark.

Leonardo Fioravanti is an Italian automobile designer and CEO of Fioravanti Srl.

Born on 31 January 1938 in Milan, he studied mechanical engineering at the Politecnico di Milano, specializing in aerodynamics and car body design. He worked twenty-four years with Pininfarina, joining as a stylist in 1964 and eventually becoming Managing Director and General Manager of Pininfarina’s research arm, Pininfarina Studi & Ricerche for 18 years.

Leonardo Fioravanti and the book ‘Il Cavallino nel cuore’.

He then joined Ferrari as a Deputy General Manager and, in 1989, moved to Fiat’s Centro Stile as Director of Design.

In 1991 he left Fiat and joined Fioravanti Srl which evolved from an architecture studio to a design studio. His two sons, Matteo, an architect and Luca, an attorney, have also worked with him at Fioravanti Srl. Fioravanti developed a number of prototype and concept cars, often displayed under his own name. In 2012 he was appointed by the Chinese automobile company BAIC Group as a design consultant.

In 2009 Leonardo Fioravanti was elected Chairman of ANFIA Car Coachbuilders Group for a 3-year mandate from 2009 to 2011.

Leonardo Fioravanti awarded with the Grand Prix d’Honneur as part of the 32nd international automobile festival in Paris, France, on 31 January 2017. Photo by Laurent Zabulon abacapress.com.

Octane magazine awarded Fioravanti the International Historic Motor Award Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

Leonardo Fioravanti on 29 March 2018.

During his time with Pininfarina, Fioravanti designed several Ferraris:

Ferrari 288 GTO

Ferrari 365GTB, popularly known as the Daytona Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2

• Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona
• Ferrari P6 Berlinetta Speciale (concept car presaging the Berlinetta Boxer)
• Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 (the forerunner of the Ferrari 400 and Ferrari 412)
• Ferrari 308 GTB
• Ferrari 328
• Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer
• Ferrari 288 GTO
• Ferrari Testarossa (with Diego Ottina)
• Ferrari Mondial
• Ferrari 348 (the forerunner of the Ferrari F355)
• Ferrari 250 P5 Berlinetta Speciale
• Alfa Romeo 33/2 Coupé Speciale
• Ferrari Pinin
• Lancia Gamma saloon

Ferraris designed under Fioravanti Srl:

• Ferrari Superamerica
• Ferrari SP1

Fioravanti has designed many concept cars including:

• Alfa Romeo Vola
• Lexus LFA 2005 Concept
• Fioravanti Hidra (2008)
• BAIC C80K (2012)
• BAIC C90L
• BAIC S900

Photo gallery

Leonardo Fioravanti and his Ferraris.

Leonardo Fioravanti’s designs.

Ferrari Testarossa.

Leonardo Fioravanti and a Ferrari Testarossa.

Leonardo Fioravanti and ‘his’ cars.

Leonardo Fioravanti in a red Ferrari Daytona.

Leonardo Fioravanti and a red Ferrari Daytona.

Leonardo Fioravanti and a Ferrari.

Leonardo Fioravanti and a Ferrari.

Leonardo Fioravanti and a Ferrari.

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