In the year of its 95th anniversary, Pininfarina will host in Turin, at Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile, on May, 22, an exclusive event: “Design and Performance in Motion: Shaping Two-Wheel Aerodynamics,” that highlighted the intersection of aerodynamics, performance, and design in two-wheel mobility.
The Pininfarina Wind Tunnel
At the heart of the event was the Pininfarina Wind Tunnel, a global benchmark for aerodynamic and aeroacoustic research for over 50 years across industries. The event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers and brands that are shaping the future of two-wheel mobility, introduced by Silvio Angori, Vice Chairman and CEO of Pininfarina: Cristiano De Rosa, CEO of De Rosa Bikes, Graziano Milone, President and Strategy & Business Development Global CMO of Vmoto International, Robert White, Founder and CEO of White Motorcycle Concepts, Jason Hill, Chief of Design at Aptera Motors.
To converse with them on the topic, the moderator Piergiorgio Giacovazzo, Head of Pininfarina Wind Tunnel Alessandro Aquili and Head of Design Management at Pininfarina Fabrizio Valentini.
“This event,” explains Aquili, “comes at a time when Pininfarina is enhancing its Wind Tunnel facility to provide two-wheeler customers – OEMs, startups, and racing teams – with a crucial tool for product development. It is now possible to evaluate the aerodynamic performance (drag and lift) and cooling efficiency of motorcycles with rotating wheels while remotely adjusting the bike’s attitude using an active suspension system, allowing for a lean angle of up to 55°. Additionally, our Wind Tunnel can be used to assess aerodynamic and thermal comfort, either with a test rider or an instrumented dummy, in maximum safety. This facility is also an essential resource for racing teams, helping optimize riders’ positions on the bike.”
Throughout the day, guests experienced exclusive insights into innovative projects that leveraged the Pininfarina Wind Tunnel’s capabilities. These discussions and presentations explored how aerodynamics is transforming design and performance in electric motorcycles, highperformance bicycles, and even solar-powered vehicles.
