With the reveal of the Nido EV prototype- an updated version of the 2004 Nido, Pininfarnia is celebrating their 80th anniversary. The Nido EV is an electric conceived, designed, and built entirely by the Pininfarina Style and Engineering Centre of Cambiano (Turin).

The 2010 Pininfarnia Nido EV is the first running prototype of the “Nido Development Programme” and reinforces their direction of providing a safer, more sustainable vehicle that will populate our city’s streets.

The Nido EV prototype uses a 30 kilowatt permanent magnet electric motor powered by a Zebra Z5 Ni-NaCl battery, which guarantees very high levels of safety and reliability. When fully charged, it has a range of 140 km and a top speed of 120 km/h (limited electronically), and accelerates 0-60 km/h in 6.7 seconds.

The Pininfarina Nido EV is a small urban 2-seater that supplies the framework for larger vehicles to be built on its platform.

Ferrari is about to reduce production at its factory and cut several jobs due to a decline in engine orders from customers.

The downturn is caused by a reduction in orders, notably from Ferrari’s partner make Maserati, who receive their engines from the Maranello-based firm. In 2009, Maserati ordered 4500 engines from Ferrari, a 50% reduction from the 9000 that it ordered in 2008.

Ferrari’s workers staged a four-hour walkout in protest at the decision after Ferrari revealed plans to eliminate 120 office positions and 150 factory jobs in exchange for the last payment of a 2009 bonus which was due this past April. Ferrari currently has 3000 employees on its payroll.

Giordano Fiorani, a union official representing workers, said “Ferrari has proposed to pay the bonuses if we accept the job cuts. “We are ready to discuss layoffs and reorganization, as there is a real cut in production, but we don’t understand their rigidity.”

Ferrari spokesperson Stefano Lai confirmed that plans were afoot to lower the headcount but did not mention any figures. Lai said that Ferrari will maintain production figures at 6000 cars this year and that some jobs would be outsourced and some employees would be offered early retirement. Ferrari sold 6294 cars in 2009, but its first quarter profit for 2010 slid by 28% to US$49.5 million