Former Ferrari Designer Goes to BAIC

Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. has hired Italian auto designer Leonardo Fioravanti as its chief model designer.

Fioravanti helped designed BAIC's C80K sedan concept and will publicly unveil the car next week at the Beijing auto show. The 17-foot-long concept would become BAIC's flagship if produced and would compete with long-wheelbase versions of the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

The C80K has rear-hinged doors for second-row seating, no B-pillar and very simple exterior lines.

Fioravanti spent 24 years at design house Pininfarina, where he penned Ferrari models. He later joined Fiat SpA and held a series of design jobs for the company's Alfa Romeo and Ferrari brands.

Fioravanti opened his own design firm in 1991. He served as chairman of ANFIA, Italy's carmaker group from 2009 to 2011.