Finally Ferrari is Coming to India
Ferrari is ultimately coming to India and will unveil its complete series of sports vehicles in April 2011. Ferrari India has link-up with the Shreyans as its sole distributer for India with a contrive to 1st showroom in New Delhi followed by Mumbai. Ferrari's decision to cooperator with Shreyans Groups comes as a surprise specially since Tata Motors India was awaited to be the retail cooperator of the legendary car manufacturer, given its bond with Fiat.
However, Ferrari India has decided to enter in India via Shreyans Group which contract in high-end goods, to set up its network in Indian market. Shreyans Group is also the exclusive distributor for Porsche in Indian market and until recently, Audi cars dealers in Mumbai as well. With the super high-end car market in India prospering and the first Indian Grand Prix 2011, Ferrari could not have timed its low-end into India better. Expected cars to be launched are 458 Italia and the forthcoming 4 seater Ferrari FF and it is speculated to find a substantial number of consumers in India & it is anticipated that ferrari will be able to sell its super cars in good numbers.
Ferrari celebrates 999th car sold in China
999 is an important number: in China the number nine – ‘jiu’ – is a sign for longevity and excellence. An coalition between Ferrari and China, which officially started just over five years ago and which has seen the market become increasingly main for Ferrari with 300 cars sold in 2010 and an outlook of impressive growth. Celebrating Johnson Zhang, the 999th consumer Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa said: “For Ferrari, China represents the present and the future. It is a great country where we continue to spend. I’m convinced that in a couple of years, we’ll reach sales of 500 cars per year, a number equivalent to developed European markets.”
The show started with around twenty Ferraris in front of the Oriental Pearl Tower and ended with a celebration dinner, in the company of Ferrari Asia Pacific CEO Edwin Fenech, Amedeo Felisa and many clients. Amongst them were many Ferrari owners under the age of 40: new entrepreneurs who, as a symbol of their achievement, were able to realise their ambition of owning a dream car that is the symbol of Italy itself: a Ferrari. After Johnson Zhang symbolically twisted the key of his Ferrari 458 Italia, illuminating a screen with the number 999, he said: “It is a great honour for me to be here today. With this ferrari I made a dream come true. I’m happy that I can feel this very special moment for China. For me Ferrari is the symbol of success and the brand’s values are a flash for the upcoming goals I want to achieve.”
Ferrari Plans Mind Reading Tech
Ferrari is working on in-car technology that will monitor a driver’s mental and physical state and adjust the car’s stability and traction control systems to suit, Autocar can reveal. The technology is outlined in a series of Europe-wide and global patent applications. The documents show howFerrari expects a range of sensors to provide the cars of the future with data on the driver, allowing it to adjust its set-up accordingly. Ferrari’s application states: “Drivers tend to miscalculate — in particular, overestimate — their driving skill and, more importantly, their psychophysical condition, with the result that driver-selected dynamic vehicle performance simply reflects the driver’s wish, as opposed to the driver’s actual psychophysical condition and proficiency.”
The application describes a cabin housing “various (preferably non-invasive) biometric and psychometric sensors for recording and transmitting… the values of a number of psychophysical parameters of the driver”. It adds: “The biometric sensors may comprise a piezoelectric measuring device for measuring the driver’s respiration, a device for measuring the driver’s blood pressure and heart rate, a television camera for monitoring the driver’s eyes (blink rate) to determine the driver’s alertness, a device for monitoring the electric activity of the driver’s brain, a device for recording the driver’s surface temperature and a device for recording the conductivity of the driver’s skin (to determine the degree of perspiration).”
A single line diagram with the application appears to indicate that sensors would be mounted in the cabin ceiling, dashboard, steering wheel and driver’s seat area. It also includes a manettino dial, indicating that Ferrari intends to continue offering the race-based driver control system. The application is based on improving driver safety but could also be used to sharpen a car’s dynamics to better satisfy a more alert driver. Ferrari says: “The dynamic performance may be modified to enhance driving safety in the case of a tired or unresponsive driver, and also to enhance driving pleasure and/or performance in the case of an alert, responsive driver.”
{Source: Autocarindia}
One-off Ferrari Enzo Prototype For Sale
Ever wanted to gather one of the world’s most famous vehicles? Here’s your chance. Here is a Ferrari Enzo prototype up for sale on the Modena Motorsport website which claims to be the only one of its type ever to have left the Ferrari factory. According to the description on the listing, this is the only working prototype of the Enzo Ferrari ever to have left the Ferrari factory. It features a V12 powerplant with 680 PS (500 kW/670 bhp), 30 PS more than the production Enzo, very similar to Ferrari’s 1991 Formula One engine.
The car, a 2000 model, was bought directly from the Ferrari plant in Italy. It comes with factory certification from Ferrari to authenticate it. Apart from that classic body and interior, this car has modern underpinnings which have been used to make the Enzo and the 599 GTO. So this is a very special car, the Enzo’s mother! The price has not been mentioned yet, but this being a one-off certified prototype Ferrari, you may rest assured it’ll gonna cost you a bomb.
Ferrari 458 Italia Personalisation Programe Video
If you are going to buy a personalized Ferrari 458 Italia, it will gonna cost you more than the standard unit. So, ever wonder what the company does when it gets this type of order? Ferrari offers a Personalisation Programme that gives buyers nearly infinite control over every minute detail. Ferrari has released this video introducing its new individualization programme for the 458 Italia model. The personalization offering starts with the 3-layer paint finish colors that inlcude Fire Red, Fuji White and Triple Strato Yellow. Two-tone colors finishes are also offered, which come with a black roof contrasting with colors such as Corsa Red and Avus White.
Other touches are the front wings, rear diffuser, engine bulkheads and additional carbon fiber parts which you see being forged in a giant chamber also used for Ferrari method One development. Unique to the program are also the 20-inch forged wheels in Gray Metallic and carbon sills. For the inside there are carbon racing seats, carbon trims for the cockpit and a leather and Alcantara end with contrasting stitching for the seats and cabin.
F1 minus Ferrari: Ferrari boss Luca Di Montezemelo says it could happen!
Ferrari Boss and former spearhead of Ferrari’s F1 campaign has come out strongly, yet again against the FIA, the governing and administering body of Formula 1. Following a Pre-Christmas media lunch hosted by him at Maranello, Italy, Luca Di Montezemelo was at his outspoken best and opened up to a flurry of questions by the media about his views about the recent rule changes in F1 and the sport in general. Here are a bunch of excerpts from Mr Montezemelo’s conversation with the press and we leave you, our esteemed reader to decide on which way the sport is headed.
We are at the crossroads. We have Formula One in our hearts and minds but we don’t want to be in a Formula One prison. There could be three scenarios. Firstly, the teams could stick with Formula One’s current rights holders, private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. Secondly, the teams can find new owners but stick with the same business model. And finally, the could teams break away and promote their own series like they do in the NBA. For me the presence of Bernie is a priority because Formula One can’t be ruled by the Stock Exchange. We need people with credibility, personality and experience. But in the end we can always find a different promoter. At the end of the day this business is not so complicated. the sport must beware alienating its core fans. My son can go around the world with his girlfriend for less than the price of two tickets to Monza. And it’s nice to have new tracks but we need to be careful. We must keep the historic circuits, like Suzuka, Sao Paulo, Silverstone and Spa. It’s important to have heritage, credibility and history in Formula One. I’m all for improving sustainability but and with the four cylinder 1.6 litre turbo engine I have to accept because we don’t want Ferrari always to be polemic but personally I don’t like it. It is too far. And I agree on the need to cut costs but this pauperistic approach to Formula One is not good. Cheap is different from inexpensive. We want Formula One to be associated with innovation, with pushing technology.
First Ferrari Pit Stop Store Opens At Vulcano Buono
The first Ferrari Pit Stop, the new concept store from the Prancing Horse, completely dedicated to the fans of the Scuderia Ferrari, opened today in Nola, at the Vulcano Buono service centre, a point of reference for the territory commercially and socially. Luca di Montezemolo cut the red ribbon together with Cavalier Giovanni Punzo, CIS-Interporto Campano President, Giancarlo Fisichella, Scuderia Ferrari driver and Stefano Caldoro, President of the Campania region.
Fisichella arrived on board of a Ferrari California, stopping in the main square of the building, next to the cars of the Ferrari Club Italia who participated in the event: a spectacular view also for the numerous fans, present at the inauguration. Fisichella greeted the fans and then tested the Ferrari Virtual Academy simulator within the store, which was later on also tried out by the guests.
The store is a new concept embracing challenges and triumphs of over 60 years, inflaming the passion and the legend of Ferrari, representing a point of reference for the fans, also thanks to a mega-screen in the shop, where the fans can follow the Grands Prix and the team’s events live. The Ferrari Pit Stop in Nola is the first shop of its kind, while others will follow all over the world, including mobile Pit Stops at the Grands Prix and at events where Ferrari fans are involved. The store is at the Vulcano Buono, a structure with two floors and a commercial centre in a complex with a height of 40 metres and a an overall surface of 500,000 square metres, planned by Renzo Piano. The building is cone shaped, reminding of Mount Vesuvius.
Ferrari to see Indian shores by early 2011
Ferrari, the leading Italian luxury car maker, has stated on Wednesday that it plans to formally enter the Indian market by Early 2011, though it was always here through less structural tie-ups. While announcing company’s plans for the Indian market, Mr. Valerie Costa, the communications director of Ferrari, told to reporter here that the company’s sports car sensation Ferrari Cars will see Indian shores by the previous part of 2011. He further add that car will be brought in the country through completely built-up unit (CBU) route from its base market. With the launch of its Indian dealership, the total figure of Ferrari dealerships will reach-up to 58 dealers, worldwide. The super luxury Ferrari cars have always been one of the most well-liked cars in India.
The car is currently owned by India’s top celebrities and businessmen including the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Ratan Tata. Though the company hasn’t disclosed the name of the Ferrari models which it is planning to launch in the Indian market, it is speculated that it may roll-out one among the 599 GTO, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorana, Ferrari California, 612 Scaglietti and 458 Italia model. The company is expected to cost Ferrari over Rs 1 crore in the Indian market as import of CBU unit of this segment of cars attracts a whopping 110% import duty.
The announcement of the launch of Ferrari models in India has come in the wake of rising demand for luxury sports cars in the country’s auto market. In past few months, a number of luxury car makers have announced their plans of entering into the Indian market including Koenigsegg, Spyker, and Bugatti Veryon. On the other hand, the leading player of the luxury car segment in the country including Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi have been posting double digit sales growth in the Indian market since the starting of this year.
Ferrari’s Theme Park Opens Nov 4
Ferrari through open the doors of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park for the 1st time yesterday, the world’s largest indoor theme park. The 2.2 million sq ft theme park sits beneath a large red roof entire with the Ferrari logo. And on the floor of the theme park is the world’s largest Ferrari logo that takes up 930,000sq ft of floor space. Under the roof are more than 20 ride attractions including the world’s fastest roller coaster, Formula Rossa, which can reach speeds of up to 150mph.
"The park just 4 years ago was a project, an idea, maybe even a too ambitious idea, is now a fantastic reality,” said Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo. Other attractions include Speed of Magic, a 4D film, and Made in Maranello, a virtual reality tour of Maranello. There is also a roller coaster where people sit in Ferrari F430 pods and a recreation of the Ferrari motor home from the Formula One paddock. Yesterday the park was open to selected members of the international press.
Ferrari Unveils 599 Roadster
Ferrari has revealed 599 roadster at Paris auto show, Called Sa Aperta, the new model is designed to give tribute to famous styling house Pininfarina, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary. Just 80 piece of the supercar will be built, but Ferrari says that all are sold already, following the Sa Aperta’s look at a private viewing at the recent Pebble Beach Concurs in California. A final price will be announced at Paris, but Ferrari sources say it will be priced around 2.5 crores.
Sa Aperta features a lower-slung front windscreen and lower ride height, and 2 sleek side fins that are integrated into the rollover hoops. The Ferrari Sa Aperta generates max power of 661bhp. In terms of power it is very close to ultra-extreme 599 GTO. Sa Aperta features what the company calls "a light soft top which has been designed for bad weather conditions”. Ferrari also claims that despite the loss of the roof, the Sa Aperta is very strong in terms of stiffness which is similar to that of berlinetta", and that there is "a negligible weight difference" after the work on the chassis structure. The letters S and A have been taken from these two names - Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina.