The highlights at the Ferrari stand at the 61st Frankfurt Motor Show over this past week have been the presentation of the 612 Scaglietti in 'Model Year 2006' format, along with the world preview of the F430 Challenge, the 8-cylinder berlinetta-derived competition car that will be taking part in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli from the 2006 season onwards.

The German Show has arrived an important moment for the Prancing Horse. 2005 has been a year of both change and affirmation for the company. A year that has seen it separate from Maserati and consolidate its strong sales figures (the number of cars sold by 31 December will exceed 5,000 compared to the 4,975 delivered to new owners in 2004). Although Ferrari has worked hard this year to meet the demands of its sportier clients, that has not stopped it from producing the Model Year 2006 version of the 612 Scaglietti for owners who like ultra-refined elegance as well as performance.

Unveiled at Detroit in 2004, the flagship of the Ferrari range now has an even more impressive standard spec than ever with leather trim in the same colour as the seats now extending to the headlining and the side panels running lengthways between the A- and the C-post. The result is a brighter and even more elegant cockpit finish that can be personalised still further courtesy of the Carrozzeria Scaglietti programme.

The sumptuous MY06 also boasts a new radio-CD system with satellite navigation system, voice recognition system, MP3 player, Bluetooth and a Compact Flash memory card reader that will allow the owner to store and play 4 GB of music. The system is integrated with a newly refined display on the instrument panel too. To improve handling in tight spaces, rear parking sensors are also now offered as standard.

Also on display at the Ferrari stand is the GTC Handling package for the 612 Scaglietti which offers a more sporty set-up with carbon-ceramic brakes, a specific gear change software upgrade and 19" split rims.

Ferrari in Germany

Germany is important for Ferrari as it is the Prancing Horse's second largest market after the United States in terms of cars sold. In 2004, Ferrari Deutschland improved its position on one of the most competitive car markets in the world, with a total of 671 cars delivered to owners in Germany.
 

The cover provided by the national sales network has followed the same positive trend, expanding to 22 dealerships (four of which specialise in aluminium bodies) and four assistance centres. The Wiesbaden-based Ferrari Deutschland has grown steadily over the years, turning Ferrari's top European market into a reference point in terms of efficiency and client satisfaction. Apart from its commercial successes, the German regional headquarters has also scored a host of significant marketing coups. For instance, it has been organising the 'Ferrari Racing Days' since 1996. This event has not only proved enormously popular with the public but also acted as a backdrop for the German unveilings of the 550 Maranello in 1996, the 360 Modena in 1999, the Enzo Ferrari in 2002 and the F430 in 2004.

In addition to this, Ferrari Deutschland has always been a staunch supporter of its clients' racing activities in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, involving over 90 drivers since the series was launched in 1993. In the first eight months of 2005, the Ferrari sales network in Germany delivered a record 464 cars to their new owners (75% 8-cylinders, 25% 12-cylinders), an increase of 8% over the same period in 2004 when 427 were sold.