Ferrari is demonstrating the importance of China to its marketing plans by presenting a full model line-up at Auto Shanghai 2007, the most important and prestigious Chinese motor show. Now represented in 10 major Chinese cities, 121 Ferraris were sold in the country last year, representing an 85 percent year-on-year increase.

Auto Shanghai was first held in 1985 and has since grown in stature as the economic landscape of China has been transformed. The Ferrari display is led out by the FXX, the "track-only" supercar making its first appearance in China. It is joined by the F430, 612 Scaglietti and 599 GTB Fiorano. All of the models showing at the Ferrari stand include personalization features that have become a Prancing Horse trademark integrated with new content designed to enhance both their natural elegance and driving-pleasure.

FXX

It is the first time that the FXX comes to China, which is an experimental prototype car and the most advanced GT ever built at Maranello. The FXX is the culmination of Ferrari's expertise in building special limited-series sports cars combined with its unparalleled racing experience. The FXX will provide the basic framework on which the specifics of future extreme models will be developed.

The exceptionally powerful FXX delivers absolutely blistering performance: It is powered by an imposing 6262 cm3 V12 engine which develops over 800 hp at 8500 rpm. The gearbox is the result of the transfer of F1 technology and delivers gear change times of less than 100ms. This is almost as fast as the F1 cars, themselves the absolute pinnacle of current technological achievement. The FXX has a dry weight of 1155 kg with a power-weight ratio of 1.44 kg/hp and completed a lap of Fiorano in under 1'18''00 - a time which gives an indication of the sheer power and performance of this magnificent car. The FXX's aerodynamic design is also particularly innovative - with a 40% increase in downforce compared to the already impressive Enzo. Ferrari's tyre partner, Bridgestone, developed a specific 19" slick tyre for the FXX, and Brembo created a special brake pad and cooling system for the 398 x 36 mm Composite Ceramic Material discs. Another unique feature of FXX is its sophisticated telemetry system which monitors and provides feedback in real time. The instrument panel, supplied by Magneti Marelli, is specifically designed for the FXX and incorporates a new data acquisition system. A video camera is also installed on the roof of each of the cars, pointing towards the rear, with a special TFT display on the dash removing the need for rear view mirrors.

The FXX Programme is based around the FXX. It includes a package of international-level events during which an official team of technicians provides a complete assistance and back-up service to an exclusive group of Ferrari Client-Test Drivers. The FXX Programme provides a unique way for the Prancing Horse engineers to develop solutions to be used on the Ferraris of the future with the help of the drivers. Track test sessions, driver debriefings and the use of sophisticated telemetry are all part of a typical FXX Programme working day. The FXX and the relative package cost a total of 1.5 million Euro (excluding taxes). Applications to join the programme were evaluated by a special in-house committee. This very small, highly select working group welcomed its 30th member at the Nürburgring outing in late 2006. That new member is none other than the great Michael Schumacher who demonstrated his commitment to Ferrari's future with his purchase of his FXX. And at the end of June, there will be the first "Ferrari Festival" held in China. The F1 singleseater, the FXX, the Challenge, the classical and other fabulous Ferrari models will be displayed and demonstrated in the Shanghai International Circuit then.

The Grand Tourer

The cabin of the 612 Scaglietti is even more sumptuous and elegant than ever with meticulous detailing combined with significantly enhanced GT content. A new natural leather by Poltrona Frau available in the 12 colours in the current range has been used to trim the interiors. The process used to produce this particular leather makes it buttery soft and wonderfully elastic - as seductive to the touch as it is to the eye. The handcrafted leather interiors also feature new stitching and a new way of finishing the four seats and door panels. The range of cabin personalization options has also been further extended. Clients can enhance the atmosphere of luxury and exclusivity in their cars further by selecting from a choice of two different interior configurations, each one can be combined with light aluminium, burnished aluminium and leather inserts as well as carbon-fibre trim.

Also making its China debut on the 612 Scaglietti is the Bose media centre: an innovative system combining radio, audio and video DVD, navigation, Bluetooth® and satellite radio. A TV tuner and rear parking camera complete the picture. The system also includes a digital 5.1 surround sound system and was developed specifically for the 612 Scaglietti cabin to ensure Bose quality sound at all times and under all conditions. In fact, the in-car audio quality is on the same level as the best home theatre units. The system also boasts other innovative features including U-Music which organises and stores hours of music according to the user's specific tastes. Visitors can test out the Bose media centre for themselves at the listening stations created especially by Poltrona Frau in the lounge at the Ferrari stand.

The 599 GTB Fiorano

The 599 GTB Fiorano was debuted in China during last year's Beijing Auto Show and has earned great reputations. This car is quite simply the most innovative and technologically advanced mid-front-engined two-seater ever to come out of Maranello and is a new benchmark in terms of sportiness, driving pleasure and design. The 599 GTB Fiorano boasts absolutely blistering performance with its Enzo Ferrari-derived 5999 cm3 V12 engine which punches out 620 hp at 7600 rpm, has a power-weight ratio of under 2.6 kg/hp, a stunning Pininfarina-designed body and an all-aluminium space frame developed in collaboration with Alcoa. A range of cutting-edge innovations guarantee absolutely superior driving pleasure, handling and sportiness too. The result is a car that roars from 0 to 100 km/h in an astonishing 3.7 seconds and from 0 to 200 km/h in just 11 seconds.

The 599 GTB Fiorano also boasts a top speed in excess of 330 km/h. Courtesy of the ongoing transfer of technology from the Formula 1 single-seater to our road cars, the 599 GTB Fiorano is also equipped with two features that have proved enormously popular with its first owners: the F1-SuperFast gearbox which offers gear shifting in 100 ms, and the F1-Trac which optimizes traction. Both features make their debut on this model. The 599 GTB Fiorano also boasts other features which guarantee it superior standards of usability, ergonomics and safety: the SCM (magnetorheological fluid suspension system), developed in collaboration with Delphi, which guarantees improved bump absorption and body control, an enhanced manettino vehicle dynamics control switch, and a wind tunnel-honed body that yields stunning results in terms of downforce.
 

Every Ferrari built in 2006 was unique

Every single Ferrari delivered to end clients in 2006 featured some personalization features selected either from the "Carrozzeria Scaglietti" Personalization Programme or as once-off noncatalogue requests. The latest option to be added to the Personalization Programme is a new satellite antitheft system integrated with the car alarm supplied as standard and approved by all of the leading international insurance companies. Available for the main European markets, the new system consists of a CPU located in a well-hidden and well-protected area of the car, a GPS antenna and a transponder key. To facilitate the personalization process for each individual car, Ferrari has developed a very innovative car configurator to allow customers make their own simulation using their preferred options from the Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalization Programme. The configurator is the most complete and comprehensive of its kind, covering every aspect of the Programme right down to the smallest detail. It will be available to clients on-line through the Ferrari Owners' Site (www.ferrariowners.com). The sheer scope of the Programme means there is an almost infinite number of configurations possible for all the models in the range. Particular attention has therefore been paid to creating a user-friendly interface and to ensuring rapid and simple navigation through the many options areas available both for the exterior and interior of the cars. Ferrari is also introducing a number of innovations for this kind of on-line configurator. These include a full-frame zoom function which allows the user to view the cars in high resolution, and another function that enables clients to compare and contrast two different configurations simultaneously.

2006 - An excellent year

2006 was an exceptionally successful year for Ferrari. With Luca di Montezemolo as its President, Jean Todt as CEO and Amedeo Felisa as General Manager, the new Prancing Horse facility delivered a total of 5,671 cars, an increase of 4.8% on 2005. Revenues for the 2006 financial year equalled 1,447 million Euro while Ferrari's trading profit of Euro 183 million showed a significant leap of 16.4% over the previous financial year. These results underscore the importance of the Ferrari brand to the Fiat Group which, in the course of the year, also bought back the Prancing Horse shares sold to banks, thereby increasing its stake in the company to 85% (the remaining 15% is divided up as follows: 10% the Ferrari family, 5% Mubadala). The 12.2% increase in Ferrari's revenues was due in great part to excellent performance in North America and Switzerland (with deliveries up 6% in both), Germany (+8%), and new and developing markets (the Middle East, Eastern Europe and South America) which generated a significant increase in sales volumes. The Chinese market also performed exceptionally well indeed with the number of cars delivered there almost doubling in just 12 months. Ferrari continued to expand its brand development activities too, resulting in a increase of 23% in revenues in 2006, thanks both to new licensing contracts and the extension of our retail plan (there are now 13 Ferrari Stores and Shops worldwide).

1947-2007 - Worldwide 60th Anniversary celebrations underway

On May 25th 1947, the very first Ferrari, the 125 S, won the Rome Grand Prix, an amazing feat given that this was only the car's second foray into competition. Today, with 14 World Drivers' titles, 14 World Manufacturers' titles, nine Le Mans 24 Hour Race wins, eight Mille Miglia victories, seven Targa Florio triumphs, and clients across over 50 markets worldwide to its credit, Ferrari is celebrating its 60th birthday. To mark this major milestone in our history, we have embarked upon the Ferrari 60 Relay which started on January 29th last from Abu Dhabi, the home of the soon-to-open Ferrari theme park. This tour will take a specially designed relay baton depicting 60 of the most significant events in the Prancing Horse's extraordinary history, on a massive journey across five continents. The baton will be borne from destination to destination by over 10,000 clients at the wheel of cars of every model and era before the Ferrari 60 Relay draws to a fitting close in Maranello on June 23rd next. The relay baton arrived China in Feb this year with the 4 stops in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Xiamen, more than 70 Ferrari Chinese customers attended the great event. Needless to say, it received a spectacularly warm welcome in all of the above countries. Ferrari Asia-Pacific Region Ferrari Asia Pacific Division has been created with the clear objective to improve Ferrari's position in one of the fastest growing economic regions in the world. Operative since autumn 2006, in addition to China where Ferrari is represented by a joint-venture, the Ferrari Asia Pacific unit covers 11 markets managed by independent importers: Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines. The main objectives of the Ferrari Asia Pacific Division are to maintain correct positioning of the Ferrari brand across the Asia Pacific region, consistently monitor and assess opportunities to support all markets in achieving sound growth, and effectively participate in the significant potential offered by the two continents in the region. A broad working team has been assembled achieving a well-balanced mix of personnel coming from Maranello who have a deep understanding of Ferrari products and brand values, and regional personnel who have invaluable knowledge of the individual local markets.

Ferrari in China

Ferrari and Maserati are both represented in China market by a joint venture, Ferrari Maserati Cars International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., whose majority share is held by Ferrari S.p.A. The company was set up in Aug 2004 with the headquarters in Shanghai, and oversees all market expansion and sales network development, as well as technical support and spare parts procurement.

At present, Ferrari has built up a comprehensive sales and service network stretching across 10 major cities in China including Beijing, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. And Ferrari has officially started the special "Road Assistance" service program in China. The program covers all the Ferrari cars in China and is free of charge for the cars within warranty period. The customer can call a 24-hour hotline to get the repair, towing and other necessary service in time. This will not only enhance the services offered by Ferrari, but also strengthen the relationship between Ferrari and its customers. China is considered an important strategic market by Ferrari. In 2006, a total of 121 cars were delivered to Chinese customers, which represented an 85% increase in sales over the previous year. With the strong sales and service network, China is striving to become the 5th or 6th leading market worldwide for the Prancing Horse in the next 3 or 4 years.