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Ferrari has chosen the Bologna Motor Show for the world unveiling of the new Scuderia Spider 16M, a special limited edition series of only 499 unique cars, launched to celebrate the 16th World Constructors' title won by the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro in the 2008 F1 season.

This new high performance Spider encompasses all of Maranello's cutting-edge mid-rear 8-cylinder technology. In fact, the Scuderia Spider 16M clocked a blistering 1'26''5 lap time at the Fiorano circuit, making it the fastest Prancing Horse drop-top ever. This new car was created for our most passionate clients, clients who demand the kind of exclusivity, blistering performance and enjoyment behind the wheel that only a Spider as truly evocative as this one can offer.

Another of the star attractions at the Ferrari stand is the Ferrari California, the Prancing Horse's first ever front-mid-engined V8 and its first retractable hard-top convertible. The 8-cylinder range, traditionally located in the high performance area, now has a new GT addition with plenty of sporty blood in its veins. This is a hugely innovative car that will satisfy the demands of even our most discerning clients when it comes to driving pleasure, flexibility of use and in-car comfort. The current Ferrari 8-cylinder range is completed by the F430, which, of all the mid-rear-engined berlinettas, embodies Ferrari's leadership in motor racing.

The 12-cylinders are represented by the 599 GTB Fiorano, exhibited in a traditional Rosso Corsa livery, and the Prancing Horse's current flagship model, the 612 Scaglietti with Nero Daytona paintwork and with a particularly sumptuous array of additional features and accessories from the Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalisation programme.

The Prancing Horse will also be one of the leading brands on display in the Motorsport Stadium where various competitions and exhibitions are planned throughout the Show. On Saturday, December 6th, test-driver Luca Badoer will be at the wheel of a Ferrari single-seater for the now-traditional Formula 1 exhibition complete with pit stop simulations. The FXX programme and the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell will taking centre stage on Saturday, for what has once again become a regular extra date on the sporting calendar.

Scuderia Spider 16M

The Scuderia Spider 16M is instantly recognisable because of its special livery, of which two versions are available: the basic configuration of black with grey edging or an optional tricolour livery from the Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalisation Programme. The car also sports a special plaque celebrating Ferrari's 16th Constructors' World title on its rear grille. The Scuderia Spider 16M boasts a highly exclusive cabin too. Luxury touches include a silver "serie limitata" plaque just over the air conditioning vents on the dash, for instance. Other exclusive features include a roll-bar with a carbon-fibre outer shell, a specific new generation audio system which can be combined with the removable personalised Ferrari iPod Touch 16 GB which is docked in the dash. From a technical point of view, the Scuderia Spider 16M has a dry weight of 1340kg (80kg lighter than the F430 Spider), which, thanks to the 510 hp punched out by its V8 engine and a power-to-weight ratio of 2.6 kg\hp, guarantees stunning performance figures that include 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 3.7 second and a top speed of 315 km/h.

Ferrari California

The Ferrari California is available exclusively as a convertible with retractable hard top. Owners are offered a choice of a two-seater configuration with traditional rear bench or the exclusive new 2+ configuration with the rear bench fitted out to accommodate one or two occupants. In line with Ferrari tradition, this model brims with innovative content. In addition to its retractable hard top and the original 2+ concept, it also features: a new direct injection V8 engine, a new 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox with steering wheel-mounted F1 paddles, new suspensions (double wishbone at the front and multilink at the rear), evolved F1-Trac traction control and Brembo carbon-ceramic disc brakes (the latter are now offered as standard on all models in the current Ferrari range).

F430

Ferrari introduced a new generation of 8-cylinder cars when it launched the F430 in 2004. The car features a whole series of technical content derived directly from the Ferrari Formula 1 single-seater. In fact, two of the features introduced on the F430 were world firsts for a road car: the E-Diff (electronic differential) which uses engine torque to optimise traction, and the steering-wheel mounted manettino which integrates the vehicle dynamics systems and allows the driver to intervene instantly without moving his hand from the steering wheel. Both the E-Diff and the manettino were later adopted on other Prancing Horse models and have now achieved iconic status as a result. The F430 boasts a 4308 cc engine capable of delivering 490 hp - the equivalent of a specific power output of 114hp/l. This shows in its performance: 0 to 100 km/h in 4 seconds flat and a top speed in excess of 315 km/h.

599 GTB Fiorano

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is the most powerful 12-cylinder production Berlinetta ever built at Maranello. It features the most innovative and technologically evolved content ever used by Ferrari in a two-seater mid-front engine car and offers absolute excellence in terms of sportiness, driving pleasure and design. This model sends out a very precise message: it will deliver above and beyond the driving thrills offered by such legendary models as the F40 and guarantee superb performance thanks to its innovative content and Formula 1-derived technologies as well as guaranteeing superior space, ergonomics and occupant safety. The result is a car that is the very epitome of the high tech, sporty Ferrari bloodline. The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and accelerates from 0 to 200 km/h in 11 seconds. It also delivers a maximum speed in excess of 330 km/h. Its innovative content includes the F1-Superfast gearbox, F1-Trac traction control system and the evolved manettino, all of which combine to ensure it delivers absolutely unparalleled driving pleasure, control and sportiness.

612 Scaglietti

The 612 Scaglietti combines the pure thoroughbred performance of a sporty Ferrari Berlinetta with comfortable cabin space for four occupants. In line with Ferrari's tradition of constantly evolving its models, numerous modifications have recently been made to the Grand Tourer flagship model. Specifically, the 612 Scaglietti now sports a special panoramic roof which covers the entire cabin. This feature really does give occupants the feeling of being in a drop-top yet they still enjoy the comfort and security of a coupé. One unique characteristic of this glass panoramic roof is its electrochromic technology. This allows its tint - and thus light levels inside the cabin - to be varied at will. The 612 Scaglietti is also fitted with the F1-Superfast which delivers overall gearshifting times of 100 milliseconds plus a low inertia twin-disc clutch for quicker and smoother response. The Prancing Horse's 2+2 also sports the manettino on its steering wheel - this time in a specific three-setting GT configuration.

Personalisation Programmes

The Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalisation Programme was launched in 1997 to offer clients the opportunity to enrich their cars in accordance with their own tastes and requirements, to ensure that their car was truly unique to them. There are four distinct personalisation areas: Racing and Track, Exteriors and Colours, Interiors and Materials, Equipment and Travel. In addition to choosing from these areas, however, Clients may also make special out-of-catalogue requests. In fact, since the earliest days of Sergio Scaglietti's collaboration with Ferrari, the Prancing Horse cars have been specially tailored for their owners. The result is that now almost every single road-going Ferrari to leave Maranello features at least some personalisation options requested by its owner.

In addition to the Carrozzeria Scaglietti catalogue, however, Ferrari also launched the One To One personalisation programme last March. Initially this was available only for 612 Scagliettis but has recently been broadened to include the 599 GTB Fiorano. Ferrari 12-cylinder clients can now visit a special Atelier in Maranello and with the help of a Ferrari consultant put together their own bespoke Ferrari, courtesy of a vast range of special features. The Atelier is a dedicated space in which clients can decide on every last detail of their new car in line with their own personal taste and requirements. Dedicated One to One personnel will assist each client with their decisions and ensure every last detail is covered to their satisfaction.

Ferrari Classiche

Founded in 2005 to offer veteran and classic car owners a specialist restoration and maintenance service as well as technical assistance and authenticity certification, the Ferrari Classiche division has thus far dealt with over 900 certification requests. It issues the authenticity certificates after meticulous research and, if required, renovations carried out using the original designs for the historic Prancing Horse cars.

Ferrari Financial Services

Since early 2007 Ferrari has also been offering a range of financial services tailored specifically to meet the different requirements of owners of all kinds of Prancing Horse cars from current models to historic, competition and even former Formula 1 cars. This new business is enjoying excellent results: to date, Ferrari Financial Services has achieved an average market penetration of 31% in Europe (Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland - though the rate rises to 46% in Germany) and 33% in the USA where it launched just a year ago. This means that in the aforementioned countries, more than a third of all Ferraris sold are purchased through one of our finance agreements. Clients may avail of personalised financial services which in the case of the 430 Scuderia package driving courses created in collaboration with Michael Schumacher who also contributed to the car's development.

Galleria Ferrari

A record 210,000-plus visitors have flocked to the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello in 2008. In addition to a major permanent exhibition of the cars that have written the Prancing Horse story both on the track and on the road, the Galleria also offered several very interesting themed exhibitions in the course of the year. The Ferrari Magic India Discovery Tour exhibition, for instance, was followed by a show of the works of the Modenese photographer Franco Fontana. The current themed exhibition features the paintings of Enrico Ghinato and runs until December 15th. On December 18th, a new exhibition of the calendars of Gunther Raupp, which have enlivened the days of enthusiasts for the last 20 years, opens. The Galleria Ferrari is open everyday from 9:30 to 18:00.

A year of success and celebrations

2008 was a significant year for Ferrari as the Prancing Horse took its 16th victory in the F1 Constructors' World Championship, its eighth in the last ten years. The company's brand development activities continued very successfully too: several new Ferrari Stores were opened internationally in 2008, including those in Singapore, Macao, Honolulu, Johannesburg and San Francisco. There are now 25 Ferrari retail outlets spread across the world's leading cities.