Ferrari is
present at the 78th International Geneva Motor Show with
its entire GT range, the F2007 single-seater that won
last year's Formula 1 Drivers' and Constructors' World
Championships, the legendary 365 GTB4 "Daytona" which
celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and a special
area dedicated to the One-to-One Programme.
Taking pride of place at the Ferrari stand, however, is
the 612 Scaglietti, the model being used to inaugurate
the new One-to-One Personalisation Programme. Ferrari
intends to allow every client to fully personalise this
flagship model, courtesy of a wide array of new content
as well as the options available through the Carrozzeria
Scaglietti Programme.
To underscore the sheer depth and flexibility of the
personalisation options available for the 612 Scaglietti,
Ferrari is exhibiting at Geneva a version which has been
inspired, right down to its perforated leather Daytona
seats, by the classic 365 GTB4 which will stand alongside
it. The famous 365 GTB4 was, of course, affectionately
dubbed the Daytona in honour of the historic one-two-three
finish delivered by the Scuderia Ferrari in the eponymous 24
Hour Race in 1967. The arrival of the 365 GTB4 was a
significant moment in the company's history and Ferrari will
be celebrating this car's 40th anniversary in 2008 with a
series of events across the globe.
The 612 Scagliettis being used to launch the One-to-One
Programme incorporate a series of technical evolutions that
reflect the Ferrari philosophy of constantly introducing
innovations in each model. Most notably, the V12 flagship
now boasts an electrochromic panoramic roof which covers the
entire top of the cabin. This has the dual advantage of
giving occupants the feeling of driving along in a drop-top
whilst enjoying the comfort and safety of a coupé. However,
this is no ordinary panoramic roof. It is made from
electrochromic glass which can be changed at the touch of a
button to adjust the levels of sunlight allowed into the
cabin. The electrochromic glass solution was developed in
close collaboration with Saint Gobain, a partner with whom
Ferrari has most recently developed a similar highly
innovative solution for the Superamerica.
In addition to its electrochromic roof, the 612 Scaglietti
also sports the aptly named SuperFast gearbox which delivers
an exceptional gear-shifting time of 100 milliseconds and a
reduced inertia clutch to enhance the engine's
responsiveness still further. The iconic Ferrari manettino,
now featured on the entire range, has also been added to the
steering wheel.
Another model being showcased at Geneva is the F430 Spider,
a rear-engined 8-cylinder that combines blistering
performance with open-top driving pleasure. The version on
the stand is displayed in a historic colour Grigio Ferro,
with a sophisticated Cioccolato interiors. The F430 Spider
has proved an enormous success since its launch and in 2007
won prestige awards from international publications, such as
Quattroruote, Autozeitung, Auto Illustrierte and Auto Motor
und Sport.
The Company's sporting history is also represented on the
stand by the 599 GTB Fiorano, the highest performance
production model ever built at Maranello and seen here in a
classic Rosso Corsa livery, and the 430 Scuderia, an extreme
model voted "Dream Car of the Year" by the authoritative
British car magazine Top Gear. The more track-oriented side
of Ferrari's dual soul is represented most ably on the stand
by the F2007, the single-seater that won the World
Championship last year, bringing to 15 the overall number of
Formula 1 Drivers' and Constructors' titles won by Maranello
so far.
MAGIC INDIA DISCOVERY
The Magic India Discovery Tour started from Mumbai on
February 25th and will see two 612 Scagliettis cover a route
stretching more than 13,000 kilometres. More than 50
journalists from all over the world will take turns behind
the wheels of the cars which return to the Mumbai on May
8th.
The two 612 Scagliettis (one red, the other white, both
sporting a specially designed livery) will feature a few
absolutely minimal modifications to allow them to negotiate
the more difficult sections of the tour. The modifications
involve the fitting of an underbody protector made from 4 mm
duraluminium rather than plastic and a slightly higher
suspension setting to deal with the tougher road surfaces.
Otherwise, however, they will be entirely straightforward
production cars.
The Magic India Discovery tour is divided into 12 stages and
runs over 74 days. The start from Mumbai's Gateway of India
was watched by Fiat Group Vice-President John Elkan and
Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group. The two Scagliettis
will head south along the coast to the city of Trivandrum
near the very southern tip of the Indian peninsula, turning
up towards Bangalore and Kolkata (Calcutta). The final part
of the voyage takes the cars up along the river Ganges and
north to the Pakistani border. It then heads back down
towards New Delhi and on through fascinating Rajasthan
before returning to Mumbai.
The Magic India Discovery tour will enjoy the invaluable
support of the Tata Group, Tata Motors, Tata Consultancy
Services, Taj Hotels, Shell, Fiat India Pvt Ltd., Alcoa,
Pirelli, Saima Avandero and OMR. Assistance and spare parts
will be provided by eight support vehicles: five Tata cars,
two Fiats and one specially fitted-out Iveco truck. In
addition to the journalists driving the two 612 Scagliettis
and the photographers, camera operators, the tour will also
be accompanied by a technical assistance and logistics team
for its entire duration.
The 612 Scaglietti is Ferrari's top of the range model and
in line with its elegant, exclusive image, we will also be
providing our guests on the tour with sophisticated colonial
style clothing. In addition to this, legendary Milanese
hatmaker Borsalino has created a contemporary take on the
classic colonial Pith helmet as the weather will be
particularly hot and sunny. The www.ferrariworld.com and
www.media.ferrari.com websites will feature constantly
updated news and high resolution images throughout the tour
also.
FERRARI BUSINESS
2007 BALANCE SHEET: A RECORD YEAR
In the year of Ferrari's 60 year anniversary, beautifully
topped off by our seventh Constructors' World title in nine
years in Formula 1 and our sixth Drivers' title in the last
eight years of the World Championship, all of the main
economic indicators were up to excellent levels. Ferrari's
revenues (turnover) increased from the 1,447 million euro
recorded in 2006 to 1,668 million euro in 2007, a jump of
15.3%.
A total of 6,465 road cars (i.e. track cars excluded) were
delivered to end clients, an increase of 14% on 2006. The
emerging markets showed the strongest growth. Sales to the
Asia-Pacific region rose by 47.2% on last year's figure
while the Middle East was up by 32.3%. The trend was
positive too, however, in more traditional markets such as
the United States (+7.7%), the United Kingdom (+8.2%) and
Germany (+5.9%). Trading trading profit of 266 million euro
represents a massive 45.4% increase on last year's figure
and brings our ROS (Return on Sales) up to 16% compared to
12.6% in 2006.
FERRARI FINANCIAL SERVICES
Founded in late 2006, Ferrari Financial Services is made up
of three legal companies. Ferrari Financial Services SpA is
the Italian mother company and directly manages the Italian
market. It also controls Ferrari Financial Services AG
(which operates on the German, French, Austrian, Belgian and
Swiss markets) and Ferrari Financial Services Inc. which,
through our dealership network, covers the whole of the USA.
In 2007, Ferrari Financial Services achieved 27% market
penetration on the seven markets on which it operates. In
other words, around one third of the cars manufactured and
sold by Maranello were purchased using its financing
contracts.
The average
length of these finance contracts is 40 months and the
amounts involved range from 100,000 euros to up to four
million dollars, the price fetched by California Spider sold
recently on the American market. The Ferrari Financial
Services portfolio also includes two Ferrari Enzos (average
value: 700,000 euros) and no less than seven former F1
single-seaters (average value: 1.5 million euro). FFS offers
a choice of four different financial packages to suit the
various categories of car covered: GT from current range,
competition cars, classic and pre-owned cars, Formula 1 and
limited series). Each package includes a range of options
from financing for more traditional services (insurance or
scheduled services) to ultra-exclusive driving courses
certified by the current Scuderia Ferrari drivers.
FERRARI CLASSICHE
Introduced in July 2006, the Ferrari Classiche division
provides restoration and maintenance services, technical
assistance and authenticity certificates to classic Ferrari
owners. To date, Ferrari Classiche has received over 800
requests for certificates of authenticity and issued over
600. The certification is carried out using the data
contained in the Company's technical and historic archive
which includes information on all of the GT, competition and
sports prototypes cars built at Maranello since the Prancing
Horse's foundation. 2008 looks set to be another excellent
year for Ferrari collectors too, with a series of special
events that includes celebrations for the 40th anniversary
of the legendary 365 GTB4 "Daytona" during the Mugello
Historic Festival (April 5th and 6th). Then on May 18th, the
Fiorano Circuit will host the second edition of the "Leggenda
e Passione" auction organised by RM Auctions in
collaboration with Sotheby's.
2008 SPORTING ACTIVITIES
2007 saw Ferrari sign a technological collaboration
agreement with the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport to supply
engines for the series' single-seaters. Ferrari will also
act as a consultant on the design of the chassis of the cars
competing until 2014. The collaboration begins from the
2008/2009 Championship.
FERRARI CORSE CLIENTI
Client racers have played a major role in Ferrari's sporting
activities since the foundation of the Marque. This led to
the Ferrari Challenge being set up in 1993 followed in 2001
by a dedicated Corse Clienti division. Corse Clienti
currently organises the international Ferrari Challenge
Trofeo Pirelli and Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge,
provides support to Ferrari clients taking part in the GT
championships and manages the F1 Clienti department, the
exclusive FXX Programme and the Pilota Ferrari driving
courses.
PILOTA FERRARI DRIVING COURSES
The Ferrari driving course programme began in 1993 with just
one type of course (Basic) but in the years that followed it
developed to meet client demand into three levels of
increasing complexity: Advanced, Evolution and Challenge.
Between 1993 and the present, in fact, over 4,000 clients
from all parts of the globe have attended our courses. Over
700 individuals signed up for them in 2007 alone, in fact.
More than 400 of these attended the courses held at Fiorano:
17% from Italy, 55% from other European markets, 13% from
America, and 15% from Australia and Asia. The Chinese
courses attracted over 80 participants to three different
circuits in Shanghai, Beijing and Zhuhai. The Ferrari North
America Driving School sessions brought upwards of 200
drivers to the Mont-Tremblant Circuit in Quebec, Canada. The
Pilota Ferrari on Ice course was launched this year also and
will help clients hone their skills at controlling their car
in adverse conditions. A special course developed in
collaboration with Michael Schumacher is also offered to
clients that have purchased a 430 Scuderia through Ferrari
Financial Services.
FERRARI STORES
The Ferrari Store opening programme continues apace across
the world too. Stores were officially inaugurated in
Beijing, Los Angeles, Shenyang, Barcelona, Al Kobar, Abu
Dhabi and Macao in 2007. 2008 will see us enhance our
presence in the North American market with new Stores in
Honolulu, San Francisco and Miami in the first half of the
year. The Singapore Store opened in January 2008 and another
is planned for Moscow this year too.
FERRARI IN SWITZERLAND
With 270 road cars delivered there in 2007 (in line with the
2006 figure of 269), Switzerland is Ferrari's seventh
largest market after the United States, Germany, the United
Kingdom, Italy, Japan and France. It is also our largest
market overall in terms of cars sold per capita of
population. Ferrari maintains a strong presence in the
country through Ferrari Suisse which is based at Nyon near
Geneva. The latter has been directly controlled by the
Prancing Horse since 1993 and is currently headed by a
Giulio Zauner. Ferrari Suisse operates through a network of
10 dealerships which also guarantee a technical assistance
service.
Many Swiss clients are involved in the GT championships, the
Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and Shell Ferrari Historic
Challenge, as well as in collecting historic and Formula 1
cars from various eras. Ferrari Classiche has, in
particular, had numerous certification requests from Swiss
owners.
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