Monthly Archives: December 2015

Ferrari at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2016

Posted: 26.05.2016
Source: Mitorosso.com / Manfred Steinert and Ernst Fischer

S/N 0154 ED
Ferrari 225 S Spider Vignale
  • Entrant: José M. Fernandez – ES
  • Class E: Daring to be Different – E-52
  • The images
S/N 9099 Ferrari 330 GTC
  • Entrant: Carlo Confidati – IT
  • Class F: Cars of the Stars – F-66
  • The images
S/N 10621 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
  • Entrant: David Moores – GB
  • Class F: Cars of the Stars – F-68
  • Award: Class winner
  • The images
S/N 18553 Ferrari 365 GT/4 BB
  • Entrant: William Heinecke – TH
  • Class F: Cars of the Stars- F-70
  • The images
S/N 0295 EU
Ferrari 250 Europa Coupé Vignale
  • Entrant: Kevin Cogan – US
  • Class G: GT Man is back – G-76
  • The images
S/N 0543 GT
Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Boano
  • Entrant: Laurent Levaux – BE
  • Class G: GT Man is back – G-80
  • The images
S/N 62897 Ferrari Testarossa Spider Agnelli
  • Entrant: Ronald Stern – GB
  • Class H: Driven by Excess – H-96
  • The images

 

 

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2016

Posted: 18.03.2015
Source: BMW / Event website

Event Information:

Date and Time: 20.05.2016 – 22.05.2016
Location: Villa d`Este and Villa Erba – Cernobbio
Website: Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

 

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2016: invites us on a journey through time.

Posted: 21.12..2015
Source: BMW

Preparations continue for the world’s most exclusive and tradition-rich beauty contestfor historic cars and motorcycles +++ BMW Group Classic and Villa d’Este luxury hotelwill present an exquisite field of entrants on the banks of Lake Como from 20 – 22 May2016 +++ Eight competition categories for classic cars already identified by the SelectingCommittee.
 
Munich/Cernobbio. The programme for the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2016 continues to take shape. The Selecting Committee overseeing the selection of entrants for this beauty contest ofhistorical cars and motorcycles has set out a further two categories at its final meeting of the year.This means almost all of the stations are now in place for this journey through time – to whichBMW Group Classic and the Villa d’Este luxury hotel will be inviting owners and enthusiasts of

two- and four-wheeled rarities under the motto “Back to the future – the journey continues”.

From 20 – 22 May 2016 historic vehicles of exceptional class and with fascinating stories to tell willcompete for the favour of the high-calibre jury and the approval of the public in the northern Italian town of Cernobbio on Lake Como. Every year, the Selecting Committee for the Concorso d’EleganzaVilla d’Este draws up a spread of categories highlighting different aspects of car-building history in this ongoing retrospective. And now another two classes of competition have been finalised for the2016 event. The category headed “GT Man is back – The golden era of sportscar design, 1950 – 1975” will bring together exclusive representatives of the Gran Turismo genre of carspopular above all in Europe. The “Driven by excess – Cars of the Studio 54 era, 1975 – 1986” class, meanwhile, takes us back to the days when disco ruled, shining the spotlight on models defined by extravagance in both technology and design. This category is the preserve of comparatively young candidates and sees the Selecting Committee once again broadening the spectrum of cars presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este to appeal to both new entrants and fresh audiences.

All of which means eight classes of vehicle are now in place for the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2016. The category “Rally cars – Heroes of the special stage,1955 – 1985” will showcase spectacular competition cars from three decades of rally racing; “Daring to be different – Design that pushed the

envelope” is the billing for examples of extremely bold, often controversial but pioneering newdevelopments from the spheres of design and technology; and unique cars constructed for highly discerning customers – principally from the 1920s to the 1950s – by renowned manufacturers or coachbuilders are grouped together under the banner “Sur mesure et haute couture – One-offs for the connoisseur”.

Two other categories are dedicated to cars from the pre-war era that are encountered rarely yet always remain in the memory. The category “Pre-war decadence – Flights of automotive fantasy” is all about automobiles bathed in the rakish luxury of the 1920s and 1930s, while “Pre-war supercars – The fast and the  flamboyant” focuses on the pursuit of the high performance and thrill of speed that were equally characteristic of this era. Elsewhere on the programme, a class entitled “Cars of the stars –From the silver screen to the studio lot” features vehicles whose story is closely associated with the
history of film. On display will be models that once played a leading role in well- known movies or

were owned by icons of the screen.

The ninth and last category will be announced at a later stage.

 

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2016 invites us on a journey through time.

Posted: 07.12..2015
Source: BMW

Munich/Cernobbio. At the end of May each year, the gaze of automotive enthusiasts around the world focuses on the historic cars and motorcycles from various eras lining up at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Cernobbio on the banks of Lake Como. The three-day event, hosted by BMW Group Classic and the Villa d’Este luxury hotel, maintains its stand-out status in the ranks of beauty contests for classic cars and motorcycles by virtue of the elegance it radiates, the incomparable ambience it generates and the small but exquisite field of entrants it assembles. At the same time, the presentation of concept cars and prototypes affords a glimpse of the automotive future. With this in mind, the motto of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2016 is “Back to the future – the journey continues”.

A Selecting Committee of international experts run the rule over every car and motorcycle hoping to gain entry into the event – and the first of the anticipated nine competition classes have already been decided:

Pre-war decadence – Flights of automotive fantasy

Pre-war supercars – The fast and the flamboyant

Cars of the stars – From the silver screen to the studio lot

Rally cars – Heroes of the special stage, 1955 – 1985

Daring to be different – Designs that pushed the envelope

“Sur mesure et haute couture” – “One-offs for the connoisseur”

Over the three days of the event, historic cars and motorcycles of outstanding class and with fascinating stories to tell compete for the favour of the high-calibre jury in the various categories. As well as seeking approval from the experts, contestants will also by vying for the affections of the public, whose votes will determine the winners of several special prizes.

An exquisite line-up of models also awaits fans of classic motorcycles. The Concorso di Motociclette has established itself as one of the highlights of Day 2. In 2016 the convoy of rare motorcycles will once again pause at the Historic Car Parade at Villa d’Este on its way from Como to the parkland of Villa Erba in Cernobbio. The jury will then cast their expert eye over the assembled motorcycles once they have reached the end of their journey.

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in the northern Italian town of Cernobbio was first held in 1929 as an exhibition for new creations from the auto industry, but since the 1980s it has majored instead on the history of motoring. In 1999 the BMW Group took over patronage of this tribute to automotive rarities, and since 2005 BMW Group Classic and the Villa d’Este luxury hotel have acted as co-hosts. In addition to classic vehicles boasting stand-out aesthetics and historical significance, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este also presents design studies and prototypes from various eras for visitors to admire.

 

 

Presenting Manifesto – The Ferrari of the future

Posted: 15.01.2016
Source: Ferrari

Winners of Top Design School Challenge announced

Maranello, 15 January – The Manifesto, the FL and the de Esfera are the three winning models in the third Top Design School Challenge, in which four prestige institutes submitted three designs each of the Ferraris of 2040.
The jury comprised Ferrari exponents in the broadest sense of the term from designers to engineers, drivers and even famous collectors: Nicola Boari, Franco Cimatti, Aldo Colonnetti, Rodolfo Gaffino Rossi, Jay Kay, Flavio Manzoni, Nick Mason, Andrea Militello, Paolo Pininfarina and Sebastian Vettel.
Their decision, however, was unanimous: the “Gran Premio Assoluto” overall prize has been awarded to the Manifesto, a design by six students from the ISD-Rubika at Valenciennes, France: Frenchmen Michael Barthly, Grimaud Gervex and Jean Baptiste Epinat, and Belgians Michael Kalyvianakis, Stanislas Oleksiak, and William Stock.

The jury was won over by the completeness of the Manifesto design as well as the students’ ability to create a coherent overall vision of the car spanning its exterior, cabin and running gear. The spectacular door opening mechanism also highlights the evolution of the interior functions, using future-forward technologies. The exterior is instantly recognisable despite the fact that it incorporates certain orthodox features.
The jury also wanted to make a special mention of the FL by Roman Egorov, the only design that focused solely on the cabin. They commented that the Russian student from the Hochschule Pforzheim in Germany very successfully applied a highly unconventional design language to the car interior, integrating and rethinking the human-machine interface in the process. He also partnered luxury, noble materials rather opting than for the typical carbon-leather combination of today, demonstrating his ability to look well beyond accepted convention.
Last but not least, the “Premio Speciale”, decided by an online ballot, went to the de Esfera, the work of three students from Hongik University in Seoul, Korea: Chae wook Lee, Ha kyoung Yeom and Woo jin Jung.


 

What will the Ferraris of 2040 be like?

Posted: 04.12.2015
Source: Ferrari

The Top Design School Challenge enters its final phase

Maranello, 4 December 2015 – What seemed like the wildest science fiction in the days of Jules Verne has been more than surpassed by modern invention. Maybe in a quarter of a century’s time, we’ll be saying the same about a slew of present-day projects that endeavour to envisage the Ferraris of the future.

We are talking, of course, about the 12 models to have reached the finals of the Ferrari Top Design School Challenge. Also run in 2005 and 2012, this is the third outing for a competition in which the world’s most prestigious design institutes vie for supremacy. Around 50 schools were considered in the first round and this number was then whittled to eight before four third-level institutes (spread across three continents) were selected as finalists. They are: the Hochschule Pforzheim (Germany), which has a hugely successful automotive design course and is one of Europe’s leading schools; the College for Creative Studies in Detroit (US) which attracts students from all over the world because of the incredibly high standard of its facilities and teaching staff; the Asia-Pacific region’s top design school, Hongik University in Seoul (Korea), which had the largest number of entrants in the competition and also won the 2011 Ferrari World Design Contest; and, lastly, the ISD-Rubika in Valenciennes (France) which has a cutting-edge computer modelling course that embraces structured interdisciplinary projects.

The students began working on their Ferraris of the future in October 2014 and a year later, the 12 finalist models, three from each school, arrived in Maranello. This marked the start of the trickiest phase in the competition: choosing the winner! Or rather the two winners as there are two prizes. The overall “Gran Premio” is awarded by a jury made up of Ferrari exponents in the broadest sense of the term – designers, engineers, drivers and even famous collectors. The “Premio Speciale”, on the other hand, is awarded by open online vote cast on the official Ferrari Facebook page where finalists’ work can be viewed.

The jury very shortly knuckles down to the difficult task of making the final decision about the overall winner and will officially announce its choice on January 15 2016. So, the very best of luck to Nicola Boari, Franco Cimatti, Aldo Colonnetti, Rodolfo Gaffino Rossi, Jay Kay, Flavio Manzoni, Nick Mason, Andrea Militello, Marc Newson (TBC), Paolo Pininfarina and Sebastian Vettel as they embark on this home stretch in this long process.

Vote for your favorite

 

 

Joe Bastianich and his Ferrari dream

Posted: 04.12.2015
Source: Ferrari

The restaurant, rock singer and now-Top Gear Italia presenter visits Maranello

Maranello, 4 December – It was a flying visit- and not his first – but he just had to touch base with the place of his childhood dreams. Restauranteur, TV personality, rock singer and, from next spring, one of the presenters of the Italian version of Top Gear, Joe Bastianich took advantage of a break in shooting to pop down to Maranello.

Bastianich’s first stop was at the 8 and 12-cylinder assembly lines where he happily posed for selfies with the Ferrari employees who, of course, recognised him instantly. Then he lingered at length in the Classiche Department before finishing his visit with a viewing of the new F12tdf.

“I grew up in Italy and the US,” he told us. “As a kid, I had one great dream: Ferrari. I had a poster of the Testarossa on my bedroom wall and every time I flew back to the States, I bought a new model car in Rome Airport. The first Ferrari I remember was the 456 owned by my next-door neighbour. I bought one as soon as I could afford it. I had others too, including a 550 Maranello and a 612. But then I got the classic car bug: one of the ones I’m most proud of is a 1963 330, the same model John Lennon owned”.
And what about the current range? “You just can’t help but be gobsmacked by the LaFerrari or this F12tdf, which, apart from anything else, has a strong connection to Prancing Horse history”.

 

 

Another award for the 458 Speciale A

Posted: 02.12.2015
Source: Ferrari

The Ferrari spider is Auto Bild Sportscars’ Convertible of the Year

Maranello, 2 December – The Ferrari 458 Speciale A has won the Convertible Sportscars’ category in the Auto Bild Sportscars “Sports car of the Year 2015 readers” poll.
The 458 Speciale A beat ten rivals to take victory in the on-line poll and the award was announced during the Auto Bild Motorsport and Auto Bild Sportscars Race Night event held at the Essen Motor Show.

The 458 Speciale A is a limited-edition special series and just 499 have been built for Ferrari’s most discerning clients. The model offers the same extreme performance as the coupé version, with active aerodynamics and the innovative Side Slip Angle Control, ensuring that driving pleasure is unequalled, even with the roof down.

 

 

Abu Dhabi Testing – Past and Future

Posted: 01.12.2015
Source: Ferrari

Racing career of the SF15-T car ends with 2016 tire test

Yas Marina, December 1st – The racing career of the Ferrari SF15-T ended up with a desert marathon, with twelve hours of testing made available to each team. Two days after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen went back to track for a development testing session of the 2016 Pirelli tires. The tire supplier had brought four specifications of their new Ultrasoft compound, coupled with different constructions. Sebastian opened up the day covering 57 laps of the Yas Marina circuit, with a best lap time of 1min44sec940. After lunch break he handed the car over to Kimi, with a similar program which saw the Finn driving 56 laps of the track, the best in 1min44sec456. Lap analysis would be futile as Pirelli had planned a “blind test” here, with no information being given to teams as to the tire specification they were running each time. The tire walls did not carry the usual colored band which helps recognize the different compounds, but “combinations” were seen of the regular 2015 compounds and new test tires, as is the case with Seb who ran the development specs only at the rear of the car. The 2015 season is now officially over.

 

 

A new lease of life for a 250 GT SWB

Posted: 02.12.2015
Source: Ferrari

An extensive 14-month restoration

Maranello, 2 December – 14 months of meticulous work – that’s how long it took the Ferrari Classiche Department to restore the engine, bodywork, suspensions and running gear of a 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione to pristine condition. The car arrived in Maranello in March 2014 and work began in the summer of the same year, only finishing last week when it was returned to its delighted owner.
Famous names. According to the few documents available, the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione’s first owner was Dorino Serafini, a GT and Formula 1 driver who also delivered a podium position in the 1950 Italian Grand Prix for the Scuderia Ferrari. However, he rarely used this particular car, except in fairly low profile races. In 1964, the 250 GT SWB was purchased by Frenchman René Richard. Unfortunately, he crashed it and then sold it on to the Belgian driver Lucien Bianchi who was a brilliant mechanic. After it was repaired, the car was given a dark blue livery with a black interior. A short time later, Bianchi sold it on to another driver with a solid career in both GT and Formula 1 racing, Jacques Pollet, and its livery was changed once again, this time to grey.
The final modifications. In 1984, the car went to auction and was purchased by a Belgian collector. In 1992, he had it painted yellow as an homage to the colour used by Belgian cars in the early years of motor racing. It was still yellow when it arrived at the Classiche Department in Maranello but was clothed in a completely new livery when it emerged fully restored last week. Its current owner, a collector with an abiding passion for Ferraris, chose a Pininfarina grey similar to the colour sported by many Prancing Horse cars in the late 1960s. He also opted for a brown interior.

 

 

‘Tribute to Chinese Culture’ concludes in style in Shanghai

Posted: 28.11.2015
Source: Ferrari

Ferrari culminates 12-City celebration of Chinese culture

• The Prancing Horse again broke new ground, with an exclusive sit-down dinner in the iconic grounds of Shanghai Expo Celebration Square.
• More than 55 Ferrari super cars assembled among an array of the most famous European pavilions of World Expo 2010 and underlined the deep connection between Ferrari’s European heritage and the ancient civilisation of China.
• Ferrari continues to concentrate on offering the most exclusive customer experience to every Ferrari enthusiast.

Shanghai, November 28th, 2015—Surrounded by a select gathering of the most committed of China’s super car aficionados, Ferrari celebrated the conclusion of the ‘Tribute to Chinese Culture’ Rally with a stunning commemoration in the Shanghai World Expo Celebration Square and beneath the glittering lights of the Shanghai skyline. Ferrari and China share a history of cultural achievements that have created an indelible mark on the story of mankind, writing chapters that are every day recognised around the world, and making this shared story a perfect cause for celebration in 2015.

For more than 5,000 years, the nation of China has remained a constant driving force in the celebrated progress of global civilisation – and similarly, Ferrari has been the driving force in automotive design and innovation for 68 years of its motoring history. To commemorate this unbreakable bond, the ‘Tribute to Chinese Culture’ Rally toured some of the most iconic landmarks in Chinese history, crossing 12 of the most culturally rich ancient cities of China. From the rolling green hinterland of the Thousand-Island Lake, to the bustling shop fronts of porcelain artisans in the ancient city of Jindezhen, the modern Maranello motoring masterpieces have followed the historic routes through every kilometre of every cutting-edge highway. The haunting classical notes of the traditional opera, and the celebratory songs of native nightingales along the back-country lanes, have been added that acclaimed Ferrari performance soundtrack that is music to the ears of every automotive enthusiast.

The return to Shanghai was cause for a final celebration – a celebration of the many achievements of the ‘Tribute to Chinese Culture’ Rally – and a shared commitment to cultural enrichment. From all corners of the vast nation of China, Ferrari owners that had joined the ‘Tribute to Chinese Culture’ Rally converged again in Shanghai, to share in the conclusion of the 12 stops and rallies. Joining this exclusive selection of top owners were further celebrities, cultural leaders and business executives. Then to complete the intrepid gathering, were55 Ferrari super cars, covering the entire modern model range. Meanwhile, a special edition car display featuring the LaFerrari, Enzo, 599 China Edition and 458 Dragon brought all the guest back to those golden memories of the Prancing Horse. The assembly of beautiful Italian automotive creations, blended the traditions of Ferrari with more than five millennia of esteemed Chinese culture – adding to this truly unique experience for each and every fortunate owner.

As the leading luxury automotive manufacturer here in China, this is just one example of the exclusive Ferrari customer experience. But the night was far from simply a celebration of Ferrari’s achievements in China – this was a celebration of both Italian and Chinese culture. Performances throughout the night included a rich duet from Zhang Jun and Huang Ying, singing an inspired blend of Kunqu and Italian Opera. Fortunate guests enjoyed the spirited tones of the Erhu performed by the maestro Chen Jun, a Taiji dance performance, classical Chinese dancers, and an ensemble instrumental featuring an array of China’s most recognised wind and percussion instruments.

Front and centre throughout, was another finely tuned Italian precision instrument, this time from the hallowed production halls of Maranello: the stunning new 488 Spider. Recently unveiled to the Chinese community at Auto Guangzhou 2015, the Ferrari 488 Spider brings not only the celebrated 3,902cc V8 Turbo engine to the open-roof segment, but also a new design with more than 80% new components – and typical to the latest Ferrari creations – with absolutely no compromise in performance.

This was a night to celebrate technology, lifestyle, and a shared cultural heritage. As Mr. Matteo Torre, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ferrari Greater China exclaimed, “The ‘Tribute to Chinese Culture’ Rally is the true definition of the modern Ferrari journey. An inspired story that encompasses our technological achievements, the spiritual emotions of the exclusive driving experience, and a rich appreciation of the cultural heritage that has brought us all here today. We will be committed to maintaining a close relationship as well as the most exclusive customer experience with each owner.”

Mr. Amedeo Felisa, Chief Executive Officer of Ferrari commented, “With the classical history of 68 years, as always, we have maintained stunning driving performance both on the road and race track. To date, Ferrari is the only brand have competed in every single season of the Formula 1 World Championship since its creation in 1950, winning as many as 224 Grand Prix races, 15 World Drivers’ Championships and 16 World Constructors’ Championships. We will continue to embed the essence of our DNA into every model we produce and I’m confident we will achieve even greater success in the future. Ferrari says ‘Thank You’ to China and its aficionados. We would not be here without you.”

About Ferrari Greater China
Ferrari is among the world’s leading luxury brands focused on the design, engineering, production and sale of the world’s most recognizable luxury performance sports cars. Ferrari brand symbolizes exclusivity, innovation, state-of-the-art sporting performance and Italian design. Its history and the image enjoyed by its cars are closely associated with its Formula 1 racing team, Scuderia Ferrari, the most successful team in Formula 1 history. From the inaugural year of Formula 1 in 1950 through the present, Scuderia Ferrari has won 224 Grand Prix races, 16 Constructor World titles and 15 Drivers’ World titles, including most recently the Constructor World title in 2008. Ferrari designs, engineers and produces its cars in Maranello, Italy, and sells them in over 60 markets worldwide.

In 1992, Ferrari received its very first order for Ferrari 348TS from a customer in Mainland China. The supercar was delivered in 1993 and a new generation of Ferrari enthusiasts was born. To meet the needs of these passionate new supporters, the first Ferrari showroom in Mainland China opened in Beijing in February 1994, setting a new standard for luxury sales and after-sales services in China. With the establishment of Ferrari Greater China in August 2004, Ferrari had now comprehensively entered the China market. Today, Ferrari Greater China plays a central role in the Ferrari Asia Pacific market and maintains a pivotal position in Ferrari’s global strategy. Since arriving in China, Ferrari’s dealer presence has expanded rapidly with the development of a highly-qualified national network. Up to date, Ferrari has established a sales and service network in 26major markets to offer exciting new models and to provide excellent services to Ferrari customers through a convenient and comprehensive after-sales service Network.

 

 

Ferrari N.V. signs €2.5 billion syndicated credit facility

Posted: 30.11.2015
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, Italy, 30 November 2015 – Ferrari N.V. (NYSE: RACE) (“Ferrari”) announced today that it has entered into a €2.5 billion syndicated loan facility with a group of ten bookrunner banks.
The facility comprises a bridge loan (the “Bridge Loan”) and a term loan (the “Term Loan”) of €2 billion in aggregate and a revolving credit facility of €500 million (the “RCF”). Proceeds of the Bridge Loan and Term Loan will be used to refinance indebtedness owing to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE: FCAU) (“FCA”) and other indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes. Proceeds of the RCF may be used from time to time for general corporate and working capital purposes of the Ferrari group. The Bridge Loan has a 12 month maturity with an option for Ferrari to extend once for a six-month period. Ferrari intends to refinance the Bridge Loan prior to its maturity with longer term debt, including through capital markets or other financing transactions. The Term Loan, which comprises a majority of the total facility, and the RCF each have a maturity of five years. The facility is limited in recourse to Ferrari and any Ferrari subsidiaries which borrow under the facility, and is without recourse to any other part of the FCA group.
This transaction, which confirms key relationship banks’ strong support for Ferrari, represents a further step towards the separation of Ferrari from the FCA Group.

 

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