- 1 -
FERRARI 599 GTB FIORANO IS THE STAR OF THE AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW
The remarkable Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano will be the star of the 2006 Australian International Motor Show when it opens its doors on the 26 October 2006 but with all the cars allocated to Australia and New Zealand for this year and 2007 already sold, no one will be driving away from the show in a Ferrari 599 GTB sold at Australia’s largest automotive event!
“Even by Ferrari’s unique standards, the 599 GTB Fiorano has had a rapturous reception as it has been launched around the world,” says Kevin Wall, the General Manager for European Automotive Imports, the Australian and New Zealand Ferrari distributor.
“Time and time again, the 599 GTB has been described as the best car in world, the greatest super car of all time, the ultimate useable supercar. It is a car that is faster than Ferrari F40, only fractionally slow than the road-racing car that is the Ferrari Enzo, yet it is full equipped with every luxury feature, it is docile and easy to drive, but when called on, can deliver shattering performance. It is no wonder, therefore, that the demand for the 599 GTB Fiorano has been unprecedented,” says Mr Wall.
The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is the latest in a long line classic V12 supercars on which the legendary Italian car maker has built its unique reputation, from the 1953 250MM, through the 1968 365 GTB4 ‘Daytona’ to the 575M Maranello.
Drawing on technology from both its road and Formula One cars, Ferrari has produced the ultimate sports car that combines shattering performance – 0-100 kmh in 3.7 seconds and a top speed in excess of 330 kmh – with comfort, luxury and exclusivity. It is a car that is equally capable of easing its way through the toughest urban traffic conditions, cocooning its occupants in comfort, as it is hammering around the Ferrari test track, after which it is named, at speeds that place it on a par with dedicated racing cars.
The styling of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is an effortless blend of beauty that lingers in the mind long after the 599 has disappeared over the horizon and the aerodynamic expertise that would be expected of the most successful company ever to participate in Formula One. For example, there is no crude wing across the back of the 599 to provide downforce, rather two graceful ‘flying buttresses’ parallel the C-pillar. These don’t just provide a visual lightness to the rear three quarter of the car; they also provide more than 100 kg of downforce and add to the excellent directional stability of the 599.
Power is nothing without control and the Ferrari has an exceptional chassis that is absolutely at the cutting edge of technology, from the F1-Trac electronic chassis control system to the SCM Magnetorheological Suspension that can instantly change the response of the suspension to meet different road and driving conditions. The standard brakes offer exceptional stopping ability, the optional Carbon Ceramic brakes offer epic performance that is usually only available on racing cars.
The Australian recommended retail prices for the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano are $574,000 for the manual and $600,000 for the 599 GTB Fiorano equipped with the F1 Superfast gearbox.
THE FERRARI F430
The link between motorsport and road cars can often seem tenuous at best, but when it comes to creating the ultimate road car, the all-new Ferrari F430, there is no doubt about the link between Ferrari’s World Championship winning race cars and the design, development, testing and production of the F430.
The research and development for the F430 was done by the same people who search for ways to make Ferrari Formula One cars faster; technology developed for the Formula One cars has found a new home in the F430; the shape of the F430 was honed in the same wind tunnel as the F1 cars use and not only was the new car tested on the same Ferrari test track as the Formula One cars, the finer points of handling and road holding were honed to perfection by the world’s most successful racing driver, Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher.
And, of course, the Ferrari F430 is produced in the same factory at Maranello in Italy as, Ferrari’s Gestione Sportiva F1 racing division.
It is, therefore, not surprising that the comment has been made that for everyone but a Formula One driver, the Ferrari F430 represents the closest anyone will get to the experience of driving a Formula One Car.
But this does not mean that the Ferrari F430 is as difficult to drive as a Formula One car or as inhospitable when it comes to creature comforts. This is a remarkably easy to use, practical supercar that offers real comfort in day to day use.
If there was one piece of technology that best demonstrates the link between Formula One and the F430 it is the electronic differential (E-Diff), initially developed by Ferrari for it’s F1 single-seaters and designed to make to make the most of the engine’s torque to optimise traction, and the handily placed steering wheel-mounted commutator switch (better known to the Scuderia’s drivers as manettino) which directly controls the integrated systems governing vehicle dynamics.
The F430’s light, compact 4,308 cc engine is completely new. Needless to say, its performance is outstanding, with a 0-100 time of 4.00 seconds and a top speed in excess of 315 kmh.
The F430’s aerodynamics are also highly innovative for a road car: its shape has been honed to generate special flows to increase downforce and improve cooling.
THE FERRARI F430 SPIDER
The F430 Spider joins the F430 as the latest addition to the new generation of Ferrari V8-engined sports cars. The Spider boasts all of the F430’s stunning technology, itself the product of a close working relationship with Ferrari’s Gestione Sportiva F1 racing division.
The Ferrari F430 has a top speed of 306 kmh and accelerates to 100 kmh in just 4.1 seconds.
The F430 Spider’s all aluminium bodywork has also been carefully strengthened as has its chassis to guarantee both safety and the structural rigidity demanded by a car as high performance as this.
The chassis of the F430 Spider fully exploits cutting-edge aluminium technology that allows considerable structural stiffness, excellent driver and passenger protection with minimal weight.
To offset the loss of the roof, the Spider’s chassis has been significantly reinforced. The sill members have been strengthened with extremely light, rigid aluminium foam inserts where they connect to the rear B-pillar chassis members.
Similarly, at the front the sill members are strengthened by a robust connection with the A-pillars which include the Ferrari-patented integral door mounting points and the base of the windscreen surround.
The reinforced door structure, inner wheel arches and chassis, the positioning of the collapsible arm rest and a more enveloping seat shape provide excellent protection, as emerged from the very high scores achieved in side impact tests.
Two very robust steel roll-bars are integrated into the windshield structure to guarantee maximum occupant protection. The electric hood is fully automatic and fold away under its own flush-fitting tonneau cover, allowing Ferrari’s engineers to carefully hone the aerodynamics of the car with the hood down.
THE FERRARI 612 SCAGLIETTI
The Ferrari F612 Scaglietti is the product of an avant-garde design that continues Ferrari’s long and honourable tradition in 2 + 2 sector.
Although designed by Pininfarina, the new model is named after the great Sergio Scaglietti, the Modenese coachbuilder and stylist who penned some of the most beautiful Ferrari’s ever, during the 1950s and 60s.
The 612 Scaglietti epitomises Ferrari’s talent for innovation and design, perfectly melding a cabin capable of accommodating four occupants in comfort with the beautifully balanced body of nimble, sporty front-engined rear-wheel drive berlinetta, to offer unprecedented onboard comfort.
But make no mistake about it: the 612 Scaglietti isn’t just another 2 + 2. It’s more a two-door four-seater that never feels anything less than comfortable and roomy no matter what the driver conditions.
The 612 Scaglietti is powered by a 65 degree V12 engine that displaces 5,748 cc. it punches out 540 hp at 7250 rpm, a full 98 hp more than the 5,474 cc engine mounted in the 456M. This provides it with a top speed of 320 kmh and a zero to 100 kmh time of 4.2 seconds.
Various modifications have been made to optimise the engine’s performance and fluid-dynamics and make it perform even more stunningly than it first did in the 575M Maranello.
The 612 Scaglietti offers new more direct air intake tracts with separate ducts peer cylinder bank from the radiator grille opening on the front bumper, new exhaust system geometries and volumes to cut backpressure, a higher compression ratio (11.2: 1), and inlet tracks and exhaust porting with improved fluid dynamic characteristics.
The 612 Scaglietti also boasts a Bosch Motronic ME7 CPU and careful work on its dynamic handling means that it responds exceptionally quickly and smoothly, making it easier to control in all kinds of conditions.
The 612 Scaglietti boasts a wonderfully sophisticated sporty interior that reflects its all aluminium structure and advanced technologies. The pressed or solid aluminium used to trim the interior has been cleverly turned into a decorative element too.
The handcrafted leather, used to upholster the seats and in the interior trim, gives the cabin a sporty, exclusive ambience as well as making life aboard extremely pleasant indeed. The interior accessories include dualzone climate control system, sound system (radio with CD player and six channel digital unit developed especially by Bose for the 612 Scaglietti), a dusk sensor that automatically switches on the lights, a rain sensor that activates the windshield wipers, and an antitheft system with volumetric features.
The 612 Scaglietti’s boot is bigger too: 240 litres as opposed to the 465M’s 190 and the spare tyre cubby hole can even be used for extra luggage if necessary.
(ends)
For further information, please contact
Kevin Wall
/ Tel: +61 2 9701 8000General Manager, European Automotive Imports / Fax: +61 2 9701 3555
Official Ferrari importer Australia & New Zealand / E:
Edward Rowe
/ Tel: +61 2 9701 8000Public Relations Manager / Fax: +61 2 9701 3555
European Automotive Imports / Mob: +61 407 913 244
Official Ferrari importer Australia & New Zealand / E:
EUROPEAN AUTOMOTIVE IMPORTS PTY LTD
Street Address: Heritage Building, Campus Business Park, 350 Parramatta Road, Homebush NSW 2140 Australia.
Postal Address: Ateco Automotive Pty Ltd,Locked Bag 260, Silverwater, NSW 1811, Australia
A.B.N. 79 115 107 189
EAI Media web site: Australia:
New Zealand:
Release Number: Ferrari_142
Date of Issue: 27 October 2018. Time of Issue: 07:37:58