OPR: Mondial de l’Automobile 2002

By Ferrari Press
September 26 2002

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Ferrari is enjoying one of the most successful periods in its history, both in terms of racing and commercial achievements. At the “Mondial de l’Automobile 2002” in Paris, the company is launching the new Enzo Ferrari, an exceptional car that encapsulates the company’s experience of winning four World Championships in the last four seasons and all the latest technology offered by Maranello.

Having won the Constructor's Title and the third consecutive Driver’s championship with Michael Schumacher, Ferrari is closing this racing season with flying colours. Motor racing has always been a high level laboratory for developing road going GT cars and such an excellent technological performance record has provided particular benefits to the company.

The Ferrari chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, has symbolically chosen the name of the founder, Enzo Ferrari, for this new model to mark Ferrari’s unprecedented sporting and commercial successes.

Even though production is limited to 4000 vehicles a year Ferrari receives more orders than can be satisfied by production. This ensures that the company’s clientèle are certain of acquiring exclusivity as well as exceptional technology and styling whenever they buy a car carrying the Prancing Horse emblem. As far as the financial results of 2001 are concerned, the group’s turnover has seen growth of 18.5 per cent over 2000 of around 1,058 million Euro. The operating result has been positive at 62 million Euro (up by 36% compared to the previous financial year) with an impact that went from 5,1% in 2000 to 5,9%. The net profit of the financial year showed very strong growth at 47 million Euro compared with 6.6 million Euro in 2000.

The self financing of 135.8 million Euro, an increase over 2000 of around 57.2 million Euro, has allowed for the complete financing of the development programme of products, client services and production processes. This contributed to the end of year net financial position of 172 million Euro ( up by 31.4% compared to the previous financial year).

The tangible and intangible resources destined for Investment, Research and Development totalled 225.3 million Euro representing a significant rise compared to 127.5 million Euro of the previous financial year ( an increase of 76.7%).

The data in the table below shows a constant growth in terms of turnover and deliveries to end clients over the last ten years.

Turnover (in millions of Euro)
1993 229.7
1994 228.7
1995 379.2
1996 453.3
1997 539.3
1998* 616.7
1999* 823.6
2000* 893.3
2001* 1,058
2002*(1 sem.) 587
(* = Ferrari and Maserati)

Ferrari and Maserati sales to end clients
1993 2,250
1994 2,792
1995 3,307
1996 3,313
1997 3,581
1998* 4,155
1999* 5,313
2000* 6,099
2001* 6,158
2002* (1 sem.) 4,389

The initial results for the first part of 2002 confirm a positive trend both for Ferrari and Maserati. The Group’s turnover for the January to July period was around 587 million Euro, a 9.5% increase over the same period in 2001 (536 million Euro). Deliveries of Ferraris and Maseratis to customers in the first six months of 2002 amounted to 4,389 units, a seven per cent increase over the first semester of 2001 (4099 units).

This year has also been marked by intense industrial development for the Group with production starting in the “Nuova Meccanica” structures. The completion of the industrial restructuring plan will make the Ferrari-Maserati group the most advanced car manufacturer in the world in terms of work environment quality, environmental care and technological innovation.

Today, Ferrari thrives on two strong points: its technology and its personnel. Technology means the constant search for new goals thanks to the contribution of the highly advanced Formula 1 research laboratory. This enables the company to design and manufacture not only models like the Enzo Ferrari but also enormously successful cars such as the 360 Modena, 456M and 575M Maranello.

At Ferrari, technology is a marriage of leading edge technological equipment - often specifically made for the company’s requirements - and solutions based on craftsmanship that has been evolved to the highest global standards. The development of design and production processes is a fundamental accompaniment to technology and results. All this is an intrinsic part of Ferrari’s success today and for tomorrow.

Combined with technology, Ferrari’s main concern today is industrial ecology: the quality of the working environment both inside and outside the plant. The key elements are light, greenery, carefully designed, pleasant areas, clean and focussed aesthetics, technical clarity, limited noise levels and the highest level of air conditioning equipment to ensure air quality.

These values are coupled to a welcome inspired by the Italian quality of life that is extended to all collaborators. At Ferrari, the working environment is equipped with every possible comfort, far above any conventional standard - just like the interiors of every car that leaves the Maranello plant.

The Company’s dedication to providing a new type of service for clients and enthusiasts through our Internet activities is confirmed by the Ferrari and Maserati websites and an Owner’s Site that is specifically dedicated to Ferrari clients. They join our other much-appreciated services such as technical assistance, finance and insurance.

The “Ferrari Driver” sports driving courses are followed by an ever-increasing number of clients from all over the world. A series of new agreements and products, managed by the Licensing and Merchandising Management as well as the recent opening of the first Ferrari Shop at Bologna airport alongside the larger Maranello Ferrari Store , complete the picture of a Group that sets excellence as its mission in all its activities.

The range
World Exclusive: the Enzo Ferrari
Ferrari regularly produces a model that represents a synthesis of its technological knowledge and its sporting experience.

The Ferrari 250 LM was the first of this type of models in 1963. It was conceived by the founder especially for the owner-driver and was deliberately designed for racing. In recent years the GTO (1984), the F40 (1987) and for Ferrari’s fiftieth anniversary the F50 (1995) have been the significant milestones in this journey. Each of these limited edition cars had a specific technological message that enriched the performance of the model. Today, Luca di Montezemolo presents the Enzo Ferrari which marries four consecutive years of supremacy in the Constructor’s World Championship to the technical input and fine adjustment sensitivity of the World Champion Michael Schumacher.

Calling upon this wealth of knowledge, the aim was to develop a car as an integrated system aimed at achieving extreme performance. A system where even driver performance limits could be improved through a Formula 1 man/machine interface. The new Enzo required a special and in-depth technical collaboration with Brembo, Bridgestone, Magneti Marelli and OMR.

Brembo has been constantly developing its braking systems for Ferrari for many years. Brembo production and design capacities are demonstrated by the Brembo CCM discs made of composite ceramic material used on the new Enzo. They are exceptionally light (providing a 30% saving in weight over similar cast iron units), they provide excellent braking efficiency in all conditions and practically never wear.

The Bridgestone Corporation is a valued Ferrari supplier, providing sporting and technical know-how for its F1 tyres. For the new Enzo Ferrari, Bridgestone has specifically developed the Potenza RE050 Scuderia. A high performance tyre able to reach speeds of over 350 Km/h (218 mph), whilst maintaining road-holding limits and previously unknown driving precision.

Magneti Marelli is the leader in the production of automated manual transmission systems. A successful Formula 1 collaboration has been augmented with a partnership, established in the mid nineties to develop the electro-hydraulic gear change on the F355 Berlinetta F1. The F1 gear change concept today extends to all new Ferrari and Maserati cars. The development of the F1 gear change for the Enzo represented a most fascinating challenge, due to its closeness to the perennial challenge faced by the F1 single seater.

OMR (Officine Meccaniche Rezzatesi), has developed an exclusive pedal platform for the “Enzo Ferrari”. It features aluminium accelerator and brake pedals and has been designed to be adjustable in sixteen different positions to achieve the best driving performance and ergonomics.

The collaboration of other partners that have joined the special suppliers group involved in the project has been fundamental: BBS, Poggipolini, PPG, Scam, SKF, Sparco, TRW and Veca.

Ferrari 575M Maranello
The key elements of the new 575M Maranello can be neatly summed up in the model name. It’s new code number, 575, refers to its increased engine capacity from 5500 cc to around 5750 cc, which has resulted in increased power and torque values.

The letter “M” stands for “Modified” underlining the fact that every area of the model’s performance has been worked upon to optimise its excellence. Apart from the engine, the 575M introduces the F1-type gear change: the first time this has been used on a road going 12 cylinder Ferrari.

In terms of styling, it was decided to retain the balance and sober looks of the 550, which helped to give it the status of an “instant classic”. The principal modifications were limited to those required by the technical changes: in particular a different shape and size for the air intakes in the new front end of the car and a new treatment for the front spoiler. Finally, the light clusters have been redesigned to produce a new aesthetic look with xenon technology and headlamp washers. The wheels are also a new design. On the aerodynamic front, the final optimisation has improved efficiency, while every detail of the floor has been designed to generate downforce while reducing drag.

The objectives for the new V12 engine of the 575M Maranello were to improve both the power curve and the torque. It now has a new maximum power output of 515 hp (379 kW) at 7250 rpm and a maximum torque of 60 kgm at 5250 rpm (588,6 Nm) with an increase in mid-range torque of 1,5 kgm between 1000 and 4000 rpm when compared to the previous engine fitted to the 550 Maranello. The declared performances are of a maximum speed of 325Km/h (203 mph) and a 0 to 100Km/h acceleration of 4.2 seconds.

The transmission on the new 575M Maranello is also fitted with the electro-hydraulic "F1" control unit mounted at the rear of the car, which minimises response time and ensures a favourable operating temperature. The driver can choose between two main gear change strategies: a more sporting gear change (Sport) and one for comfort, both of which are coordinated with the suspension shock absorbers control.

Along with the manual F1 change, which Ferrari has produced as the primary use of the electro-actuated transmission, there are two further options which can be selected: automatic and low grip.

One of the factors which has the biggest impact on the car’s road-holding is the new adaptive set-up, based on a system of independently controlled damping at all four corners of the car. The system selects the ideal ride height for any condition, with two choices: Sport, which is selected for a more sporty ride, improving traction: Comfort, which gives a more comfortable ride, absorbing road bumps. The Fiorano set-up with 19-inch rims is available for super performance requirements whilst the suspension management control unit is available with specific requirements.

The braking has also been modified to cope with the increased performance of the vehicle. Furthermore, a new tyre, available as an option, has now been produced in a 19-inch size, which is suitable for more extreme performance with improved lateral and longitudinal grip. The 575M Maranello is also fitted with tyre pressure sensors, which mean that tyre pressures can be checked while the car is on the move. The interior of the 575M Maranello has been extensively revised, in order to make it more sporty and functional. In keeping with the car’s increased performance, the aim has been to improve the efficiency of how the driver controls the car. All the dials have been grouped together in one single panel in front of the driver, with the rev counter in the centre.

The 575M Maranello can also be specified to the customer’s requirements by Carrozzeria Scaglietti personalised programme. This allows them to chose their own styling, equipment and alter the functionality of the vehicle to suit their personal taste, with racing and track options, exterior changes and colours, the treatment of the interior and choice of materials and equipment.

Ferrari 456M Two tone Scaglietti
The Paris Motor Show sees Ferrari exhibiting a special two-tone 456M GT. This car demonstrates the product improvements introduced since April 2002 as standard equipment on the 456M GT/GTA and the new “Carrozzeria Scaglietti” personalised programme features.

Among the highlights of the new features are perforated disc brakes which contribute to the sporting feel of the 456M and the new two tone black-grey external paintwork designed and produced in collaboration with Pininfarina and available upon request by customers.

The standard interior features new instrument designs and many changes to the upholstery, such as new coverings for the steering wheel, door panels and compartment and an improved Hi-Fi system. An optional satellite navigational system completes the features of this exhibition model.

360 Modena Coupé
The 360 Modena introduced a new direction to Ferrari and today it is still the best selling model in the range. Created without any design restrictions, the 360 has a previously unseen line and technologically innovative features that anticipate future trends such as being built entirely in aluminium.

The result is a very light vehicle with an extremely strong chassis. These features may appear to be contrasting but they are combined on the 360 Modena thanks to technically innovative construction. Chassis, body shell and suspension are all made from weight-saving aluminium and the result is the best overall performance and handling ever achieved in a mid-engined Ferrari, along with levels of comfort as yet unmatched.

The main technical features are:
3.586cc V8 engine
Max. power 400 CV at 8.500 rpm/min.
Max. speed 295 Km/h (184 mph)
0-100 Km/h (62 mph) 4.5 seconds

360 Modena Spider
The 360 Spider is Ferrari's 20th road-going convertible and is a record breaker in two ways. Without doubt, it is the best spider Maranello has ever produced in terms of engineering, looks and performance and it is the most technologically advanced convertible available today.

Despite the car's mid-mounted V8 engine, with five valves per cylinder and 400 hp, Ferrari's engineers have found a way of creating a hood that automatically folds away completely, thus ensuring the aesthetic purity of the car. The two fairings in the bodywork to the rear of the seats, which evoke memories of classic sports cars, are matched by the two roll bars that add the final touch to providing maximum safety for the driver and passenger.

Ferrari in France
France is one of Ferrari’s oldest markets. The 197 deliveries to customers in 2001 - nearly five per cent of Ferrari’s production - were made up of 78 per cent 8-cylinder models and 22 per cent 12 cylinder engines. Charles Pozzi, the French import company, was founded by the well-known ex racing driver in the 1930s and the company has maintained the original passion and close ties with racing ever since. The company’s French clients are united in a sense of belonging to the Ferrari trademark rarely found elsewhere.

The Paris headquarters are supported by a distribution network of 16 dealers. The Lyon branch, where part of the import operation has been transferred (spare parts and after sales management), has been active since the beginning of the nineties.

Source – Ferrari Press Release

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