The first decade of the 20th century saw the emergence of a new brand that was producing high-performance cars at an affordable prices. This brand was none other than Ferrari and its cars were selling like hotcakes.
The company was established by Enzo Ferrari in 1929 and since then it has become one of the most popular car brands in the country.
How Was Ferrari Formed?
The story began in 1929 with the establishment of Scuderia Serenissima by Enzo. This is the same year that the first car bearing the Ferrari name was produced. The founder of the company, Enzo Ferrari, was a racing driver and a passionate automobile enthusiast.
He wanted to start a car company that would produce high performance vehicles with affordable prices. This was achieved with the introduction of his new brand, Ferrari. The company was established with the objective of producing high performance cars that would be affordable for the common man. After a series of successful racing seasons, a new car bearing the Ferrari name was introduced.
This car was named as 612 Scaglietti, and it had a V12 engine. However, the company was unable to make profits from the venture, and in 1948, the company was acquired by Alberto Ascari. After Ascari, the company was taken over by the Fiat company and it was renamed as Fiat S.p.A.
A Brief History of Ferrari
The first Ferrari car was made in the year 1947, and this was a Ferrari 120 S. The 120 S was powered by a 60-degree V12 engine and had a top speed of 160 kmph. By the end of the decade, a new model bearing the name of 166 Inter was introduced.
This car was powered by a 2.6-liter V12 engine which helped it to reach a top speed of 280 km/h. The early eighties saw the launch of the 308 GTB and the Berlinetta Boxer. These cars were able to reach a top speed of 330 kmph and had a power of 290 hp. The current and latest model of the Ferrari is the 888 GTB.
Maranello Factory and Test Track
Ferrari cars are produced at the company’s plant in Maranello, Italy. The company has a manufacturing plant with a land area of 14,700 square meters. The plant was opened for business in 1985, and the production of the latest models of Ferrari started from this facility. The plant is divided into two distinct sections – one for the production of cars and the other for the production of engines.
The production of Ferrari cars is done in the manufacturing unit named the Engine Building Unit. The engine of a Ferrari car is manufactured in this section and then sent to the manufacturing unit for final assembly. The finished cars are tested on the Fiorano race track which is owned by Ferrari. The track has two sections – one for testing Ferraris and the other for testing other car brands. Apart from this, the Fiorano race track is also used for many motorsports events.
F12 Berlinetta and F144 Berlinetta
F12 Berlinetta – The F12 Berlinetta is a high-performance car that was launched in the year 2013. It is a 4-seater car and has a top speed of over 350 kmph. The car is powered by a 6.2-litre V12 engine that can produce 680 hp and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The car has a price tag of $1.15 million. F144 Berlinetta – The F144 Berlinetta is a 2-seater sports car that was introduced in the year 2015. This car is powered by a 6.5-liter V12 engine and also has an 8-speed automatic transmission. The car has a top speed of 344 km/h and a price tag of $2.5 million.
Upcoming Ferrari Models
Ferrari has released a number of new models in the recent years. Some of the most popular models are discussed below.
- FXX K – This is a high-performance racing car that is an upgraded version of the FXX. It has a 6.3-liter V12 engine and can produce 1,050 hp. The car is expected to be launched in 2017.
- GTC4 Lusso – This is the luxury version of the 488 GTB and is expected to be launched in 2017. It is expected to have a price tag of $255,000.
- GTC4 Taillight – This is the second variant of the GTC4 and is expected to be launched in 2018. It is expected to have a price tag of $275,000.
- FF – This is a new concept car that is powered by a hybrid engine. It is expected to have a top speed of over 300 km/h and also has a price tag of $3.5 million.
- FF REPLICA – This is a replica of the concept car and is expected to have a price tag of $3.5 million.
Conclusion
Ferrari is one of the most iconic and popular car brands in the world. It has been producing high-performance sports cars since the first decade of the 20th century. The company is based out of Italy and has a long-standing partnership with the Ferrari race team. However, the brand has recently been under a lot of criticism for its aggressive marketing strategies. So if you want to buy a high-performance and luxury sports car, consider buying a Ferrari model in the near future.
