Ferrari Headquarters Tour | Test Drive Purosangue and Answer Your Most-concerned Questions!

Galaxy Paris wrote a column · Jun 26, 2023 16:12

After over three years, Ferrari invited Chinese customers to its Italian headquarters for the first time. They showed high sincerity, starting from the visa stage; Ferrari headquarters assisted extremely well, personally contacted the Italian Embassy in China to issue the visa within three days, and then opened the Fiorano track for a test drive to the public for the first time.

Ferrari Headquarters Tour | Test Drive Purosangue and Answer Your Most-concerned Questions!

On the first day of the event, we test-drove Ferrari's first SUV, Purosangue, which was arranged on the road and mountain roads and lasted for 1.5 hours. Compared with ordinary SUVs, the Purosangue is equipped with a V12 engine and is not only an SUV but also a very particular vehicle. The steering angle is accurate, the dynamic performance is smooth and accessible, and the vibration and bouncing sensation are very soft, in line with the advertised settings. The instructor kept emphasizing during the test drive that this was not just an SUV. It was an FUV.

We also visited Ferrari's production plant, but photography was prohibited throughout. However, we can still share some insights with you.

In 2022, Ferrari has produced more than 3000 cars in total. The factory in Modena has 35 workstations, and each workstation can make seven cars per day. The whole factory can produce 45 cars per day. I was lucky enough to witness the production process of the Ferrari Daytona SP3, which is entirely handcrafted, with all materials being predominantly lightweight and made of carbon fiber. Female workers make the handmade leather inside the car. There are 5000 employees in the whole Ferrari factory, 70% of them are men, and most of the employees are Italian. The staff told me that since they are all handmade, the production volume of Ferraris is minimal, and the production cycle is very long. Therefore, the market claims that VIPs can jump the queue to buy is false (I don't believe it). Hahaha

I also learned that Ferrari offers a private customization service called "Tailor Made" to meet the needs of car owners to tailor their cars. Owners can communicate one-on-one with the design engineers at Ferrari headquarters to ensure that the elements they want fit perfectly with Ferrari's founding spirit and glorious history. Finally, I also had the opportunity to visit the F1 production workshop. Every F1 car returns to the Modena factory before and after the race. It takes 3-5 days to be assembled and disassembled for data comparison to be fully prepared for each year's F1 competition. As for why they did not take the championship, the staff is also to me around half a day or boast their own home, lol.

Then also to answer Mooers's concern:

Q： I've always wondered how Ferrari balances their commitment to luxury and performance. It seems like these two aspects of the brand could be at odds sometimes. Could you ask about how Ferrari manages to balance these priorities?

A： They need to balance their promises between luxury and performance. These two aspects of the brand may sometimes conflict, as luxury and performance have different needs and trade-offs in some parts. However, Ferrari always strives to find this balance to meet their customers' expectations and maintain their brand values. For Ferrari, performance is one of their core values. They pursue technological innovation and driving pleasure and deliver superior performance through continuous car design and engineering advances. Ferrari's expertise in racing technology also provides a unique performance edge to its road vehicles.

They focus on light, power output, suspension, and aerodynamic design to ensure their cars achieve optimum performance. However, Ferrari also knows their customers' need for luxury and comfort. Their customers are usually affluent and highly discerning individuals who expect luxury and comfort when driving a Ferrari.

Therefore, Ferrari strives to provide high-quality materials, customization options, and comfort features in terms of interior design and functionality to meet their customers' expectations of luxury. For example, I mentioned above the personalization "Tailor Made" to meet the owner's needs for customization. Owners can work one-on-one with design engineers at Ferrari headquarters to ensure that the elements they want fit perfectly with Ferrari's founding spirit and illustrious history.

In short, Ferrari strives to balance the promise of luxury and performance by constantly pursuing technological innovation, personalization, and attention to customer needs. They put performance at the core while offering luxury and comfort in terms of interior design and customization options to meet the needs of their customers.

Q: I'm dying to know: What's the most exciting thing you're looking forward to seeing or experiencing at the Esperienza Ferrari event? Is there anything you're particularly curious about?

A： The most surprising thing to me was that the test drive was to the Italian roads, as at first, I thought it was on a track. Although an instructor was sitting on the sidelines, he wouldn't do any other intervention and let you fully engage in the joy of driving. The track test drive model is 296GTB, and Ferrari's coach is a Formula 1 driver's coach; test drive process will give us some very professional driving skills and will guide us under the training standards of racing drivers; the day just happened to be the 2023 Le Mans 24 hours race, is the Ferrari after 58 years again won the Le Mans championship, the coach is interesting to let us think of themselves as a racing driver. Hahaha.

Q: Wow, an invitation to the Esperienza Ferrari event sounds like a dream come true! Can you ask about the company's plans for electric or hybrid vehicles in the future? I'm curious if they plan to adapt to changing emissions regulations.

A: The staff said Ferrari is not fully transformed into an electrified plane or the primary fuel car now. It is estimated that the first EV will come out after 2025. The current model 296GTB for sale is a plug-in hybrid sports car.

Also, I heard from my peers that the Modena factory had been completely upgraded and is a bit more "luxurious" than it was three years ago. Ferrari's restaurant has also become a Michelin restaurant.

Overall, I was delighted with this Ferrari trip; regardless of the accommodation, meals, or test drive activities, it was full of sincerity (no speed limit on the road is a great experience).