Ferrari: Speed, Luxury and Wealth

The distinguishable roar of a red Ferrari has always been a symbol of high performance and Ferrari’s racing heritage. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, Ferrari only started making street-legal production vehicles almost 20 years later. The original company was started to produce racing cars, talented drivers and give sponsorship for races. Ferrari cars and drivers have a history of producing results in Formula One and other motor sport categories.

Since the Formula One World Championship started in 1950, Ferrari has been the only team to compete each and every year. Success has not been elusive for Ferrari. Out of 776 Grand Prix events where Ferrari cars have been entered, Ferrari cars have achieved 203 pole positions, 218 fastest laps, 622 podium finishes and an astounding 209 victories. That is quite a racing pedigree.

The first cars produced for the general public were primarily sold to help finance all the Ferrari racing activities. Things changed following the bombing of the Ferrari factory in 1944 by allied forces during World War II. When Ferrari rebuilt the factory at Maranello, it included equipment for road car production. Once Ferrari started producing road cars, they became well known for their speed, performance and of course, racing heritage. The brand has since become a symbol of speed, luxury and wealth.

History of Ferrari

Ferrari 125 S

The company Scuderia Ferrari was founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929 as a racing team to develop racing cars and sponsor drivers for racing events. At the start, Scuderia Ferrari was successful using Alfa Romeo cars and amateur drivers. It wasn’t until 1940 that the first racing car was developed, the Tipo 815 (debuted as the 1940 Mille Miglia). Due to the war, the car received little competition.

The Ferrari factory at Maranello was bombed by the Allies in 1944 and was rebuilt in 1946. The new factory was retooled including a works for road car production. Ferrari produced its first road car shortly thereafter, the 1947 125 S, powered by a 1.5 liter V12 engine. Ferrari followed this model up with the introduction of the Ferrari 166 Inter in 1949 which was positioned for the grand touring market. Ferrari reluctantly built and sold these cars to help fund his racing operations.

Many of the early Ferrari cars had bodywork by coach builders like Paninfarina, Zagato and Bertone. In 1962 Ferrari produced their first supercar, the 250 GTO, which led to many others through the years. The front engined 250, 330 and 365 were introduced in the 1960′s. The first mid-engine Ferrari, The Dino, was first produced in 1968 and was followed up by the 208, 308 and 328 produced from 1975 to 1989. The 2 + 2 Ferrari Mondial was produced from 1980 to 1993 and was one of the most successful Ferrari models of its time.

Ferrari Testarossa

In 1985 Ferrari came out with the front wheel drive Ferrari 288 GTO which produced 400 hp from its twin turbo V8 engine. The last Ferrari launched before the death of Enzo Ferrari was the Ferrari F40 which stands as one of the most famous supercars ever produced. The beautiful and elegant car was specially designed to reduce drag, lift and the frontal area of the car. It also came with a V8 engine that produced 478 hp and 426 lb-ft of torque, becoming the first production car to exceed 200 mph. The V12 mid-engine Ferrari Testarosa was introduced in 1984, eventually becoming one of the top selling Ferraris of all-time with over 10,000 sold.

In 1988 Fiat increased their stake in Ferrari to 85%, which it still holds to this day. In honor of Enzo Ferrari, the company produced the Ferrari Enzo in 2002. The Enzo was a dream car inspired by Ferrari’s racing technology with its V12 engine, aluminum and carbon fiber chassis, active suspension system and traction control system. The Enzo was stylish and had a well cut shape which made it look like a Formula 1 car even at pedestrian city speeds.

Milestones and Innovations

Ferrari 250 GTO

Ferrari holds almost every Formula 1 racing record including 15 World Driver’s Championships.
Ferrari dominated the first nine years of the World Sportscar Championships that started in 1953, winning seven of nine times.
In 1987, Ferrari produced the F40 which was the first street-legal production car able to exceed 200 mph.
Ferrari was one of the first automobile manufacturers to incorporate steering wheel mounted gearshift paddles which were previously used only in Formula 1 racing cars.
Ferrari invented the patented 4RM system which allows 4-wheel drive to be on demand or only when driving conditions demand it, allowing a light efficient drive in normal driving conditions.
In 2008, a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO was sold at auction for what was then a world record $11 million.

Ferrari 458 Italia

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a two-seater powered by a 4.5 liter V8 engine that produces 562 hp at 9,000 rpm and 398 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm. It has a double wishbone suspension and 7-speed gearbox for handling and acceleration that is improved from its predecessors. The 458 Italia is able to accelerate from 0-100 km/hr (62 mph) in only 3.3 seconds and has a top speed of 325 km/hr (202 mph). At 127 PS/L, the Ferrari 458 set a record for the highest specific output per liter for a naturally aspired piston petrol engine in a production car.

Ferrari F12 berlinetta

Ferrari F12berlinetta

The Ferrari F12 berlinetta has a beautiful body designed by Ferrari’s Styling Centre in collaboration with Pininfarina that hides its V12 engine well. The F12 berlinetta is a highly capable car able to accelerate from 0-100 km/hr (62 mph) in only 3.1 seconds and has a top speed of over 340 km/hr (210 mph). The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission semi-automatic gearbox is operated by the driver using paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. The F12berlinetta’s 6.3 liter V12 engine won the 2013 International Engine of the Year Awards in the Best Performance and Best Engine above 4.0 liters categories.

Ferrari California T

The Ferrari California T is a grand touring sports car with two doors and a 2 + 2 seating configuration. The California represents a new fourth model range for the company. It is powered by a 480 hp V8 engine and represents a lot of firsts for Ferrari. It is the first front engined V8 Ferrari, the first to feature a 7-speed dual clutch transmission, the first with a folding metal roof, the first with multi-link rear suspension, the first with direct fuel injection and the first to receive the Handling Speciale Package. It is also one of the most aerodynamic Ferraris ever made with a drag coefficient of only 0.32.

Ferrari FF

The Ferrari FF is Ferrari’s first four-wheel drive grand touring model with seats for four people. It can reach speeds in excess of 335 km/hr (208 mph) and zoom 0-100 km/hr (62 mph) in just 3.7 seconds, making it one of the fastest 4-seaters in production. The V12 engine produces 651 hp and 504 lb-ft of torque, giving the car plenty of power. The Ferrari FF also includes Ferrari’s patented 4RM four-wheel drive on demand system that allows the car to revert to two-wheel drive in less demanding driving situations.

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