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Ferrari: We will never build a small car

Ferrari: We will never build a small car

Kenneth Hall January 16th, 2008 Kenneth Hall By Kenneth Hall Author January 16th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 Despite rumors to the contrary, Ferrari has once again stated that it will never build a small car. In a published interview, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said that the company would focus on cars already within the model philosophy. More specifically, he stated that there would be no small car because it would mean a Ferrari with “less technology.” Another topic Montezemolo touched upon in his interview with Auto Motor Und Sport magazine was the environment. Mainstream carmakers aren't the only ones who take environmental issues seriously. Many sports car manufacturers are also interested in improving their mileage figures, partly because politicians may use them to set an example for everyone else with tax increases or even trying to force them out of business. The Italian company aims to reduce fuel consumption by 30-40% over the next five years by implementing a number of changes. The recent F430 Spider Bio Fuel concept car seen at the Detroit Auto Show gives us a clue about one of them: biofuels. But the real improvement in efficiency will come from lightweight technologies such as carbon fiber and aluminum. The relaxed financial situation of Ferrari makes this huge investment possible. Total income grew 15% in 2007 up to €1.55b, and profits rose by 25% to €230m. Car sales also increased to 6,400 units, mainly due to the increase in million-and billion-aires in emerging markets like the Middle East and South Asia. This is causing a side effect: long waiting lists force clients go for other marques. Therefore, Ferrari will cut waiting lists to less than 18 months by increasing production to 8,000 units in three years.
Ferrari: We will never build a small car

Ferrari: We will never build a small car

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Despite rumors to the contrary, Ferrari has once again stated that it will never build a small car. In a published interview, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said that the company would focus on cars already within the model philosophy. More specifically, he stated that there would be no small car because it would mean a Ferrari with “less technology.”

Another topic Montezemolo touched upon in his interview with Auto Motor Und Sport magazine was the environment. Mainstream carmakers aren't the only ones who take environmental issues seriously. Many sports car manufacturers are also interested in improving their mileage figures, partly because politicians may use them to set an example for everyone else with tax increases or even trying to force them out of business. The Italian company aims to reduce fuel consumption by 30-40% over the next five years by implementing a number of changes. The recent F430 Spider Bio Fuel concept car seen at the Detroit Auto Show gives us a clue about one of them: biofuels. But the real improvement in efficiency will come from lightweight technologies such as carbon fiber and aluminum.

The relaxed financial situation of Ferrari makes this huge investment possible. Total income grew 15% in 2007 up to €1.55b, and profits rose by 25% to €230m. Car sales also increased to 6,400 units, mainly due to the increase in million-and billion-aires in emerging markets like the Middle East and South Asia. This is causing a side effect: long waiting lists force clients go for other marques. Therefore, Ferrari will cut waiting lists to less than 18 months by increasing production to 8,000 units in three years.

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Comments (4 total)

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  1. By Gus #1, Posted: 1/16/2008

    I agree, we should all focus on Ferrari as the big polluter and destroyer of our environmnetal world, after all, there are so many of them clogging out freeways!

  2. By miza #2, Posted: 1/16/2008

    Nor will they ever build a reliable one either.

  3. By chris #3, Posted: 1/16/2008

    agreement with both previous statements.

    however gus, ferrari could stand to make a lot of money from liscencing a good eco tech. perhaps a very high efficiency electric hybrid system?

    its kind of a shame; i dont like any ferraris.. they never quite fit what i could see myself buying. I could see myself buying a lotus, if they didnt all look like poo. Just cause a car is small doesnt mean it has to have less tech. ferrari; you dont have to make a big light car with all exotic construction. you can charge the same amount for a smaller car, by putting more attention into a smaller car.

    i dont think everyone agrees with me on this but id rather spend 25k on a small car than a big car, as i've done in the past. I'd also rather spend larger sums of money in smaller cars too. small cars dont need to be cheap.

  4. By bambam #4, Posted: 1/16/2008

    I agree with Chris. Small cars are even harder to get the performance,every technology is needed to match the bigger one. So there should be more technology in Smaller ones not less.
    if they are going to match todays big guns. Ferrari is just afraid to try something new. Every strategy on the circuit is the same year by year and so is their thinking that is because they only
    know one thing and thats their only knowledge.
    LOL buy Fiat 500 or Lamborghini

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