Ferrari threatens journalists with $69,000 fine

It will be interesting to see if any info gets leaked prior to the expiration of the embargo:

Ferrari threatens journalists with $69 000 fine for breaking 'embargo' - MSN Autos

 

The scary part is not the 70k fine, but the fact that Ferrari will never invite you again to a press event.

Makes me wonder what would happen if one of the lucky few who received their LaFerrari would call, let's say, Chris Harris, to review the car.
Is their any embargo on that kind of footage ?

 

I am convinced that any owner signed or agreed not to say or publish any opinions on their cars, certainly until the 30th. That is the only explanation for the sound of silence.

 

You know what the trick to this whole embargo thing is?

Do as the company wishes and hold the stories until the agreed upon time.

Hey! That was easy!

 

Can't imagine many owners, after having paid $1 million plus for a car, will say it sucks.

 

At least not until they've sold it -- and of course Ferrari places limitations on their ability to do that as well. Quite a racket they've got going over there in Maranello.

>8^)
ER

 

Always taking jabs or slamming Ferrari I see. A shame considering how few great sports/super car manufactures there are in the world. I guess it's too complicated to be able to like and respect more than one manufacture at a time.

 

There are a lot of Ferraris that I quite enjoy and I would love to respect the manufacturer. Lately I have not been impressed with their design direction and quite frankly I just don't like how Ferrari plays industry bully. A number of their former customers have also made a similar determination that it isn't worth it to own a Ferrari and deal with their nonsense. The great thing today is there are other good choices.

If you think it is acceptable that Ferrari can dictate what you do with their products after you purchase them then by all means, continue to support them with your money and/or enthusiasm.

>8^)
ER

 

I don't think it is all that wrong to take measures to prevent the car becoming an object of investment, which is exactly what any limited edition Ferrari will become if the possibilities of re-selling aren't contractually regulated.

 

Yes, agreed it's great that there are other choices and it's amazing time to see three such incredible super cars that will appeal to different customers. It's splitting hairs between these three incredible cars and it's an awesome time, to have such competition at such a high level. Meaningless in the real world to most customers but fun none the less to see the competition.

Of COURSE it's acceptable for Ferrari to dictate when the reviews are released. Any business owner, who launches products, knows the tremendous amount of money and effort to launching a product successfully and they deserve the rights on how any information is released. There's so much planning in a product launch and nothing worse then some idiot reviewer spilling the beans.

There's a reason why the desire to own a Ferrari for so many is much higher than any other car brand and part of that is how they run their business.

Personally, I'm simply more about the product, without the marketing but I get the need for the above, especially for such a one of a kind brand like Ferrari.

 

Why frequent a Ferrari forum if you don't support them and take issue with almost every little thing that the company does? That would be like me spending all of my time on a Subaru forum continually making snide remarks and taking digs at the company at every opportunity simply because I prefer Mitsubishi's. Bizarre.

Meanwhile, you keep telling us how impressed we should be by a company that has failed to reach production targets for every single product they have released to date, has to give massive discounts before new customers will even consider buying a car from, replaced its main model 18 months ahead of schedule due to dismal sales - not to mention the vast majority of motoring publications concluding that their car is almost entirely inferior when compared to the very car that it was designed to beat.

I know which company would get my money.

Back on topic - Ferrari put an embargo in place to ensure that no journalists or publications would leak reviews and information earlier than agreed. If McLaren had any sense and did the same for their recent 650S release then they would have avoided all of the embarrassment caused by one publication jumping the gun, much to McLarens dismay. The morons they have working in McLaren PR should take note and follow Ferrari's example in future.

 

You don't necessarily deserve an explanation, but since you've attempted to pigeon hole me with your response:

For the record I like many Ferraris - there are even some Ferrari's that I very much love. I have couple of shelves full of diecast Ferraris in my collection; I have Ferrari posters, Ferrari books, even a Scuderia Ferrari flag I've had since the late 1990s that my parent brought back for me on a trip to Italy.

I grew up with the modern Testarossa, 348, 355, F40 and F50 as some of my favorite cars. For a number of years I carried a laminated ad from the Dupont Registry of a 348ts in Blue Medio Metallic with a grey leather interior that was offered by Lake Forest Sports Cars in my wallet - it was my dream car. Later I developed a passion for a lot of their older stuff as well - the 250 LM is the ultimate for me. To suggest I am not a fan of the brand or their products is ridiculous and to suggest my participating in a Ferrari forum is "Bizarre" is (to borrow your word) bizarre.

Additionally, if McLaren had never revived their road car brand with new products I'd still have the same issues with Ferrari's current product lineup and the actions of the company. So despite your incorrect assumptions, my comments aren't driven by preference for another brand, but simply a desire to see Ferrari doing things differently.

Back on topic: Media embargoes are archaic and unreasonable no matter who attempts to employ them. This is the digital age - media and information can and should move at the speed of light.

>8^)
ER

 

Modena, you are not right in the head.

 

So you liked Ferraris from ~20 years ago and older and yet you are seldom seen discussing them? The vast majority of your posts over the last couple of years have been in the Super Ferrari section and consist of your never-ending praise for the P1 and whenever you feel the need to mention the LaFerrari (lol) it's usually in a negative manner. Constant jabs at Ferrari whether it's about how they operate, making claims that their cars are inferior to McLarens based solely on your bias for the brand and consistently showing nothing but disdain for Ferrari in general. It's getting old.

This is just ridiculous. If you were the director of a company that was about to release a major new product into a huge market I think you'd be singing a different tune.

 

Just what tune is Ferrari singing with their spring press junket as the LaFerrari is already sold out. They don't have to spend a single Euro to currying favour with journalists in an effort to sell their major new product. Maybe they just want to brag about how sharp they are compared to those other guys and girls...

 

John, you're getting old. GFY.

>8^)
ER

 

BEST post that's been put up here in a while. +100%.

 

As a full time life-long member of the media, I completely disagree with your last few sentences.
Media embargos have a very real reason. One being fairness. If you don't release a product to the whole media at the same time you are showing favoritism and ultimately implying a desire for quid pro quo. Releasing the info at the same time is the only fair way.

The biggest problem with the speed of light journalism is that it is often the wrong news that is disseminated. We have an obligation to check facts and get informed opinions. Look at situations like the Boston bombing and how wrong people are identified.
If you want there to be no embargo , everyone will be in such a rush to get it out first there will be no attempt to understand . Manufacturers might as well just skip the media outlets all together and set up our own website built with proprietary software that cannot be downloaded and then people will have to do screen grabs to put out the news or everyone will have to go directly to Ferrari and McLaren's overly hyped websites to find out anything.

The purpose of the legitimate press is to inform the public of the real story without becoming a tool for those that would use us to spread their BS message .

The public should know and understand to take what the manufacturers say with a grain of salt. Good magazines have always tested the results for themselves.

 

Did I touch a nerve fanboy?

 

Ferrari don't need magazine reviews to help them sell cars. Up until a few weeks ago most of us believed that Ferrari would not permit the journalists to test the LF at all. The decision by Ferrari to give journalists a chance to drive the LF is somewhat surprising but clearly part of a bigger PR plan.

 

A bigger PR plan? Do Ferrari NEED a bigger PR plan Modena?
You say they dont need magazine reviews to help sell cars. No? So when the new generation Ferraris begin to lose and set slower lap time against the competition how do you think they will continue to uphold the reputation for the world best sport car manufacture? By selling more roller coaster rides at Ferrariland in Abu Dhabi or more Ferrari perfume and pijamas?
It appear Ferrari has maked major f.u. by not making the sindicate embargo release date correct for them the FIRST time. They decide to change it and so now it will be really old news when all magazines publish story. This is major PR disaster for Ferrari. They are not confident and the pressure to make Laferrari have mystique has maked a big backfire. And now they have to make financial threat to warn journalists because some of the 7 lucky journalists maybe not show respect for there request? Why Modena is this so if like you say, they do not need magazine reviews to help them sell cars? Well it is because they are worry for the future. They are aware they are in a spotlight and they can for no more special tune test car verso client car. The pressure is turn on now and the competition is hungry and capable. Ferrari now remind me of last glorious days of Nokia and McLaren now remind me of revolutionary iPhone. It is sad for me to see the King to use desperation manouevers for survival. You are sad also Modena?

 

There isn't a single nerve in my body you could touch. Don't be disappointed now.

>8^)
ER

 

we have all been waiting to see your amazing collection. where is it? don't go off topic. we want to see it!

 

"McLaren have used hybrid technology to liven up a super car today. Porsche have used hybrid technology to save the super car for tomorrow. This is an important car." - Richard Hammond.

Which car is the revolutionary iphone again?

 

Ahh yes, because we always look to the boys from Top Gear for meaningful automotive journalism.

>8^)
ER