^^ Aren't you better off with a RHD F12VS than a Laf for enjoying in the streets of UK - just asking
As it turns out you are right. To acquire the LF would have meant selling the LM, so the VS/GTO and LM together in the garage is just about as good as it gets, for me.
I heard something slightly different in respect of SA allocations but your info "roughly" ties in with what I have heard.
Was also told Pebble Beach preview, was invited but have a charity event that weekend elsewhere, might take a quick day trip to see it but not 100%
Many luxury brands could see a big short term spike in revenue if they opened the flood gates. But after the spike would come a painful long slide in price points which would be extremely costly. They're all it. Special edition watches, bags, you name it. From IWC to Dior and everyone in between. The luxury brands know that too few means big returns down the line. It's a fact of life people always want more the things they can't have. This creates a feeding frenzy which generates huge amounts of positive brand equity. Look at this forum for example, for Ferrari it's media they couldn't even buy. I visited Maranello on Saturday as I was driving from Portofino to Bologna and a quick detour was a no brainer (in my Speciale). I was shocked at the many coach loads of international tourists - cars of all shapes and sizes crammed into parking spaces with people visiting the factory and museum. People who may never come close to owning a new Ferrari car but love the brand and feel a million dollars with something special purchased from the Ferrari store opposite the main gates. I know it's a huge brand, but this is off the scale huge. My point is Ferrari is a pyramid of sales opportunities. From the elite who can afford to run an FXX in their spare time down to a 10 year old smiling his or her head off because dad bought them a Ferrari cap (a cap he or she might cherish the rest of their life). The sales pyramid IMO has a foundation based on two vital elements. The first is unquestionable product excellence, without incredible cars, Ferrari would fail quickly. The second is the hype of the brand. There is a third which is motor racing success but Ferrari can now go for several years without success and still remain a cornerstone of F1. Ferrari - I believe - will decide how many F12 VS can they make while ensuring plenty people go away disappointed - because this creates the hype Ferrari want, the magic which cascades down from the small elite at the top to the vast numbers below who love the brand. And a few of those youngsters will one day grow up to be proud owners. As for disappointed punters, Ferrari know if the next LE is equally great, the punters will be back for more
Sorry to burst the bubble, but Russian oligarchs and Chinese CEOs worth billions and millions of dollars respectively, won't be bothered by such trivial matters. Unless of course they have pissed off Putin of the Communist Party... lol
There is a reason that the place was crammed on Saturday and also that people were able to "visit" the factory, GES, Fiorano etc on a Saturday. It was the annual Family Day, where employees can bring their close ones to show where they work. This is also what makes Ferrari so special
Whilst I could not make my viewing at the factory today, an e mail has just dropped in my inbox from Ferrari telling me The New Ferrari Is Coming on July 28th. Does anyone know if that is an official release for this car or maybe the 488 Spider?
Maybe that's a reference to when they will file their IPO prospectus? That has been promised "any day now" by Marchionne....
Two new, I think, small nuggets of info. Redline has been increased to 9,000 courtesy of some piston nano coating and the sound track is apparently epic.
I can confirm that this info is correct as it was confirmed to me yesterday. 9,000 rpm on a V12 that will produce an epic soundtrack. Price and production numbers remain a big secret. Demand exceeds supply drastically. From what I hear production numbers may be kept on the low side but price on the high side. That will leave a lot of people without a car. Dealers are scratching their head right now. This seems to be the way it will go with V12's going forward in general. Less units but higher prices making the V12 cars more exclusive going forward. This will continue to be interesting. PS: some cars are already in build. They are on the production line but covered up.
I think the LaF redlines at 9000 already. But that is tuned for higher RPM while the electric fills in low RPM torque. A 9000 RPM 6.3L V12 non hybrid that is actually usable on the road will be amazing indeed!