458 "Scuderia" confirmed for 2013 - Spider only 2011

Posted on Italiaspeed.com today:

Ferrari's product plan for the next five years has been laid bare during the Fiat Group Investor Day presentation today in Turin and it is set to include replacements for both the 599 GTB Fiorano and 612 Scaglietti as well as a brand-new range-topping Enzo supercar, with all three being set to be launched by 2012.

Ferrari believes it is essential to have four products in four key market segments which it differentiates between "gran turismo" (versatility) and "sports car" (extreme performance) offerings above and below the 230,000 euros barrier, with the arrival of the instantly-successful California last year opening up the fourth of these segments to the Maranello brand. In the investor presentation slides Ferrari says it plans to: "Increase product differentiation in order to target a wider customer base by stretching further trade off between versatility and extreme performance."

The slides then reveal the forthcoming products within the 2010-2014 scope of the plan. During the second half of that year the 458 Italia's range will be bolstered by the addition of a Spider version, which will fit into the line-up to replace the discontinued F430 Spider (and its final edition, the Scuderia Spider 16M) and will be expected to match or outsell the coupé version launched last year.

Ferrari plans to "ensure a sustainable product life cycle of four years for all new models followed by M [facelift] versions lasting another four years." It will also "keep launching a new model every year to sustain turnover and reinforce [the] brand."

Another key strategy will be the continuation of limited-edition numbers of extreme versions of production models, an area that has proved very fruitful in recent years with niche sports cars such as the 430 Scuderia, Scuderia Spider 16M, 360 Challenge Stradale and, just this month, the 599 GTO, all proving to be instant hits with buyers. Ferrari says it will "selectively exploit special series to target high end customers." It then dramatically adds that a brand-new Enzo will arrive in 2012, a decade after the last version raised the supercar bar, while an extreme "Scuderia" version of the 458 Italia is pencilled in for 2013 by which time the mid-V8-engined model will be halfway through its proposed lifecycle.
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Knarley..!

 

It will have the exact opposite effect, diluting the brand as the relentless march of the marketing machine tramples the essence of Ferrari under foot in its unquenchable thirst for profit, stretching the brand's integrity to breaking point. Ferrari bathrobe anyone?

 

Not sure I agree that regular new model launches will dilute the brand. Should keep showroom traffic up and there seems to be another new Porsche every other month (even if it is yet another iteration of the 911) and that does them no harm.

At the end of the day Ferrari is a buisness and it needs to make money. As I have said on other threads I don't like the Ferrari branded products either but if it means Ferrari can sustain a 4/5 diverse product range with an output of less than 10,000 units a year I can live with it.

 

Do you have any idea of the last 10 years worth of Ferrari product launches before making a statement like that?? These forthcoming launches are natural product updates or replacements not an expansion of model lines.

1999 360 Modena
2000 360 spider
2001 575
2003 360 Challenge Stradale
2004 612
2005 430 & 575 Superamerica
2006 599
2007 430 Scuderia launched for 08 model year
2008 California launched for 09 model year
2009 458 Italia launched for '10 model year
2010 599 GTO

 

I find this statement amusing.

First, we complain and moan that Ferrari products get long in the tooth comparied to their competitors.

Next, we complain that they are too expensive because of that little thing called "evil profits" (without which they would have folded in the 80's).

Next, we complain that they make so many cars there is no exclusitivity.

Next, we complain that the prices are too high to be affordable to all but a few.

Next, we complain they make too many cars so the resale value drops.

Next, we complain that waiting lists are too long.

Next, we complain that dealers mark up the MSRP because of high demand because the product is so great.


Economics... it's a wonderful science.

 

Bob as always you cannot please everybody.

 

I've never complained about any of that. But what is bothersome is when 'Fiat Group' present 'Product Positioning' diagrams for 'Fiat Group Investor Days' and talk about "opening up the fourth of these segments to the Maranello brand" and "reinforcing the brand" and the word 'brand' keeps cropping up with monotonous regularity. That's when you know the bean counters are driving Ferrari rather than the engineers and artisans. And when the engineers and artisans start working for the accountants rather than the accountants working for the engineers and artisans you know something of the spirit of Ferrari has long since departed. I'm surprised the phrase 'brand equity' wasn't used somewhere in that piece...

 

From a commercial point of view, no harm at all. But it's been a long time since you could get a chill down your spine just by being in the presence of a Porsche, despite the fact that they're truly excellent cars.

 

QFT, Economics in general is nothing more than emotions. Humans are not the kind that are very good with emotions

 

yes... you don't get a chill down your spine just by being in the presence of a Porsche as the brand lack emotional attributes. So everything comes back to the brand: when you buy a Ferrari, you buy more than a list of specs, you buy emotions, a dream, identification with values:
Believe me, if you can say "you don't buy a car... you buy a Ferrari"... it is because a branding manager did a good job, not only because of engineers! do you say "you don't buy a Porsche, you buy a Ferrari".
Do you really believe that Ferrari being in F1 makes your 458 a much better road car? what it is for sure making is help building a unique halo to the brand. It makes you smiling when you enter your garage after work and see your Ferrari, even if don't have time to drive it. With a Porsche in my garage? I just see a fast car....

I personally admire what their marketing dpt is doing:
- the way they make you feel special when you enter the "Ferrari family" at the acquisition of your first car
- Being able to milk the brand with their licensing revenue (half of Ferrari business today and a much bigger portion of the profit!) and at the same time maintaining the unique brand image is tough.
Without your neighbor buying Ferrari t-shirts, Ferrari would probably already be out of business...

 

Very interesting

 

I'm lost for words at a statement like that.

 

I have no problems with Ferrari making money. Even lots of money.

It means they can keep going and keep investing in new products. And, anyone who can create a product that causes a buyer to pay more for it than his competitors is simply --- doing a good job.

 

Oh, I've no problem with making money. It's one of my favourite pastimes. I don't think selling your soul is a good way to do it, though.

 

I agree with that but I still think if you can make a better mousetrap, you should be rewarded with extra cash and not chastized for doing it.

 

Oh the mousetrap is not in question. Not even for one second. But shouldn't anyone with a real passion for Ferrari and everything that evocative name stands for be just a little embarrassed by, say, the Challenge Stradale skateboard, or 180 Euros for a fake Ferrari ignition key? The shadow of the brand manager looms large over Ferrari these days.

 

You bring up some interesting points with your posts in this thread and to an extent I agree but lets not forget that products are there to boost brand presence and lets be honest the products are not as crass now as they were a few years ago. Lets also not forget to many Ferrari is a dream and if one cant afford a car the best way of supporting the brand is to buy its mechandise.

When I put on my Ferrari gear I feel proud of the name and brand and know that in my small way I am supporting that dream while I work everyday to perhaps oneday be ableto buy my own Ferrari.

 

Regarding the products, well it look all positive to me. Porsche makes over 50 000 cars a year and Ferrari makes 7000 odd, there is no way the two can be compared. Park a 3.8 liter MY2010 GT3 next to a Scud and most people look at the Ferrari, compare the two on the track and, well lets leave that for another day but as they say "it wasnt pretty".

In short there is a lot to look forward to over the next few years, arguably Ferrari has never offerred a more accomplished range of cars than it does now.

 

I just have to comment on this absurdity. While I agree that Ferrari is not what it was in the 50's & 60's, it never will be that again, nor could any car company operate like that today. But to say Ferrari is losing it's soul? Have you fired one up & driven one? I would say they are one of the very few companies that still have soul!!!

 

I understand where you're coming from, don't totally agree but I get your point. But, I'd much rather see Challenge Stradale skateboards and fake ignition keys supplement R&D and profit metrics than I would a new Ferrari with a MSRP of $100 - 125k, which would dilute the brand to some extent.

 

I love Ferrari branded products! I love when a guy gets in his Ferrari for the first time and tells how great it is. I love the fact Ferrari makes cars that I want to own. I love to see bikini pics of girls with Ferrari's.

I do not love the fact people compare a Porsche with a Ferrari in any way, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and if Porsche wants 5,000 iterations so be it.

 

One thing that has been an eye opener for me personally in this thread is that just about everyone seems to be comfortable with all that crap they sell in the Ferrari Store. To me most of that stuff is the epitome of crass exploitation and as someone with a deep attachment to Ferrari it embarrasses me.

 

First and foremost, Ferrari is a business and there is a huge market for Ferrari merchandise. The same goes for Manchester United, New York Yankees and Harley-Davidson. It's also worth noting that the stuff they sell in the Ferrari Store isn't cheap, by any stretch of the imagination.

 

Hate to point out the obvious here..but your embarrassment says a lot about you and how you want the world to perceive your 'attachment' to the Ferrari brand. It says that you feel less special driving a Ferrari when a gazillion 8 year olds are struttin' around in their Ferrari caps and T-shirts. Driving such fine automobiles, in and of itself, is not enough for you, apparently. Maybe a Zonda Cinque Roadster would allow you to enjoy life more without fear of the masses marginalizing the brand's mystique?