Ferrari In-House Tuning Company | FerrariChat

Ferrari In-House Tuning Company

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by modena1_2003, Sep 10, 2009.

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  1. modena1_2003

    modena1_2003 F1 Rookie

    Aug 17, 2005
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    ...I was watching a few videos on AMG and the M cars today and caught myself falling in love mit das Deutsch all over again... So what if Ferrari had an in house tuning company? This is a question many would call irrelevant and I would most certainly agree with anyone who said that although just think about it for a minute.

    Where Ferrari come out with special edition models from time to time, wouldn't it be a good business decision to have something by Ferrari for Ferrari that would make people second guess going to Novitec or another modifier company? The Scuderia and CS are two great examples. What if there were a 599 edition like that? Not talking about the XX programs, but a 599 SF - Scuderia Ferrari version. Lighter, more power, more exclusive.

    Now, Ferrari could obviously call the line what ever they wanted to, but lets go with SF for a moment. Where BMW go Fancy is with the M cars. Imagine a 612 SF. Tweaked engine, upgraded this and that, but it would be different from the one-to-ones or HGTEs. It would allow Ferrari to avoid all of those little one-up editions and simply have the standard cars and their special editions. A program like this would most likely include a high-level of customization with more options unique to the SF editions and would give Ferrari the opportunity to try many new mechanical ideas in these special editions as seen in the XX programs. Only in this case, it would be for the street with more than 29 buyers.

    Rarity would be firmly intact while giving collectors something more to look for than the next 458 track-to-street edition. It would encompass the entire range of Ferrari cars and would not exceed a set, low, number of editions. This program would allow Ferrari to take quicker steps towards newer, better technology. Imagine a 430SF. The Scuderia for instance with a double clutch. That would be the special edition. Adding new technology in an exclusive, customizable package for each road car. The XX programs would remain as it would be the highest echelon of track-to-street, customer involved development and exclusive ownership Ferrari had to offer, but would allow customers to purchase an extremely limited edition model for far below a $1.2 million price tag.

    The idea is that Ferrari could keep intact the Ferrari image (ie, not having customers buy a 430 and go to Hamman or Novitec) while giving buyers an exclusive and technologically advanced edge in their new car. Eliminate the customer's desire to out-source customization when they can do it at Ferrari, by Ferrari.

    This may also allow Ferrari to extend production years. Similar number of cars produced, only stretched a year or more longer to allow a higher level of R&D, which may end up earning the company more money.

    This isn't a sarcasm contest mind you, so please be constructive and weigh the pros and cons of this idea. In no way do I think an in-house tuning company would hurt the company or tarnish the brand, it would only add to the lore of Ferrari and heighten exclusivity, give more time for research and development by extending the product's live-span and make any sort of after market notions irrelevant in the eyes of the buyer.


    What are your thoughts?


    _J
     
  2. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    Ferrari will do anything you want now despite what any US dealers will tell you. I think they try to keep mods on the down low for whatever reason. One of which is it undermines the scare tactic that they use that mods will invalidate the warranty. They went out of their way to torpedo companies like Tubi recently. It might also be an ego thing whereby they want to portray their cars as not needing any mods except for the special editions they come out with at the end of a model run. Maybe they just haven't gotten around to capitalizing on this to date? If there's another buck to be made they'll eventually get around to it on a larger scale.
     
  3. RSQP

    RSQP F1 World Champ
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    Audi bought Quattro gmbh, a 3rd party tuning company for their RS cars, Mercedes purchased AMG for and brought them in-house, I'm not sure if BMW's M division started in house or not.

    I've always been hesitant about aftermarket tuners. I'm sure they do a phenomenal job, and more horsepower and improved handling is always an improvement, but I like sticking with the factory spec vehicles. Factory-sponsored upgrades would be a nice update. But then again, people that purchase those vehicles without, say, the added exhaust or enhanced intakes, might feel as if they are getting slighted - nobody buys an economy version of a Ferrari, nor does anybody want a stripped down version.

    Ferrari is constantly improving their cars with each new car they bring out. They don't rest on their laurels.

    It's an interesting idea.
     
  4. modena1_2003

    modena1_2003 F1 Rookie

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    Exactly. We know Ferrari want to keep their buyers away from after-market tunning. You hit the nail on the head with the Tubi comment. Providing exceptional, customer specified mods for exclusive editions would only make them money and dent the business after-market companies receive.

    BMW has had M from the beginning of the M1's development. And from each M car there has been a trickle-down effect into higher end models.

    Ferrari could capitalize in many areas. Dissuading buyers from after-market purchases in favor of going with a factory guaranteed package "compatible" with warranties etc allowing Ferrari to expand on available products and promote interest in their product by the "wait, there's more" tease in customers thinking Ferrari is too finite in what's offered, and added exclusivity doesn't hurt either ... the list goes on.



    _J
     
  5. JoeZaff

    JoeZaff F1 Veteran
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    BMW/Audi/Mercedes sells sports coupes, family sedans, SUV's and station wagons--they need a sports division.

    Ferrari only makes Sports cars. It would be like BMW M saying, we need BMW M squared or AMGAMG. And even among them, people buy BMW M cars and then go to Dinan, so its not like if Ferrari started its own in house tuner, Tubi and Novitec would disappear.

    Ferrari is supposed to make the most finely tuned best balanced performing cars in the world. Within that very limited production, they make even more hard edged cars like the Scuderia, Stradale, etc. If you have a 430 and somehow find yourself wanting something more hardcore, get a Scuderia. Heck, even the 599 now has a handling package.

    By creating a separate division, Ferrari would be implicitly conceding that the factory didn't check off all the boxes they could in extracting the maximum performance from their chassis and engine. It would be a huge marketing mistake and an offense to the brand and Enzo's legacy itself IMHO.
     
  6. modena1_2003

    modena1_2003 F1 Rookie

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    Well from one Woody Allen fan to another (my real name is not Leonard) that's not the angle I was going for. I don't think that BMW "need" an in house tuning company any more than Mercedes, but the point is that they allow with that extra bit of power, something a bit more exclusive. Ferrari are indeed supposed to make the best balanced performance cars on the market; however, I believe that adding an in house tuning company would earn them more money as well as limit (not make Novitec disappear) the amount of people that would chose to go to an outside tunning firm. Each special edition Ferrari would be that much more exclusive as well as provide that added performance a limited edition model should supply. It would make the purists feel a little better about the whole thing as one could chose from different Ferrari performance exhausts and special edition racing seats etc etc....

    To be honest, by stretching each car's lifespan, this would make Ferrari even more exclusive and even more performance oriented.


    _J
     
  7. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Micholetti handles the racing mods.....has for years...
     
  8. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

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    Ferrari IS an in house tuning company!

    Think about it, BMW, Mercedes build upper class cars and have an attached group turn these vehicles into fire breathing monsters. BMW has the M group that adds the necessities to bring these cars up to full potential (and retain some streetability). Similar with Merc and AMG. Ferrari ONLY makes fire breathing monsters, track ready, tuned to the hilt, and ready to run.

    Anything more and you are talking real race cars........{my opinion}
     
  9. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    I think that's it. A Ferrari is supposed to be at the edge already. If a tuning company could squeeze another 20 mph out of a 458, the real question would be why Ferrari hadn't found that extra top end first.

    I would refer to Mr. Zaff's comment above. BMW, for example, make the 5 series, which is a sporting performance sedan for execs with kids. In base form, it has to be somewhat affordable, comfortable, economical, etc. If you have money to burn and want the extreme performance, you go for the 550i or the M5.

    Ferrari do not have the marketing 'slack' to come up with an economy model and then charge more for the 'high-end' version. Frankly, the introduction of the 599 HTGE was an odd move, in that the portly 599 should have had proper handling from day one.

    Ferrari are supposed to be the best tuning company in the world. Realistically, anything you do to a new Ferrari after manufacture should make it worse.
     
  10. eric

    eric Formula Junior

    Aug 3, 2001
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    But Ferrari DOES have an in-house program for creating one-off versions of thier cars. The Portfolio Program at Ferrari recently produced a one-off version of the F430 named the SP1 for Sport Prototype. Do a quick search on the web for Ferrari SP1 and you can find several articles about this car. Another example would be the P4/6 commisioned by another Fchat regular, based off an Enzo.

    Not sure that this program would make anyone second guess a decision to go with another after market company for mods to their Ferrary, but if what you want is a one-off, hot rod version of a production Ferrari, done by Ferrari, I think all you have to do is ask , pay, and wait.
     
  11. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 donv, Sep 11, 2009
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2009
  12. modena1_2003

    modena1_2003 F1 Rookie

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    Jim's P4/5 was designed exclusively through Pininfarina and Fioravanti did Juichiro Hiramatsu's SP1. I wouldn't say this is Ferrari's work. It's custom coach-building, which is completely different.




    _J
     
  13. amenasce

    amenasce Three Time F1 World Champ
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    For years, or decades, owners have sent their Ferraris to Michelotto for that little extra. It seems Zanassi does this kind of thing too now.
     
  14. modena1_2003

    modena1_2003 F1 Rookie

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    #14 modena1_2003, Sep 11, 2009
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2009
    I'm just saying eliminate the middle man and bring somebody like Michelotto under the same roof.

    If AMG were an independent company like Brabus, Mercedes would only make fast plush sedans; however, having them under the same roof adds a little something.


    _J
     
  15. sbenus

    sbenus Formula Junior
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    can someone explain what happened?
     
  16. AJ

    AJ Formula 3

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    #16 AJ, Sep 12, 2009
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    It's an interesting thought and I can see where you're coming from but, to be honest, I can't see how it would work. It's pretty hard to improve on perfection and that's what every new Ferrari is (mechanically anyway).

    Tuning companies like Hamann and Novitec are there for oil rich playboys in the middle east that want the upgrades purely for bragging rights - case in point; a brand new F430 from the factory isn't flashy enough so the owner buys everything in the Novitec catalogue and has it finished in a two-tone black and lime green color scheme with a matching crocodile interior.

    Is this really the image Ferrari are looking for? Yeah, I like the way they can match any color you can think of but I think the cheap bodykits and dodgy superchargers should be left to the tuners.
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  17. modena1_2003

    modena1_2003 F1 Rookie

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    That's clearly too far over the top to even be considered ugly and not in any way what I am talking about.

    Ferrari wouldn't be "improving" on perfection but adding their mechanical know-how in added package form to buyers interested in the Programme. And no damned body-kits! :)



    _J
     

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