Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge Stradale
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Ferrari for 2003
This time of year, the roads are snowed over in the North and multiple Weber carb setups just don’t feel like breathing in the cold weather in the South. To tease gear heads, the car companies roll out there new models now since they’ve got a better chance of grabbing our full attention. Usually it works, but with the economy still getting back on shaky start, there is a question of how many of us can (or will) shell out the dough for a new ride with an uncertain future.
First the good news. At the Detroit auto show, Ferrari showed off the new Enzo to a group of slobbering journalists. Reception of this vehicle has been so strong that the factory will build another 50 more than the original production run of 349 to satisfy 50 of their better American customers. All, just like the F50, are pre-sold even before the NA debut. At the top end of the market, there always seems to be a line up for the latest and greatest. To extend the life (i.e. squeeze every last euro out of the chassis), it was announced in mid-January that the "Challenge Stradale" will be launched as a racer for the street. I guess that Ferrari is tired of other after market tuners making money off of their product, so why not bring it in house (a la AMG).
Maserati Spyder.
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Sales of Ferrari in NA were up 18% last year to 1203. It might be good for Ferrari SpA’s bottom line, but mass production means less collect-ability. Yes, Ferraris do depreciate. The bad news for the dealers is that there are plans a foot to consolidate North American operations. Expect the local dealer that hasn’t made a million dollar renovation in the last 2-3 years to be closing.
The House of Maserati
Maserati showed up at the auto shows with the Kubang concept car which is more of a cross-over vehicle than performance machine with the trident on the grill. Maser is taking a chance here by going after the soccer mom drivers that have their names on the list for the new Cayenne. Porsche says that their order books are filling up nicely, but only the long term will tell if a chassis that is mainly a VW Touareg with a souped up V8 will be a viable contender in the new century.
Maserati Kubang
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2003 will also bring the new Maserati Quattroporte sedan slated for a later launch. Sales of Masers in 2002 totaled some 900 cars at American dealers. A slow start, but that was enough to double the output of the line. 75% of the cars sold were the Spyder version so having a lower cost option to the 360 Spyder seems to be a successful business plan. Maybe the fact that you can pick one off the showroom floor without a 2 year wait has something to do with it too. The Coupe and Spyder both get some redesigned bits to freshen up the look this year.
Maybach 62
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The Competition
That all sounds fine and good, but there is some serious competition on the horizon for the Ferrari group. The first comes from one of their main F1 competitors, McLaren/Mercedes-Benz. The SLR concept is getting closer and closer to its launch. Those of us that have Benzes in the garage know that its more reliable than any red car parked next to it, just that it doesn’t have the soul. All of that should change with the new three pointed star supercar.
If you really want to flaunt it, rather than parking a 456M next to your 360 Modena or 575 Maranello, buyers will have a chance to buy either the new Maybach from Mercedes-Benz or the new Rolls Royce Phantom from BMW. While these may not seem like much competition for Ferrari and Maserati, since they are at the top end, a millionaire on a budget may forgo the 2nd or 3rd Ferrari to make way for one of these German luxury beasts.
In the stratosphere of the car world, Bugatti is gearing up for a huge launch of their EB 16.4 Veyron (powered by a 1001 hp W-16 engine, giving it a sub 3 second 0-60 time) to capture the top of the mountain. An excellent website is available for all Bugatti fans to get a hint of what is to come. (http://www.bugatti-motors.com)
Bentley Continental GT
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And finally, the potential spoiler to the Ferrari party, the Bentley Continental GT. I know this magazine is more centered to the Italian sports cars, but this thing is the most serious competition to come out of Germany in a while. The four-seater is priced right in the middle of the 360 line, has an exotic twin turbo W-12 engine cranking out 500 hp, and can smoke 0-60 in less than 5 seconds.
Bentley also intends to ramp production to 8000 units annually. Mark it down, this will be Ferrari’s main competition for the next decade. And before all the Lamborghini owners get out their poison pens and say that their marque is the real competitor (also owned by VW), Bentley has won le Mans 5 times and will be offering a customer racer in 2004.
