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14.3.05
Visitors were invited to take a journey through time, in an exclusive cinema studio simulation produced by Television Suisse Romande. 14 exceptional vehicles, connected with the Swiss automobile industry, were exhibited in the setting of their time, from 1905 to today and even into the future. In addition the Swiss coachwork union (USIC) presented nine collection cars from the Swiss coachwork industry. The exhibitors were asked to devote part of their stands to a presentation of their history, image and future ambitions. This gave visitors the opportunity to follow 100 years of motoring progress while they also viewed the many world and European Premières throughout the exhibition halls. The inauguration took place on the 3rd March 2005 in the presence of Mr. Samuel Schmid, President of the Swiss Confederation, Mrs. Martine Brunschwig-Graf, President of the State Council of the Republic and canton of Geneva; Mr. Claude F. Sage, President of the Geneva Motor Show (and former managing director of Scuderia Filipinetti as well as owner of Honda Switzerland) and Professor Dr. Bernd Gottschalk, President of the International Automobile Manufacturer’s Organization (OICA). Naturally there were also many dignitaries from the worlds of policitis, business and industry. About 900 brands from around 30 countries were presented by 261 exhibitors on a gross surface area of 114,000 m², in the sections of private motor cars, electric and alternative-propulsion cars, special bodywork for motorcars and design, converted cars (tuners), accessories and components for motor cars, original equipment manufacturers (OEM), workshop installations and miscellaneous products and services. The allocated net exhibition area was approximately 77,640 m² although there was a record demand for over 86,000 m². As the only international motor show which is held annually in Europe and on “neutral territory”, the Geneva Motor Show is known as one of the most representative. The major manufacturers always unveil their major innovations at the show, in the presence of their CEOs. This year, more than 70 World and European premières had been announced in the car sector only. In the past 50 years Ferrari regularly choose the Geneva motor show for the world debut of a new model. In 1957 it was the 250 GT Cabriolet Series, in 1964 the 500 Superfast, in 1966 the 330 GTC and the 365 California Spider, in 1969 the Dino 246 GT, in 1971 the 365 GTC-4, then in 1972 the Dino 246 GTS, in 1984 the spectacular 288 GTO supercar, in 1995 the F50 and in the year 1999 the 360 Modena, to name but a few. In 2005 Ferrari had come to Geneva with a radical new range of cars which received the final flourish when the new F430 Spider was unveiled durin the show. Between the Detroit 2004 Auto Show and this motor show in Geneva, Ferrari’s product range had undergone some major developments, courtesy of the market launches of the 612 Scaglietti, the F430 (which just a few months after its debut had already won several prestigious American and European awards), the Superamerica, and now the brand new F430 Spider. Ferrari now endeavours to repeat the extraordinary sales performance of 2004 when over 4,900 Prancing Horse cars were sold. The Ferrari-Maserati group reported a consolidated turnover of € 1.5 billion Euros. The group’s operating result was € 6 million, a figure that reflects the significant investments made in the Maserati relaunch and Formula 1 as well as the rise in value of the Euro against the US Dollar. Ferrari’s 20% increase in the Group’s consolidated turnover was due in large part to two factors. Firstly, an enormously impressive performance in certain key markets (North America, the United Kingdom, Japan and France), and secondly, Ferrari’s launches in new and developing markets (China, Eastern Europe and South America), which also generated a major increase in sales volumes whilst still preserving the exclusivity of the brand. Ferraris outlook for 2005 is very positive indeed: They now have a range of new, even more technologically advanced products, the opportunity to concentrate all of the resources on growing Ferrari, and a new Formula 1 World Championship participation agreement. Ferrari decided to unveil the new F430 Spider against the glittering backdrop of the Geneva motor show. Presented in Geneva were two F430 Spiders, a red one and a second one in the new color Grigio Silverstone, which is sort of a gunmetal gray . This one had a bordeaux leather interior with a matching deep red soft-top. The new model was presented by Avvocato Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, Amedeo Felisa and FIAT boss Sergio Marchionne. Naturally, also FMNA President Maurizio Parlato and Ferrari West President Daniel Marin as well as many other managers and VIPs of the Ferrari world had arrived for the debut in Geneva. The new Spider is the drop-top version of the F430. Once again the race track has proved to be the Prancing Horse’s finest research and development area, and the Scuderia’s experience has had a huge impact on the development of the new car. The Pininfarina-designed Spider not only boasts all of the stunning technology of the F430, but has also been honed by the very latest aerodynamic calculation methodologies developed in collaboration with the Formula 1 Racing Division known as the Gestione Sportiva or GES. The new F430 Spider’s meticlous aerodynamic and styling is reflected in the design of the rear spoiler incorporated in the engine cover, more muscular air intakes to channel air into the powerful engine, and the new rear diffusor integrated into the bumper which boasts race-derived dimensions. The large rear window offers a view of the glorious Ferrari engine too. The F430 Spider has a compact, fully automatic electric hood that allows the stunning engine to be seen at all times and which takes up very little space indeed when lowered, despite the car’s uncompromising central-rear engine layout. The F430 Spider is powered by the new 490 hp, 4,308 cc 90 degree V8, an incredibly light, compact unit which punches out a specific power of 114 hp per litre with a weight-to-power performance of 29 kg per hp (dry weight). The result, needless to say, is an absolutely breathtaking performance: the Spider sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds and has a maximum speed of over 310 km/h. But the new F430 Spider was not the only Prancing Horse drop-top at the Geneva motor show. After its debut at Detroit in January 2005, the 12-cylinder Ferrari Superamerica and its innovative Revocromico rotating roof, developed by Fioravanti design, were showcased at Geneva too. The Superamerica’s original rotating roof system means that it is both a Berlinetta and a Spider at once. Ferrari displayed a gunmetal gray Superamerica on their own stand, whereas coachbuilder Pininfarina showed a red Superamerica in Geneva. Just a little over a year since its launch, the 612 Scaglietti is already Ferrari’s most successful ever Grand Tourer, thanks to its unique marriage of Ferrari thoroughbred racing spirit, and authentic four-seater coupé styling and convenience. Two 612 Scaglietti, a red one and a Grigio Silverstone one, were displayed in Geneva. To meet the demands of the sportier clients, Ferrari now also presents the GTC Handling package for this model. This includes several track-derived technologies, specifically the new CCM brakes developed in collaboration with Brembo (front: 380 mm diameter, 36 mm thick; rear: 360 mm diameter, 34 mm thick). The GTC handling package also offers a sportier suspension set-up and electronic F1 gearbox control for even faster gear changing times. The new personalisation package includes 19” alloy split-rims with a high-lustre ball-polished finish, and a newly designed exhaust system with chrome tailpipes that deliver an even deeper rumble. Ferrari's stand in Geneva also had an F2004 Formula One car, serial number 242, which means that it is the last of the nine 2004 Formula One monoposti built. Switzerland is Ferraris’ fifth largest market after North America, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy. Ferrari Switzerland is based in Nyon on Lake Geneva and is headed by the recently-appointed Giulio Zauner. With 250 cars delivered nationwide in 2004, Switzerland boasts the highest per-capita concentration of Ferraris of any country in the world. A total of 67 percent of those cars are 8-cylinders and 33 percent are 12-cylinders. This is a significant deviation from the world average which sees 8-cylinders accounting for well over 70 percent of models sold. Ferrari Suisse imports and distributes Ferraris for the Swiss market through a network of 10 dealerships. Ferrari’s exclusive Formula 1 tire supplier Bridgestone also had a stand in Geneva and they presented a mock-up of a F2003-GA, the two-year old Formula One model. Swiss coachbuilder Franco Sbarro, who in the 1960s also used to work for Scuderia Filipinetti, the famous Swiss Ferrari racing team, showed on his stand this year a yellow roadster called the Sbarro Mille Miglia. This automobile was built on the chassis of a 365 GT4 2+2 and used the same engine. It also featured two headrests and looked a bit like a blown-up 1959 Testa Rossa Spider. Geneva is an international city, well known for its high quality of life, with many diplomatic and international organisations (such as the United Nations) based there. The Geneva motor show was open during eleven days from the 3rd to the 13th of March 2005 and about 800,000 visitors were expected.
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