Thursday 8th May 2008

Ferraris Complete 'Magic' India Tour

After more than 13,000kms Scagliettis return to Mumbai

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Ferraris literally stop traffic

The 13,000-kilometres the psychedelically-named Ferrari Magic India Discovery Drive finally returned to Mumbai last night.

The cars were received at the Gateway of India, close to the starting point of the drive, on schedule.

Like the ‘China, Ferrari 15,000 Red Miles’ tour of the whole of China in 2005 and the ‘Panamerican 20,000’, the evnt is a punishing test of the reliability of Ferrari’s models.

The company said this type of test demonstrates ‘that modern Ferraris are cars that can be used in any conditions’.

The Indian event featured two 612 Scagliettis and more than 50 journalists took turns behind the wheels along the 13 often extremely difficult stages spread across India, taking in 57 cities in the over 70-day tour.

President Luca di Montezemolo sent in a video message at the Gateway of India: ‘I want to thank all the people who made possible this event around some of the most beautiful areas of the world.

‘The Magic India Discovery team was everywhere warmly welcomed by the Indian people that showed a great passion for Ferrari.’

The 612 Scagliettis had ‘absolutely minimal’ modifications including the addition of a protective underbody made from 4mm thick duraluminium rather than the usual plastic and the slight raising of the suspension to cope with tougher roads.

[RB Will]

"The 612 Scagliettis had ‘absolutely minimal’ modifications including the addition of a protective underbody made from 4mm thick duraluminium rather than the usual plastic and the slight raising of the suspension to cope with tougher roads."

Ferrari off roaders in development

[130R]

"... punishing test of the reliability of Ferrari’s models."

Err I am pretty sure they just baby these cars around rather than drive them like a typical Ferrari would be driven. So really it is just a test that a factory prepared Ferrari can make it 13,000kms without falling to pieces.

[nrayner]

130R said:

Err I am pretty sure they just baby these cars around rather than drive them like a typical Ferrari would be driven. So really it is just a test that a factory prepared Ferrari can make it 13,000kms without falling to pieces.

I wonder if they had 13 full services on the way as well.

[Adam B]

never understood the point of these trips - would believe the reliability hype if Ferrari published how much they spent on maintenance during the trip and what went wrong (without the PR filter)

[munky]

Adam B said:

never understood the point of these trips - would believe the reliability hype if Ferrari published how much they spent on maintenance during the trip and what went wrong (without the PR filter)

I'd guess it's because China and India are both promising markets for Ferrari, I doubt it's a coincidence they picked those countries. I was astonished to see a Ferrari in Beijing a few years ago but gather there are quite a few around now.

[LukeBird]

Adam B said:

never understood the point of these trips - would believe the reliability hype if Ferrari published how much they spent on maintenance during the trip and what went wrong (without the PR filter)

It's not for reliability though.
It's to push the Ferrari brand in emerging markets.
No doubt there will be Chinese businessmen in the full Ferrari attire already!

[chunkymonkey71]

Could be a laugh the other way around...

"the Tata Nano magical Mystery Tour of Italy...!"

[Russell B]

The second day was delayed due to the lead car stopping off for a Zymol,Tubi and cam belt service.

[Andeh]

Remind me what the average monthly income is for someone living in India.

[GingerWizard]

bloody impressive though, i would'nt take a italian stallion round india.... what if they did a four dour coup with the badge R-GT with four wheel drive trickery and did a ring lap of 7.28.....ooooohhhhhhhhhh

Ginger Wizard

[Insight]

amazing amount of logistics and planning must have gone into this trip by someone! ok so it cost ferrari loads but is v clever in the long run. i can only imagine how much of a response they would have got - i like the tasteful colours of the cars too, kind of in tribute to India. well done ferrari for doing such a thing, takes some balls.

ok its all anti-ecologocal, kills the world and is marketing b*llocks but it is unique and it is done in style. if that justifies it i am not sure>!

[chunkymonkey71]

Insight said:

amazing amount of logistics and planning must have gone into this trip by someone! ok so it cost ferrari loads but is v clever in the long run. i can only imagine how much of a response they would have got - i like the tasteful colours of the cars too, kind of in tribute to India. well done ferrari for doing such a thing, takes some balls.

ok its all anti-ecologocal, kills the world and is marketing b*llocks but it is unique and it is done in style. if that justifies it i am not sure>!

I think the paint job makes them look cheap and crappy.

[tgx4776]

I found a Ferrari Testosterosa in Lome, Togo. really crappy roads and it was in excellent condition. It's owned by the KTM dealer in Togo who also does some Racing in the Paris - Dakar Rally.

[Andeh]

tgx4776 said:

Testosterosa

Huh?

[Road_Terrorist]

Andeh said:

Remind me what the average monthly income is for someone living in India.

It's $179USD per month.

But then they also have a lot of very rich people as well, so it's not like it's a dumb business move.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/643336...

[flattotheboards]

It would be impressive if teh ferraris had no maintaince carried out on them at all, but as has already been said they probably were serviced everytime they came back. A visual inspection would be sensible of course just to check if anything had worn prematurly/broken.

[Rizla]

Where can I get a duraluminium underbody for my future motors?
Sounds just the thing for whizzing over speed bumps.

[Insight]

chunkymonkey71 said:

Insight said:

amazing amount of logistics and planning must have gone into this trip by someone! ok so it cost ferrari loads but is v clever in the long run. i can only imagine how much of a response they would have got - i like the tasteful colours of the cars too, kind of in tribute to India. well done ferrari for doing such a thing, takes some balls.

ok its all anti-ecologocal, kills the world and is marketing b*llocks but it is unique and it is done in style. if that justifies it i am not sure>!

I think the paint job makes them look cheap and crappy.

I agree they do look crap to me too - but to the locals Indians I think they will love em. Us English folk have been brought up to like shiny things, Indians are brought up to respect things that have been around for a while and so they like a dull paintwork. Only my theory, but its like the HSBC bank slogan "The Worlds local bank" which seems to work for them.

[Doctor Bone]

Andeh said:

Remind me what the average monthly income is for someone living in India.

Its not like most people in the U.K. can afford a Ferrari! There are people in India who are very wealthy. They definitely have a market for hyper-cars in India- Sachin Tendulkar had an Enzo when they first came out. The only problem is they don't really have the roads to enjoy them on!

[tgx4776]

Andeh said:

tgx4776 said:

Testosterosa

Huh?

ok I admit I can't spell