Ferrari earned its reputation on the Mille Miglia, among the toughest, most dangerous races ever devised. "Every Ferrari must inspire an eruption of emotion at first glance," Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo recently told Vanity Fair.

On the other hand, Ferrari continues the famous unsentimentality that founder Enzo Ferrari exhibited, favoring modern design over retro, and - in recent years - the prowess of Michael Schumacher over the emotion of Jean Alesi.

Ferrari says that it weathered the economic crisis of 2009 with sales of 6,250 cars, only 5% down on 2008. The company reports that while the luxury sports car market collapsed by 35% in '09, Ferrari's market share to 10%, making it the leading manufacturer in the segment.

The Italian company says it is also set to invest 18.5% of its revenues in new products, a very high proportion for the car industry. As part of its 60^th anniversary birthday celebrations, Ferrari considers its future in the wake of the European emissions regulations debate. The company believes that its biggest performance gains in such a climate can be achieved by getting the best power density from its cars, implying massive weight reduction. As one Ferrari spokesman puts it, in a veiled reference to the Bugatti Veyron, a 2-ton car with 1,000 brake horsepower is not the future; but a 1-ton car with 500-600 brake horsepower, such as is Ferrari's FXX Millechili concept, might be.

A carbon-fiber laminate, lighter and with better crash characteristics, will take the place of aluminum body panels in roadgoing Ferraris, saving about 33%. Carbon suspension components, with F1-style flex joints allowing the wishbone itself to flex rather than a conventional bush or joint, are also on the cards (saving about 15%). Brembo 2^nd-generation carbon-ceramic discs will allow the brake discs of future Ferraris to be smaller than those fitted to today's cars. Possibly, the brake servo could then be dispensed with. It has been conjectured that Ferrari wheels and tires may shrink, too, contrary to (today's) fashion.

It is unclear whether Ferrari's V12 tradition will continue. The configuration's internal friction makes it inherently more thirsty than a V10 or V8.

Ferrari aims to reduce the average CO₂ figures for its cars from 400 g/km in 2007 to 250 g/km by 2012.


Ferrari has been working with Imperial College London to develop synthetic jets, air valves, 0.5 millimeters in diameter, placed on strategic areas of the body. Each controlled via a tiny solenoid valve, they are said to dramatically affect the air flow across a car's structure. Used in conjunction with more familiar active aerodynamics, including moveable spoilers on the underside of the car, Ferrari will aim for a major reduction in drag coefficients on future cars.


Ferrari has said that its road cars may feature hybrid powertrains by 2012-2015, similar to the system that Formula 1 cars will be forced to use, beginning with the 2009 season. Ferrari hopes to be able to store around 100 kW of energy in light, potentially lithium-ion, batteries. A hig-revving electric motor, directly attached to the gearbox differential, will deliver an instant slug of torque at the moment the clutch interrupts drive to the wheels, giving the driver the impression of seamless shifts.


As recently as May 2008, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo confirms (again) that Ferrari will not build SUVs or crossovers of the Porsche Cayenne variety.


First launched on the Ferrari F430, the steering-wheel mounted Mannetino control regulates suspension stiffness and the responsiveness of the electronic differential on five levels: snow; slippery; sport race, and disengaged.


Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari died in 1988. His son Piero is today part-owner of the company. Enzo Ferrari's farmhouse at the center of Fiorano test track has been preserved largely untouched.