(from Ferrari Press Release) Mumbai, May 7th 2008 - The over 13,000-kilometre Ferrari Magic India Discovery Drive made a triumphant return to Mumbai this evening, exactly as per the drive programme. The cars were received at the Gateway of India, close to the starting point of the drive, in a grand ceremonial flag-in event.
The Magic India Discovery Drive was another milestone test for the mettle of Maranello’s flagship GT model. More than 50 journalists took turns behind the wheels of the two cars along the 13 often extremely difficult stages spread across India, taking in 57 cities in the over 70-day tour.
This kind of event is not new to Ferrari, however, as the "China, Ferrari 15,000 Red Miles" tour of the entire China in 2005 and the “Panamerican 20,000” tour from Brazil to the USA in 2006 both proved exceptionally successful too.
To celebrate this latest achievement of the two Prancing Horse cars, a large group of Ferrari enthusiasts gathered today at the Gateway of India. Also present was a large number of journalists to whom President Luca di Montezemolo sent a special video message. “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.”, said Mr. Montezemolo. He also stressed that “the two 612 Scagliettis felt right at home on the Indian roads, demonstrating that Ferrari Grand Tourers not only guarantee top class performance but also absolute safety and comfort even in the most extreme conditions.”
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This type of test demonstrated once again that modern Ferraris are cars that can be used in any conditions (as attested by the fact that the annual average mileage covered by our clients in their cars has more than doubled in the last decade). Another objective is to bring Ferrari into closer contact with its fans in the wider public beyond the tight circle of track enthusiasts.
The 612 Scagliettis began their epic voyage with just a few absolutely minimal modifications to ensure their safe passage through some particularly difficult stretches of terrain. The modifications involved the addition of a protective underbody made from 4 mm thick duralluminium rather than the usual plastic and the slight raising of the suspension to cope with tougher roads. Otherwise they were both completely regular production cars powered by a 540 hp 65° V12 engine that delivers maximum torque of 60 kgm at 5,250 rpm. Both cars sported a six-speed F1 gearbox and transaxle transmission too.
To mark the cars’ arrival back at the Gateway of India, Ferrari would like to extend its thanks to the sponsors that made this great voyage possible: Shell, also Ferrari’s long-standing partner in F1; the Tata Group -- Tata Motors for the support vehicles, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces for providing hospitality to the Ferrari team, and Tata Consultancy Services; the Fiat Group, which supplied Iveco support vehicles and Fiat cars; Pirelli which provided the tyres; Alcoa, our strategic partner in the production of the aluminium chassis’ sported by the entire current Ferrari range; OMR, component supplier to Ferrari also in F1; Saima Avandero for logistical assistance. Borsalino, the Piemonte-based world leading hat manufacturer, also provided the journalists taking part in the tour with a contemporary version of the classic Pitt Helmet.
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Shell. The Shell Group has an extensive network of companies in over 140 countries across the globe. Its activities focus oil, chemical derivatives,renewable power sources, industrial trading and many other sectors besides. Shell also manages more than 45.000 petrol stations, serving over 25 million customers each and every day. For further information, visit the Shell website at www.shell.com.
Tata Group. The Tata Group is India’s best-known industrial group with revenues in 2006-07 of US$ 29 billion (Rs. 129,994 crores), the equivalent of about 3.2 per cent of the country's GDP. Known for its adherence to business ethics, it is India’s most respected private business group. The international revenues of the Group in 2006-07 were US$ 10.8 billion, contributing to 38% of the total Group revenues. With over 300,000 employees across 96 operating companies, it is also India’s largest employer in the private sector. The Tata brand is recognised as one of the largest homegrown brand in India and the most respected brand. The Tata Group’s stable of brands also includes many national and some internationally renowned product and service brands, including Tata Indica, Tata Indigo, Indigo Marina, Tata Ace, Tata Magic, Tata Winger, Tata Safari, Tata Indicom, Taj Group of Hotels (Luxury, Business and Leisure), Ginger, Tata Tea, Tetley, Tata Salt, Tata Steelium, Tata Shaktee, Tata Tiscon, Tata Bearings, Titan, Tanishq, Voltas, Westside, Star India Bazaar, Landmark and Croma. By combining ethical values with business acumen, globalisation with national interests and, core businesses with emerging ones, the Tata Group aims to be the largest and most respected global brand from India, whilst fulfilling its long-standing commitment to improving the quality of life of its stakeholders.
Tata Motors. Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company, with revenues of US$ 7.2 billion in 2006-07. With over 4 million Tata vehicles plying in India, it is the leader in commercial vehicles and the second largest in passenger vehicles. It is also the world's fifth largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer and the second largest heavy bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America. Tata Motors and Fiat Auto have formed an industrial joint venture in India to manufacture passenger cars, engines and transmissions for the Indian and overseas markets; Tata Motors also has an agreement with Fiat Auto to build a pick-up vehicle at Córdoba, Argentina. The company already distributes Fiat-branded cars in India. Tata Motors’ international footprint include Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd. in South Korea; Hispano Carrocera, a bus and coach manufacturer of Spain in which the company has a 21% stake; a joint venture with Marcopolo, the Brazilbased body-builder of buses and coaches; and a joint venture with Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Company of Thailand to manufacture and market pickup vehicles in Thailand. Tata Motors has research centres in India, the UK, and in its subsidiary and associate companies in South Korea and Spain.
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces. Established in 1903, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is one of Asia's largest and finest group of hotels, comprising 60 hotels in 42 locations across India with an additional 18 international hotels in the Maldives, Mauritius, Malaysia, Australia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East. From world-renowned landmarks to modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts to authentic Rajput palaces, each Taj hotel offers an unrivalled fusion of warm Indian hospitality, world-class service and modern luxury. The Taj, a symbol of Indian hospitality, has recently completed the centenary of its landmark hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is part of the Tata Group, India's premier business house
Tata Consultancy Services. Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, business solutions and outsourcing organization that delivers real results to global businesses, ensuring a level of certainty no other firm can match. TCS offers a consulting-led, integrated portfolio of IT and IT-enabled services delivered through its unique Global Network Delivery Model, recognized as the benchmark of excellence in software development. A part of the Tata Group, India’s largest industrial conglomerate, TCS has over 108,000 of the world's best trained IT consultants in 47 countries. The Company generated consolidated revenues of US $4.3 billion for fiscal year ended 31 March, 2007 and is listed on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange in India. For more information, visit the company site at www.tcs.com.
Fiat India Automobiles Pvt Ltd. Fiat India Automobiles Private Limited (FIAPL) is a 50-50 Industrial Joint Venture between Fiat Group Automobiles S. p. A., (Fiat) and Tata Motors Limited (Tata) originally incorporated on January 02, 1997. The company employs about 650 employees and is located at Ranjangaon in the Pune District of Maharashtra. The definitive Joint Venture agreement was signed in October 11, 2007. The board of directors of this company comprises of five nominees each from Fiat and Tata. The state-of-the-art facility at Ranjangaon, which is owned by FIAPL is capable of producing 100,000 cars and 200,000 engines, besides aggregates and components. The company plans to double the production capacity for both car units and engines in the next few years. Currently manufacturing the Palio Stile 1.1 and 1.6 models, premium Fiat cars such as the Grande Punto and Linea are expected to roll out soon in the B and C segment from the facility within 2008. The facility will also manufacture Fiat’s successful 1.3 litre Multijet diesel engines and 1.2 & 1.4 litre Fire gasoline engine and the C549 transmission, evolution for the Indian market of the European C510: start of production of all powertrains is foreseen by first quarter 2008. Apart from Fiat cars, the facility will also produce Tata passenger and next generation cars with investment exceeding € 650 Million. The plant is expected to provide direct and indirect employment to more than 4,000 people.
Fiat, which holds a 50% stake in the Company, also owns and controls five internationally renowned brands:- Fiat Automobiles, Alfa Romeo Automobiles, Lancia Automobiles, Abarth and Fiat Professional, the makers of renowned cars such as the Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Lancia besides the Fiat branded cars.
Pirelli. In terms of turnover, Pirelli Tyre is the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer with one of the highest levels of profitability in the entire sector. It is widely acknowledged as one of the reference companies when it comes to cutting-edge, high performance products. In fact Pirelli Tyre enjoys a leadership position both in car and motorbike tyre lines. Pirelli tyres are now synonymous with quality, driving pleasure and exceptional performance. Through the consolidation of its own technological skills, Pirelli has built up solid relationships with the world’s most prestigious car and motorbike constructors, resulting in the homologation of its products for use on models produced by every leading car and motorbike manufacturers. Pirelli Tyre is present in 160 countries and boasts 25 facilities across four continents as well as five Research and Development Centres in which it invests 3.7% of its revenues, the highest percentage in the entire tyre industry.
Alcoa. Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary aluminium, fabricated aluminium and alumina. It is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa supplies its products to the aerospace, automotive, industrial, packaging, building and construction, and commercial transportation sectors, offering its clients access to its broad array of design, planning and production skills. In addition to manufacturing aluminium products and components (including laminated, extruded hard alloy and forged products), Alcoa also sells Alcoa® wheels, fixing systems, precision and lost wax castings, and architectural structures and systems. Alcoa is present in 44 different nations employing workforce of 107,000. It was recently named one of the world’s most sustainable companies at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. For further information, visit the company site at www.alcoa.com.
OMR. The OMR (Officine Meccaniche Rezzatesi) Group is one of the world’s leading automotive and industrial vehicle component and systems manufacturers with 11 production facilities in Italy, Brazil, Morocco, China, India and Argentina. Since its foundation in 1919, the OMR Group (which employs a workforce of 2,000) have grown has grown to such an extent, combining technology, innovation and design, that it now leads its sector. OMR and Ferrari began working together in 1978 and together they have worked towards on shared goals, present and future, driven by a team work ethic and a constant thirst for exciting new technologies.
Saima Avandero. Saima Avandero is Italy’s leading international transportation and integrated logistics company. It is part of the ABX LOGISTICS Group and boasts a wide international network with bases in no less than 35 countries. Saima Avandero is an exceptionally reliable partner to business focused on meeting the needs of its clients. Its strongest point is its skill in planning and delivering “tailor-made” services whose quality is second to none. A consummately professional approach and a wide range of skills in logistical support, organisation and information technologies are the secrets to its success and complement the international transportation and delivery services it offers.
With the support provided by Borsalino, the Italian company founded in 1857, world leader in the production of hats.
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