3 min readMay 28, 2011 05:37 AM IST
First published on: May 28, 2011 at 05:37 AM IST
Ferrari has arrived in India. Debesh Banerjee stares hard
Envy can be a gushing emotion. The kind that suddenly froths up when you are staring at a car that can go from 0-100 kmph in less than four seconds,is loaded with a V8 petrol engine under its hood and has a starting price tag of Rs 2.60 crore. That is not all. When you notice the characteristic symbol of the prancing stallion resting atop its gleaming red bonnet,you realise that you are standing in front of a Ferrari sports car. Forget about owning this beast,“You are not even allowed to touch it” was the diktat issued by Ferrari officials at the launch of the first dealership-cum-showroom in India. Frothy curiosity was writ large on every face present at the showroom in Janpath,strategically located near the Le Meridien hotel in central Delhi.
Setting everyone’s pulses racing was the signature machine,the two-door Ferrari 458 Italia,that is capable of achieving a maximum speed of 325 kmph.
As photographers fell over one another to catch a glimpse of the 458,it stood poised and elegant,teasing the cameras with its arched headlamps.
This car will interest racing enthusiasts,too,since its interiors have been designed with inputs by German F1 legend Michael Shumacher.
Its hand-stitched leather seating and dash integrated music system add to its exclusive appeal. “Each car is customised. Nobody buys a Ferrari,they only desire one,” said Ashish Chordia,Chairman of the Shreyans Group,which is importing Ferraris in India.
With close to 50 Ferraris already being driven on Indian roads,the news of an official dealership will be a relief to Ferrari car owners since they can now rely on official workshops rather than independent garages. Two years back,Ferrari had surveyed the Indian market by driving two of its F 612 Scaglietti models across India.
It was a 13,000 km ride called,‘Magic India Discovery Tour’,to prove to the world that Ferraris are not only meant for European roads. Now,the company seems to be making a statement by launching their dealership here.
“Seeing the curiosity,we wanted to give an opportunity to Ferrari lovers in India to get their own car from a local dealership,instead of importing it,” added Chordia.
He promises that Ferrari’s global fleet of cars will be available in India from the manufacturing plant at Maranello,Italy,in a few weeks.
“The delivery time will range from three to 12 months,depending on the customisation required,” says Chordia. But for those who just want to catch a glimpse of a Ferrari,the dealership will soon display their first four-seater gran tourismo,the Ferrari California,and the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano,a two-door sports car. The company plans to open its next dealership in Mumbai by next year.
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