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Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE China Limited Edition auctioned for 1.2 million

Posted Wednesday 27th January 2010by Editor

Ferrari, teaming up with Chinese artist Lu Hao, one of China’s most famous and influential contemporary artists, released the 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE package in the special China Limited Edition

The unique Ferrari 599 China was won by an anonymous client from Shanghai at the final price of about 1.2 million euro (including taxes). The auction was the climax of the Gala dinner organized by Ferrari at the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing. Lu Hao, the first Chinese artist to work with Ferrari, created this special model decorated with Song Dynasty Ge Kiln pottery patterns. The proceeds from this auction will fund outstanding students and young teachers of Tsinghua University’s Department of Automotive Engineering to study at Italy’s Politecnico di Milano University and internship at Ferrari’s headquarters.

The gala dinner was attended by Ferrari owners and collectors, joined by Ferrari Asia Pacific CEO Mr. Marco Mattiacci, contemporary artist Lu Hao, professors of China’s leading Tsinghua University Cen Zhangzhi and delegate of Politecnico di Milano University Bruno Pizzigoni. A few Ferrari objects, in particular a helmet and a model car signed by Michael Schumacher, who this morning personally unveiled the car to the international media, were also auctioned together with a racing overall worn by F1 driver, Giancarlo Fisichella. The innovative appearance of this unique model, blending classic Chinese elements with Ferrari distinctive features, aroused immediately great interest among the guests.

This follows the spirit of Ferrari founder, Enzo Ferrari, carried on by Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, in investing in young talents and research. Ferrari was involved before in goodwill activities with Chinese associations, dedicated to youth.

The China Limited Edition car will be based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, the high performance 12-cylinder with innovative and technologically advanced features, and will include the HGTE package (Handling GT Evoluzione), designed to deliver even sportier and more dynamic driving.

Lu Hao, in his work with Ferrari, drew inspiration from China’s ancient literary traditions, the peerless Ge Kiln porcelain and the fabled Silk Road, adding his own unique interpretation of Chinese culture. Each car will come with a dedicated owner’s name plaque engraved with ancient Chinese calligraphic script in the “Xiao Zhuan” style as a mark of its exclusivity. Lu Hao’s finishing touch, the Xiao Zhuan script, originated over two thousand years ago during the Qin Dynasty, and will be used throughout the car: a “China” plate in Xiao Zhuan style is studded at the car body, the numbers on the Rev Counter morph into Xiao Zhuan script, and the ancient script is found on the jade encrusted Engine Start button as well. A dedicated luggage has also been designed for this new model, with depictions of the Silk Road, the road that brought Marco Polo to ancient China and which linked East and West running from western China to Venice Italy, etched in the leather.

With its incorporation of Chinese aesthetic elements, the 599 GTB Fiorano China Limited Edition model is a masterpiece of innovation and creativity, destined to become a collectible piece of art. The model has gained strong interests among car enthusiasts and art collectors after the initial images and concept were shared among the Ferrari dealers’ network.

About Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano with Handling GTE package

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is the highest performance V12 berlinetta ever produced at Maranello. The new model boasts the most innovative and technologically advanced features ever used by Ferrari in a mid-front engined two-seater, setting a whole standard in terms of sportiness, design and driving pleasure. It boasts ideal weight distribution (47% ant. – 53% post.) and exceptional aerodynamic efficiency, even the engine sound ensures 599 GTB Fiorano to be the representative of front-engined two seated car. The HGTE Package provides tighter and more dynamic handling, with sharper cornering and improved responsiveness whilst still being easy to drive. This pinnacle of engineering achievement delivers the kind of performance that beats a host of long standing records.

· the V12 engine: 5,999 cm3 displacement; a specific power output of 103 CV/litre; maximum torque of 608 Nm at 5,600 rpm, maximum power of 620 CV at 7,600 rpm; maximum speed of over 330km/h, 1-100km/h acceleration time of 3.7 seconds.
· F1-Super gearbox: the new generation F1 gearbox cuts overall gear-shift times to 100 ms by implementing contemporaneously the various stages involved in changing gears.
· F1 Trac system: the experience built up over Formula 1 testing and races by Ferrari and integrates road-holding, safety and stability of this car, optimizing traction.
· Enhanced manettino: developed from F1 technology; the driver can instantly intervene on the car’s dynamic behaviour.
· The HGTE package includes a modified set-up with stiffer springs and rear anti-roll bar as well as new calibration settings for the magnetorheological shock absorbers when the manettino is at its sportier settings. The ride height has also been lowered which in turn lowers the car’s centre of gravity. This combined with the new set-up helps improve body control. The package also includes specifically optimised tyres featuring a compound that offers even better grip.
· Optimized Aerodynamics: lengthy testing in the wind tunnel at Ferrari has yielded excellent results in terms of both downforce and drag.

About Artist Lu Hao

Lu Hao (Beijing 1969) graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1992.

Since 1999, he has participated in numerous exhibitions, including Archeology of the Future – The Second Chinese Art Triennal Exhibition in 2005, Documenta 12 in Kassell in 2005, and the 2008 Shanghai Biennial. In 2002 he was awarded the Chinese Contemporary Art Award (CCAA). In 2009 he was co-curator of the Chinese pavillion at the 53 Venice Biennial, and he will exhibit at the 2010 New York Biennale. As one of the earliest and most successful Chinese avant-garde artists, he has continually cultivated a unique artistic philosophy. Lu Hao currently lives and works in Beijing.