Italian luxury sportscar manufacturer Ferrari has officially appointed Velocità Motors Inc. (VMI), a unit under conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC), as its new sole authorized importer and distributor in the Philippines.
“This partnership is a milestone in the history of Ferrari in the Philippines, and we would like to warmly welcome VMI into our Ferrari family. The Philippines is a market that we strongly believe in, and one that is important to the future growth of Ferrari in the region. We are very happy to have found a strong local partner,” said Dieter Knechtel, President, Ferrari Far East & Middle East.
Under the leadership of VMI Chairman and President Ramon S. Ang, who is also the President and CEO of San Miguel Corporation, Ferrari has expressed confidence in the brand’s continued growth. Ang is also a well-known car enthusiasts and Ferrarist.
“This is a partnership we are extremely proud of, and very excited about—becoming the official distributor of the iconic, highly-revered, globally-recognized, and well-loved brand, Ferrari,” Ang said.
Currently, VMI operates out of a temporary showroom located at 169 EDSA, Brgy. Wack Wack, Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City. However, it already fulfills maintenance, repair, and genuine Ferrari spare parts requests. It also uses Ferrari-approved equipment and has a complete team that ensures worry-free ownership for Ferrari customers.
“Velocità Motors is committed to providing its customers a world-class Ferrari experience from the moment they enter the showroom as well as the service center. Car enthusiasts, especially Ferrari drivers, value their vehicles in the very best condition as possible. That is why we have put together a strong and capable team that is dedicated to providing discerning Ferrari customers the highly personalized and superior service they expect and deserve,” Ang said.
A flagship showroom is currently under construction and this will be located along Connecticut Street, San Juan City. This facility, expected to be completed by end of the year, will house an expansive showroom and full-service facilities.
Commemorating the start of the partnership, Ferrari and VMI unveiled two of the latest vehicles from the Prancing Horse: the Ferrari Purosangue and the Ferrari 296 GTS.
The Ferrari Purosangue (Pure Blooded) is the first-ever four-door, four-seater car in Ferrari’s 75-year history. Built on a brand-new platform, it is constructed from high-strength aluminum alloy, steel, and carbon fiber. It features the unique “welcome doors”—a hidden, motorized set of rear doors that allows easy access to the back seats.
Powering it is a normally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 featuring high-pressure direct injection and dry sump lubrication. Outputs are at a staggering 725 horsepower at 7,750 rpm, while peak torque is 716 Nm at 6,250 rpm. 80 percent of that peak torque figure is available from just 2,100 rpm. This mid-front-mounted engine is partnered to an eight-speed dual clutch automatic.
The Purosangue features an improved version of Ferrari’s all-wheel drive system, including four-wheel steering. It also comes with the latest iterations of the brand’s vehicle dynamic control systems such as the six-way Chassis Dynamic Sensor. It also features a 48-volt active suspension.
Meanwhile, the Ferrari 296 GTS is Ferrari’s first V6-powered spider since the Dino from the 1960s. It also happens to be a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model as well.
An offshoot of the 296 GTB, the rear-wheel drive two-seater 296 GTS combines a 663-horsepower turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine with a 167-horsepower electric motor to deliver a combined 833 horsepower output. Moreover, thanks to a 7.45-kWh battery, it has an all-electric range of 25 kilometers.
Separating this from the coupe version is the automatic targa top that takes 14 seconds to retract or deploy. The intricate roof dance can be done at speeds of up 45 km/h. With the roof up, the silhouette is nearly identical to the coupe. Moreover, the retractable top system is designed with performance and efficiency in mind. The two-piece roof, for example, maintains the coupe’s heat management properties—important in a mid-engined sportscar.
The Velocità Motors Inc. showroom and service center is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 8 AM to 5 PM.
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