<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published September 28, 2009
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Seeing red at the Red Dot Museum
Five put down deposit for $798,000 Ferrari California
By SAMUEL EE
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(SINGAPORE) The Red Dot Museum was awash in red - Ferraris, that is. Last Saturday afternoon, Ferrari owners and well-heeled prospects sped down to Maxwell Road with exhausts screaming to view the new Ferrari California convertible.
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</TD></TR><TR class=caption><TD>Fast cars, beautiful people: The Ferrari California on display at Red Dot Museum on Saturday </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>New Ferrari distributor Ital Auto had invited them to a gala brunch and the more than 500 guests who turned up were also entertained by a fashion show as they sipped Mumm champagne and nibbled on canapes.
Ferrari's top management was also present and Amedeo Felisa, CEO of Ferrari SpA, and Marco Mattiacci, CEO of Ferrari Asia-Pacific, were joined by the Ferrari Formula One team drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Giancarlo Fisichella.
In his speech, Ital Auto managing director Teo Hock Seng promised to look after the 'special interests' of Ferrari customers as he takes the Italian super sports car brand to 'a higher level'. Mr Teo said that Mr Felisa had asked him about Ital Auto's commitment to the prancing horse.
In reply, the flamboyant Mr Teo, who has been in the car business for 23 years, said that for the Ferrari business, he has done something that he has never done before - put his mobile telephone number on his name card so that owners may have a direct line to him at any time.
The move may have brought results already. Over the weekend, five people put down a 10 per cent deposit for the California, which has a list price of $798,000. The 2+2 hardtop convertible has 4.3-litre V8 engine in front and zips from zero to 100 kmh in under four seconds.
According to Mr Felisa, the California is designed for everyday driving. He added that those who prefer something more hardcore can look forward to the upcoming 458 Italia mid-engined sports car that made its debut at the Frankfurt motor show earlier this month.
Ital Auto takes over from Hong Seh Motors, which had been associated with the brand in Singapore since 1982. The new Ferrari importer is a subsidiary of Komoco Motors, which distributes Harley Davidson, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Hyundai. It is majority-owned by hotelier and Formula One race promoter Ong Beng Seng.
The new Ferrari showroom and workshop are located at Leng Kee Road. They occupy the entire rear section of the large Komoco Motors building on 253 Alexandra Road.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Seeing red at the Red Dot Museum
Five put down deposit for $798,000 Ferrari California
By SAMUEL EE
<TABLE class=storyLinks border=0 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=1 width=136 align=right><TBODY><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Email this article</TD></TR><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Print article </TD></TR><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Feedback</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>(SINGAPORE) The Red Dot Museum was awash in red - Ferraris, that is. Last Saturday afternoon, Ferrari owners and well-heeled prospects sped down to Maxwell Road with exhausts screaming to view the new Ferrari California convertible.
<TABLE class=picBoxL cellSpacing=2 width=100 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=caption><TD>Fast cars, beautiful people: The Ferrari California on display at Red Dot Museum on Saturday </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>New Ferrari distributor Ital Auto had invited them to a gala brunch and the more than 500 guests who turned up were also entertained by a fashion show as they sipped Mumm champagne and nibbled on canapes. Ferrari's top management was also present and Amedeo Felisa, CEO of Ferrari SpA, and Marco Mattiacci, CEO of Ferrari Asia-Pacific, were joined by the Ferrari Formula One team drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Giancarlo Fisichella.
In his speech, Ital Auto managing director Teo Hock Seng promised to look after the 'special interests' of Ferrari customers as he takes the Italian super sports car brand to 'a higher level'. Mr Teo said that Mr Felisa had asked him about Ital Auto's commitment to the prancing horse.
In reply, the flamboyant Mr Teo, who has been in the car business for 23 years, said that for the Ferrari business, he has done something that he has never done before - put his mobile telephone number on his name card so that owners may have a direct line to him at any time.
The move may have brought results already. Over the weekend, five people put down a 10 per cent deposit for the California, which has a list price of $798,000. The 2+2 hardtop convertible has 4.3-litre V8 engine in front and zips from zero to 100 kmh in under four seconds.
According to Mr Felisa, the California is designed for everyday driving. He added that those who prefer something more hardcore can look forward to the upcoming 458 Italia mid-engined sports car that made its debut at the Frankfurt motor show earlier this month.
Ital Auto takes over from Hong Seh Motors, which had been associated with the brand in Singapore since 1982. The new Ferrari importer is a subsidiary of Komoco Motors, which distributes Harley Davidson, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Hyundai. It is majority-owned by hotelier and Formula One race promoter Ong Beng Seng.
The new Ferrari showroom and workshop are located at Leng Kee Road. They occupy the entire rear section of the large Komoco Motors building on 253 Alexandra Road.
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