Best wishes for good work to Todt

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Jean Todt, former Head of the Scuderia and Ferrari CEO, has been nominated FIA President today. In a press release from FOTA Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo declared: "I would like to send my best wishes to Jean Todt in his new role, as I have always appreciated his ability, dedication and commitment. I am sure that, under his guidance, the Federation will be rejuvenated and will restore a climate open to dialogue and constructive collaboration with the teams and FOTA, thus ensuring stability of the regulations and the whole environment.

Formula One is about to embark on a new phase: all the stakeholders must work together with an eye to the future, to increase the credibility and interest generated by this sport, tackling the technical and environmental challenges that await it, while keeping unchanged, those characteristics that have made it one of the most popular disciplines on the world stage."

Lancia Delta will be the “Official Car” of the world celebration of twenty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall

Lancia renews its commitment to pressing social issues by taking on a starring role in one of the most significant celebrations of the last few years. The fall of the Berlin Wall changed history forever, and today it is increasingly seen as a symbol of all the struggles against the barriers to knock down, both physical ones as well as cultural ones in particular.

On 9^th November, a fleet of Lancia Delta cars will be accompanying all the numerous institutional guests along the streets of the German capital up to Brandenburg Gate where the spectacular celebration ceremony will take place.

Lancia’s engagement will also be testified by one of the dominos for the Festival of Freedom onto which the brand will be able to imprint its DNA, interpreting this historic moment through its values and its own identity.

“Delta” is the symbol for difference, for that additional factor which drives every evolution, every improvement and this is why the Lancia saloon has always been the carrier of messages and actions which have defied the status quo.

An example of this is the advertising campaign starring Richard Gere which raised awareness amid the public opinion on the Tibetan issue and the moving 30’’, aired at the beginning of the year, which paid homage to Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace winner in 1991, in support of her liberation. This latter project was devised on the occasion of the 9^th World Summit of Nobel Peace Prizes which took place last December in Paris and scheduled this year to take place in Berlin itself, following the celebration of twenty years since the fall of the Wall.

The 10^th World Summit of Nobel Peace Prizes will in fact open its doors on 10^th November and the main theme will be the knocking down of social and cultural barriers, which still exist in many places around the globe today. Lancia will be the Main Sponsor of the Summit and the fleet of Lancia Delta cars placed at the disposal of the event will have the honour of accompanying the Nobel prize winners taking part.

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano China Limited Edition

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Ferrari announces the creation of a unique one-off 599 GTB Fiorano China Limited Edition, signed by Chinese artist Lu Hao, which will be auctioned on the 3rd of November at a special Gala Auction Event hosted by Ferrari in Beijing. This exclusive car follows the announcement in September of a small series of specially-designed 599 GTB Fiorano China Limited Edition models which won wide acclaim.

The one-off incorporates a number of the features of the China Limited Edition cars, a very limited series of less than a dozen cars finished in two-tone Rosso Fuoco with silver roof and characterized by unique Chinese design elements.

This one-off model represents an even more exclusive version, thanks to a very special exterior finish which draws inspiration from Ge Kiln porcelain of the Song Dynasty. Lu Hao has blended traditional design elements with Ferrari’s innovative styling to create a truly unique vehicle using a ‘cracked’ glaze pattern which is elegantly coloured, with clearly defined cracks etched at different depths.

Only a few hundred pieces of Ge Kiln porcelain exist today, all of which are priceless treasures. The “cracked” glaze pattern has the lustre of jade and is often used to symbolize the qualities of a true gentleman. Porcelain is one of China’s most distinctive ancient arts which was brought to the West via the Silk Road thousands of years ago. Using Ge Kin porcelain as the inspiration for the one-off version is a perfect complement to Ferrari’s China Limited Edition Model.

As one of China’s most successful and influential contemporary artists, Lu Hao has exhibited his work in major museums and galleries around the world. For this project he drew inspiration from China's rich cultural heritage, and as a Ferrari owner, he has a particularly intimate connection with the brand.

“The 599 China Limited Edition model is a true masterpiece, combining rich Chinese artistic heritage with Italian design in a most spectacular way,” says Marco Mattiacci, CEO of Ferrari Asia Pacific.

The proceeds generated from the sale of this car will be used on an educational sponsor programme aimed to help young Chinese students in the automotive engineering field. Details of this programme will be released during the auction.

This is just the latest example of charitable events organized by Ferrari in China since Ferrari Maserati Cars International Trading - Shanghai Co. Ltd was set up in 2004. Other fund-raising efforts have seen Ferrari donate over €500,000 to local charities.

At the Estoril GP the new FIAT Punto Evo “competes” with the FIAT Yamaha Team

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At the Estoril motor cycle GP, on Sunday 4th October 2009, the FIAT Yamaha Team presents its revamped graphics, inspired by the new Punto Evo, FIAT’s latest addition to its range.

The new graphics were designed by the FIAT Style Centre and actually created by Aldo Drudi, the team’s reference designer. Both the Yamaha M1 liveries and rider leathers will pay homage to the Punto Evo, the evolved version of the Grande Punto, with which FIAT aims to consolidate the previous model’s success. Its new features should make it a point of reference in terms of innovation, safety and style. The term “Evo” essentially underscores the automotive progress that will meet the demands of buyers who are increasingly aware of technological developments, driving comfort and environmental issues.

“After sharing the developments of the concepts provided by the FIAT Style Centre with the team and the riders” says Drudi “I wanted to adapt the graphics as best I could without modifying the bike’s initial layout too much. The end result pleased everybody, especially Valentino and Jorge, who always keep a close eye on the “aesthetics” of their machines”.

The dominant colour for the bikes and the team leathers is white, a byword for cleanliness, integrity, purity: concepts that recall the significant decrease in emissions guaranteed by Punto Evo, a car installed with the revolutionary state-of-the-art Multiair and Multijet Euro 5 engines.
The original scheme requested by FIAT Yamaha Team proves how FIAT Automobiles wants to be as close as possible to the “two-wheel circus” enthusiasts, also with projects linked to the world of creativity and design, to approach the youth of today, known to be MotoGp’s biggest fans.

The Fiat 500 in Brazil

The Fiat 500 is due to go on sale at the beginning of October in Brazil and was introduced to the national press today in Rio de Janeiro. The car will also be launched during the same period in Colombia, Barbados and Panama - and presented in Jamaica before the end of 2009. Not to mention the fact that the new Fiat car is already present in Argentina, Chile, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Sain Martin and Paraguay.

The Fiat 500 marketed in Brazil is available in Sport and Lounge outfits, powered by a lively 100 hp 1.4 16v engine teamed with a manual 6-speed gearbox or a 5-speed Dualogic gearbox (robotised, sequential). The power unit and suspension have been adapted to local market needs: the injection system has been re-calibrated to adjust to the 22% of ethanol present in the petrol sold in Brazil. Certain components in direct contact with this specific fuel have also been changed. The suspension has also been revised for the Brazilian roads by increasing the flexibility of the springs and the shock absorber travel.

The Brazilian edition of the car, already awarded the prestigious EuroNCAP 5-star ranking, will offer 7 airbags as standard (two front airbags, two window bags, two sidebags and one knee bag) plus state-of-the-art hi-tech active safety features: ABS with electronic brake distribution (EBD), the sophisticated electronic stability program (ESP), an antislip regulation (ASR) system, a Hill Holder to help the driver with hill starts - and hydraulic brake assistance (HBA) to help with emergency stops.

The Fiat 500 model is an authentic Italian style icon that has won the hearts of the international public and critics alike, as confirmed by more than 390,000 orders collected to date around the world and more than 40 international awards.