SHANGHAI, China— The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano China Limited Edition — a short run of "less than a dozen" specially designed models for the China market — sounded pretty exclusive when the Italian sports-car maker announced it last month. Exclusive, that is, until Ferrari trumped itself with the news that it has teamed with contemporary Chinese artist Lu Hao to create a one-of-a-kind hand-painted version of the car, to be auctioned off on November 3 in Beijing.
The unique 599 GTB Fiorano China Limited Edition features an exterior finish inspired by ultra-rare Ge Kiln porcelain from the Song dynasty (960-1279), with a distinctive "cracked" glaze pattern etched into the paint and signed by the artist.
A portion of the auction proceeds will be used to sponsor Chinese students in automotive engineering programs.
The regular China Limited Edition models get a two-tone exterior paint scheme, finished in Rosso Fuoco with silver roof. They also come with Ferrari's Handling GTE package, which was announced earlier this year at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show.
The 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE China Limited Edition marks the first time Ferrari has created a special model for China, which has become one of the firm's most significant global markets. In addition to the performance hardware, each car comes with a set of luggage, with an outline of the fabled Silk Road etched in the leather, as well as such unique touches as a tachometer rendered in Chinese characters and an ignition button that glows jade green.
Inside Line says: Only for the serious collector who can afford to display this one in his or her living room. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »