Ferrari opened its first long-term permanent exhibition outside its headquarters in Maranello, Italy, in the Italia Centre at the Shanghai World Expo Park in China to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ferrari in China.
Piero Ferrari, Deputy Chairman of Ferrari and son of the founder Enzo, opened the three-year, 900-square-metre exhibition along with members of the Italian and Chinese governments on Friday, the 18th of May 2012. “In this museum, we tell part of our story. We show the values that accompany our cars” he said at the opening.
For the first year, the exhibition will focus on five topics—Ferrari in China, Green Technology, Products, Design, Racing—and incorporate Ferraris significant to China, including the Ferrari FF, the 750 Monza sport prototype, the 365 GTB4 and 365 GTB4 Daytona, and the 348 TS, the first Ferrari to enter the Chinese market.
Visitors can experience the feel of racing a Ferrari in a similator that runs virtual laps on the Monza circuit, Italy's Formula One Grand Prix venue, while owners can take their cars on the professional driving course created for the exhibition and visit the new Ferrari Owners’ Club.
China is Italy’s second largest market in the world. Ferrari sold 777 vehicles in Greater China (China, Hong Kong and Macao) in 2011 alone. To commemorate this relationship, Ferrari has designed a limited edition of the 8 cylinder, mid-rear engined 458 Italia in “Marco Polo Red” with a unique livery combining the Ferrari prancing horse with the Chinese dragon into the legendary dragon-horse or longma. Only 20 will be made in honour of the 20th anniversary.