Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo made it clear: "I have been president of this company for nearly twenty years, and I hope to continue for another twenty, and as long as that is so, Ferrari will not make a four-door sedan."
It was a logical enough question for the handsome, di Montezemolo here at the Paris motor show, as cross-town rival Lamborghini rolled out the Estoque four-door concept, one of the show's most talked-about reveals. "We will continue to build extreme cars, sporty cars, larger GTs, but a sedan is not right for Ferrari." When asked about the radical Lambo sedan concept that is on its way to production, he replied simply, "Good luck."
People still remember the Pinin, a four-door Ferrari concept designed and built in 1981 by Pininfarina, so it was a logical question to ask. But that car was never an official Ferrari project; it sold as "automobilia" not as a car, at RM Auction's Legenda e Passione sale at the Ferrari factory in May.
I agree with Mr. di Montezemolo. Every carmaker should explore unique automotive forms, but this is a place that Ferrari should never, ever go. I believe this is one of the reasons Lamborghini put forth the Estoque, because they know Ferrari will not respond in kind with its own sedan. This gives Lambo some clear air in the exoticar stratosphere.
Over the next few years, we'll find out how the Estoque, the Panamera, the Rapide, future Bentley models, and possibly others will do in this space. No matter, this particular fight will take place without Ferrari. It's a place Maranello doesn't belong, and I'm pleased they feel no need to go there.
