We arrive just a few days before Lewis Hamilton hits the legendary tracks in Maranello. One thing quickly becomes clear to us, ‘There are two religions in Italy. There’s the Catholic Church and there’s Ferrari.’
Ferrari's iconic headquarters are truly one of a kind.
As we amble through the Ferrari complex, we continuously encounter elements of surprise and brilliant design.
Two robots, affectionately named Romeo and Juliet, exchange rings while assembling a V8 engine. A lush jungle flourishes among sleek industrial elements for the workers’ well-being. The factory gleams with a glossy, futuristic vibe, as floating cars glide above us.
‘Here, the soul enters the body,’ someone narrates as we watch an engine carefully placed into a vehicle frame.
There is a level of perfection that seems to border on divinity. It feels a little like standing in God’s workshop as he is crafting a human.
Enzo Ferrari was never hesitant to infuse human elements into his cars. The founder, who viewed the car and driver as one entity, often engaged in deep conversations with his Formula 1 drivers. The "feel" of the car, as experienced by Michael Schumacher and Niki Lauda, was then incorporated into the design. Their spirits continue to live on in these cars.
‘You can feel the spirit of Enzo Ferrari,’ someone tells us as staff bustles around coffee like at an F1 pitstop.
Undoubtedly, there is something that can be felt. When an unyielding pursuit of perfection and passion merges with artistic vision, it creates something intangible, invisible yet real and alive. It’s as though a soul is born, that flows like lifeblood through Ferrari. Maybe, this is the myth of Ferrari.
Now, this myth enters a new era. We sat down with three Ferrari leaders—Paolo Molinari (head of powertrain manufacturing), Franco Pinna (head of technology and innovation), and Giacomo Lorenzin (head of foundry and machining technologies)—who shared insights into the next chapters of the legend.
So, what does the future have in store for Ferrari, especially with the EU’s 2035 ban on combustion engines?
‘The classic Ferrari customer can expect that he can buy a Ferrari ICE until 2035,’ the team says.
As Ferrari stated during its investor day, it will continue to use hybrids, internal combustion engines (ICEs), and fully electric vehicles for as long as possible. ‘We do not believe in one single way to get to the target,’ the team says. The idea is to leave no stone unturned.
‘We will continue on this path of not choosing one technology over the other for our customers. We want them to be able to do so. That doesn't exclude any technology at the moment, even the ones that are more future-looking.’
A new electric vehicle will be joining the Ferrari lineup, set to launch at the end of this year. However, it won’t replace any of the brand's existing models. Instead, Ferrari views EVs as an additional offering, enhancing its overall range.
‘In the end, the important thing is not the power. The important thing is that Ferrari is still Ferrari for our customers. If we manage to build a car that is allegedly, but also in reality a Ferrari, then the problem does not exist.’
‘We like to say different Ferrari for different Ferraristi at different moments,’ the team explains.
To Ferrari this is more than just marketing.
‘If you think of our range at the moment, it’s so diverse. It goes from the Roma to the SF90, two completely different worlds, two different types of people, probably also at different moments.’
Some clients prefer to be traditional; others prefer to be more performant; some wish to be greener.
‘But luxury is just that, luxury is about being different. Luxury is about one's feeling of uniqueness.’
The difficulty is meeting these needs from the same foundry, the team laughs.
When it comes to its foundry, Ferrari doesn't appear to have embraced gigacasting yet. While the company is still exploring the potential of the technology, Pinna says they currently don’t see an immediate need for it in their products.
However, the foundry has innovated its power. ‘We are using 100% green energy,’ says Molinari. This marked a significant milestone toward neutrality for the company last September. Additionally, Ferrari plans to eventually use 100% recycled alloys to lower its carbon footprint. The company has also embraced an ESG-focused approach, encouraging both blue-collar and white-collar employees to seek sustainable solutions.
‘We're using human resources and human capital to try and get the finish line as soon as possible.’
Looking ahead, Ferrari’s innovation aims to anticipate future needs.
Much like the introduction of the iPhone, Ferrari doesn’t want to follow the crowd’s demands but rather create new ones for people to chase. Their cars have already evolved significantly over the past decade. The lineup now includes a plug-in hybrid, a four-door model, and a soft top—technologies and vehicles that would have likely been unimaginable for Ferrari just ten years ago.
‘Now, they're here and they're true Ferraris, we love them. The important thing is to stay true to the DNA - who we are, to continue being recognized as a legend and winner in sports and racing,' he says.
To the team, one thing remains certain: Ferrari is forever.
A Portrait: The Ferrari Foundry in Maranello
The Ferrari foundry in Maranello is a vital element in the production of Ferrari engines. It plays a crucial role in crafting aluminum components for the brand's high-performance engines. Using cutting-edge technologies and precise manufacturing techniques, the foundry upholds the highest quality standards for Ferrari's iconic engines..
Location and Function
- Location: Maranello, Italy, in the heart of the Ferrari headquarters
- Function: Production of essential aluminum components such as cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, and other parts for the famous V12, V8, and V6 engines
Capacity and Resources
- Facility Size: 9,500 m³
- Workforce: 128 skilled workers, including 9 dedicated to quality control and special projects
- Shift Operations: 3 shifts per day for continuous production 5 days a week
- Production Volume: 3,500 tons of aluminum per year
- Material Quality: 100% premium-grade aluminum
- Casting Equipment:
- 6 fully automated casting cells
- Sand casting carousel for efficient serial production
- More than 50 different core types for various engine designs
Casting Processes
The Ferrari foundry employs cutting-edge casting technologies to achieve the highest standards of precision and material quality. The key processes include:
- Sand Casting
- Gravity Die Casting
- Ferrari is evaluating Low-Pressure Die Casting for future products
- Cold-box Conventional Core Shooting
- 3D Printing for Sand Cores for prototypes
Special Casting Processes for Exclusive Projects
- Hand-mold Foundry: For prototypes and special custom-made components
- Ferrari Classico: Production of parts for historic Ferrari vehicles and restoration projects
- Custom Castings for Formula 1: High-performance components for motorsports applications
Post-Processing and Quality Assurance
To guarantee the highest precision and quality, all components undergo further processing steps following the casting:
Heat Treatment
- Optimization of mechanical properties such as strength and durability
CNC Machining
- High-precision milling and machining processes to meet tight tolerances
Quality Control
- Application of advanced inspection methods:
- X-ray inspection to detect casting defects
- Ultrasonic testing for material analysis
- 3D metrology to ensure exact specifications
Technological Innovation
Ferrari consistently invests in research and development to improve the efficiency and precision of its foundry.
Significance for Ferrari
The foundry is essential to maintaining the performance and distinctiveness of Ferrari engines. By manufacturing key components in-house, Ferrari retains complete control over quality and design, ensuring its technological edge in the high-performance and motorsport sectors.
