Mar 1 2006
Alcoa announced today that it is supplying the aluminum spaceframe for the new Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, presented at the Geneva Auto Show. The spaceframe is being manufactured at the newly-expanded Alcoa Advanced Transportation Systems (AATS) plant located in Modena, Italy.
"The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano represents a significant step forward in the evolution of the Ferrari-Alcoa strategic partnership," according to Misha Riveros-Jacobson, AATS president. "First, it brings advanced aluminum structural technology and performance to all Ferrari's Gran Turismo vehicles. Second, it advances the goal of the strategic partnership between the two companies, which is to make Ferrari a world leader in the application of leading-edge automotive aluminum technology. And third, it makes Alcoa the sole-source provider of spaceframes for all of Ferrari Gran Turismo vehicles."
The Ferrari-Alcoa partnership began in 1994. Alcoa has worked with Ferrari on a series of spaceframes structures, beginning with the 360 Modena and currently encompassing the F430, 612 Scaglietti and now the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. Alcoa was the recipient of the Podio Ferrari 2005 "President's Award" in recognition of its partnership with the automaker in supplying the aluminum chassis.
"We have steadily enhanced spaceframe technology from generation to generation of Ferrari vehicles," according to Ms. Riveros-Jacobson. "Structural stiffness has been consistently improved, along with mass reduction, through Alcoa's unique capability to combine the strength of cast, extruded and rolled products in a high-performance spaceframe structure."