Wentworth Lifestyle speaks to Howard Rose, Managing Director of Maranello Sales. We gain an appreciation of its heritage, markets and the latest Ferrari range.

Of all the official Ferrari dealerships located throughout the UK, we are lucky enough to have the Maranello showroom located in its very stylish art-deco building just a few miles from Wentworth on the A30 at the bottom of Egham Hill. Founded in the early 1960s, it was the UK’s first Ferrari retail outlet and remains one of the largest in the world. It now boasts a separately located Service centre plus a Classic Parts division (supplying parts world-wide) and employs over 140 people.

Pre-owned Ferraris populate the Dealerships forecourt, making it a possible distraction to those driving by. Howard explains that his clientele forms of a pyramid in terms of its spending power, with high-worth individuals purchasing new cars and those slightly less well-off buying pre-owned models. And this means that used vehicles make up the majority of Maranello’s sales, providing many the opportunity to buy their dream cars which they would otherwise be beyond their grasp.

For this to be successful, trust and reputation are paramount. Howard states “I learned very early on that the values of pre-owned cars were based on age, mileage and condition. But with Maranello that is not enough – condition has to be outstanding.” This means that only the best Ferrari examples will be made available for sale.

The purchasing of performance cars such as Ferraris has historically been driven by enthusiasts in the field, typically middle-aged and younger men. However, Howard points out that up to 10 per cent of new cars are now sold to women. Indeed Maranello now organises annual events for its female Ferrari owners.

Other events and driving tours are organised by Ferrari itself as well as by Maranello both in the UK and across Europe. It is a means of creating a ‘club-like’ bond between owners, which in turn supports the Ferrari brand. Howard says, “You can’t believe how quickly Ferrari owners, who don’t know each other, bond together when taking part in these events. The common denominator is the car and a passion for driving. Some great friendships are formed as a result.” Ferrari ownership also opens door for Factory tours, attending new model launches, Formula 1 and Le Mans events.

Competition, diversity, evolution and choice

When asked about competitors, I suggest that from a sports car perspective Porsche or Lamborghini might be closest, but Rose quickly corrects me. “How about if I told you it is diamonds, watches, jewellery, second homes, helicopters, aeroplanes and new kitchens. Have you seen the price of a new kitchen?” You are therefore competing in a luxury environment where consultative decisions are often made on the discretionary spending of hard-earned money. More often than not it is a couple that enters the showroom and after considerable discussion they make their joint selections and choose their ultimate car.

Like many other car manufacturers, Ferrari has chosen to offer a broader range of vehicles as compared with its 1990s product choices – thereby covering a wider market spectrum and achieving greater penetration. The introduction of the Ferrari California in 2008, conceptually based on the 250 GT California of the late 1950s, was perhaps the first step in this direction and paved the way to a far wider market. The car was later superseded by the Portofino in 2018, to be replaced yet again by the Roma Spider in 2024.

Another car which shook the establishment was the 458 Italia, first released in 2009. It featured a V8 engine which produced exceptional performance and offered high levels of technical and aesthetic innovation. It was superseded by the 488 GTB in 2015 with the F8 Tributo and F8 Spider replaced this model in 2019. Using the same engine as the 488 Pista but producing the most power of any V8 powered Ferrari to date, it also featured significant advancements in its traction and stability control programs. Finally, we arrive with the 296 GTB, a V6 PHEV (plug-in hybrid), borrowing the Formula 1 electric power train, to make it the fastest Ferrari in this category.

The V12 engine is the largest to power Ferrari cars. It powered the 365GTB, GTS/4, F12 Berlinetta, the 812 Superfast, and since 2015 it now propels the 12Cilindri. Such cars represent the crème-de-la-crème and are produced in limited numbers. It will be interesting to see how this category performs in the face of PHEV competition. Indeed, the F80, launched in 2025 to celebrate 80 years of Ferrari could announce the way of the future with is 3-litre twin turbocharged engine and three electric motors, producing 1,184 horsepower.

The final addition is the Purosangue V12, an SUV which became available in 2024. Literally meaning ‘thoroughbred’ classifying the car as an SUV is perhaps a bit of a misnomer, but it joins other such offerings produced by Bentley, Lamborghini and Aston Martin. It is the brand’s first four-door, four-seat vehicle and it is powered by 6.5 litre V12 engine which produces exceptional performance. That combined with its comfort and ride credentials make it unique.

If you think this is the end of your options when it comes to Ferrari selection you are wrong, although much depends on your spending power. When a model approaches the end of its production, Ferrari will introduce a limited edition car which is targeted at the collector’s market. If it is sporty car, its sporty side will be accentuated to make it even more desirable. Then there is the Icona series which looks back at iconic models of the past and recreates them in a modern rendition – this facility is available by invitation only.

Ferrari offers multiple different personalization programmes to help you specifically achieve the Ferrari of your dreams. The Atelier at the Factory in Maranello Italy, is a truly exclusive and sophisticated space. The team of experts assists guests to create their very own bespoke car. Clients use the Atelier programme to create a unique Ferrari that they mould to their own tastes. Alternatively, clients can choose the TailorMade Programme: this exclusive program is for those clients who want to customize every element of their Ferrari. You are effectively putting your personality in your Ferrari. Your Ferrari becomes an extension of yourself. 

Finally, there is the Special Projects programme which creates unique Ferraris (so-called “One-Offs”) characterised by an exclusive design crafted around the requirements of each individual client to ensure each one becomes the owner of a genuinely one-of-a-kind model. Each project originates from an idea put forward by the client and then developed with a team of designers from Ferrari’s Styling Centre.

The ‘race division’

Enzo Ferrari, who was born in Modena in 1898, and died in 1988, devoted his entire life to designing and building the most beautiful sports cars in the world and delivering them to the road and the track. Beginning his career with Alfa Romeo, the Italian soon branched out to create his own company – and made supercar history in the process. Through the release of the two-seat  125 S in 1947, which went on to win six races out of 14 in the same year, Motor racing continued to be at the heart of Enzo Ferrari’s passion and despite the company’s commercial successes in terms of road cars, it remained that way.

Typically, we consider Formula 1 when thinking about motor racing, but Ferrari also has a very strong presence with the Challenge Racing series, GT3 and Hypercar racing in the World Endurance Championship, and other similar series around the world. Nevertheless, names like Stirling Moss, Nikki Lauda, Michael Schumacher and more recently Sebastian Vettel, jump out of the history books as multi-race winners of Formula 1 for the brand. The recent addition of Lewis Hamilton to that list of prolific drivers is testament to the brand’s allure. Time will tell whether his successes in other F1 cars will lead to even more Ferrari accolades, although his notoriety as a fashion icon is likely to remain.

Ferrari road cars incorporate significant technology derived from their Formula 1 racing cars, including engine improvements, aerodynamic features, and advanced Human-Machine Interface (HMI) systems. Its strong in-house engineering and design team will provide continuity in this regard and the company’s board, which presides over both the racing and commercial divisions, will ultimately ensure that the process continues.

There is no doubting that Ferrari’s strong presence in motor racing, particularly the high-profile Formula 1, has reinforced and boosted its luxury brand presence in commercial markets. Proof of this is to be found in the company’s sales which in 2024 resulted in the purchasing of 13,752 cars, generating an income of 6.7 billion euros.  

For more information on purchasing a new or pre-owned Ferrari contact Maranello Sales in Egham.