488 Spider another sell-out

Ferrari's latest has been officially unveiled Down Under with suggestions of record growth in sales but a commensurate extension of waiting lists.

Ferrari Australasia boss Herbert Appleroth pulled the sheets of the 488 Spider in Melbourne this morning. And while still guarded on commenting on the quantum of pre-orders, suggested the waiting list for the $526,888 turbocharged mid-engined V8 convertible could soon stretch beyond 18 months.

The 488 Spider made its world premiere at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in October.

The first local demonstrators are due to arrive in April next year, with customer deliveries commencing around one month later. Appleroth declined to comment on the local sales projections for the 488 Spider and its coupe counterpart but said he expected the percentage mix to be 45:55 (in favour of the fixed-head) once initial volumes settled down.

Ferrari's fortunes appear to have benefited from the factory-direct operation spearheaded by Appleroth. In terms of to-market times, new model intro delays (compared to Europe) have shrunk from 12 months plus to around five-six months.

Sales too are up – almost 65 per cent year to date.

Indeed, Appleroth told motoring that Australia was "the fastest growing developed market" for the iconic Italian sportscar brand this year.

"You can see what we've delivered on VFACTS, and I'm not going to tell you the number [of orders] but we've had 100 per cent growth on order intake," Appleroth told motoring.com.au.

With Ferrari's total production volumes fixed Appleroth says the local business' growth will be a combination of securing volume from other markets and increasing the average transaction price of each new Ferrari sold.

"It's both... Everyone goes on their own individual [Ferrari purchasing] journey so in our new showrooms the key feature is ateliers – personalisation areas. It means giving every owner a proper Ferrari experience... Not so much about spending more, the messaging is personalise your own car and make your own individual piece of art," he explained.

"But where there's strong growth like Australia and New Zealand there's a lot of pressure for us to secure extra volume and the only real way that can occur for the next two years at least is for us to take volume from other markets.

"It's a matter that I'm front and centre in front of the people who make the decision about where the cars go. I've just got to make sure that I negotiate better than anyone else," he said.

Appleroth says the waiting list time for 488 series (and other models) is a moving target.

"It's a daily conversation I'm having – a great one to have but it's getting a bit monotonous for my bosses. Another ten cars, another 20 cars will make an enormous difference [to waiting times].

"As an owner I understand that going beyond that two year [waiting lists time] is somewhere you go 'Hold on a second. It's too long'," Appleroth admitted.

Spider buyers who do brave the waiting list will (eventually) receive a car that is claimed to be 23 per cent more rigid than its 458 counterpart – indeed, Ferrari claims the new open car matches its coupe counterpart structurally.

Performance is prodigious. The Spider's turbo 4.0-litre V8 is rated at 492kW and 760Nm, the latter from just 3000rpm. The 0-100km/h sprint takes 3.0sec and 0-200km/h is 8.7sec – class-leading performance, the car-maker claims.

And arguably the most important stat for this model: from closed to open takes 14sec and the folding hardtop can be deployed at speeds of up to 45km/h.

Ferrari claims the newly-engineered hardtop is 25kg lighter than previous canvas folding tops and a substantial 40kg lighter than equivalent past hard-tops.

Appleroth admits red is still the default colour for first-time Ferrari customers but in terms of the 488 Spider personally recommends the model-exclusive Blu Corsa.

"The car just works in this colour. First-time Ferrari owners usually go red but second and third [Ferrari] owners are looking to others. White is popular, but this [Blu] will be a strong performer too," he said.