Alfardan Group chairman Hussain Alfardan and Alfardan Group president and CEO Omar Alfardan join other senior officials during the unveiling of the new Ferrari 488 GTB mid-engine sports car. Right: The exclusive Ferrari outlet at The Pearl-Qatar houses the Italian manufacturer’s complete range along with the latest Ferrari 488 GTB.
Alfardan Sports Motors, the official importer of Ferrari in Qatar, has inaugurated its renovated outlet in Doha – the country’s first exclusive Ferrari showroom.
The facility was prepared in time for the launch of the new Ferrari 488 GTB mid-engine sports car. Showcasing the world-renowned Ferrari corporate identity, the outlet is the “ultimate venue for introducing the uniquely powerful vehicle.”
The revamped outlet at The Pearl-Qatar covers two storeys of 925sqm space designed to display up to nine cars simultaneously, along with a reception area, customer lounge, and a lifestyle boutique.
In addition, it also features a dedicated configuration room with décor and choice materials designed to reflect Ferrari’s craftsmanship, stimulating creativity, and imagination.
Present during the opening ceremony were Alfardan Group chairman Hussain Alfardan, Alfardan Group president and CEO Omar Alfardan, and Ferrari Middle East and Africa general manager Giulio Zauner, along with other dignitaries and Alfardan Group executive managers.
Omar Alfardan said: “The enhanced version of Qatar’s first exclusive Ferrari showroom is a genuine reflection of the success and growing demand for the brand in the country and the region.
“It will further strengthen the long-standing partnership between Ferrari and Alfardan Sports Motors, as we collaborate on taking the automobile sector, especially its luxury segment, to greater heights.”
He added: “Automobile enthusiasts are strongly drawn to Ferrari’s promise of power, strength, and luxury. We are confident that the new Ferrari 488 GTB will be received warmly here because of its excellent performance and driving comfort and go on to become one of the country’s most popular sports cars. Alfardan Sports Motors remains committed to offer exceptional and innovative products and services to its valued patrons through our newly renovated showroom.”
The exclusive Ferrari outlet houses the Italian manufacturer’s complete range along with the latest Ferrari 488 GTB, representing a new chapter in the automobile’s 8-cylinder history.
The Ferrari 488 GTB’s all-new 3,902 cc V8 turbo is at the top of its class in terms of power output, torque, and response times. It delivers 670 cv at 8,000 rpm and a response time to the accelerator of just 0.8 seconds (at 2,000 rpm in third gear), making it the new benchmark for this kind of architecture, thanks in part to innovative work carried out on the turbine to reduce friction and inertia.
Ferrari’s engineers also dedicated great attention and resources to perfecting the car’s sound, creating a new soundtrack that is full, clear, progressive, and distinctive, as expected from any Prancing Horse engine.
“We are delighted to continue working with Alfardan Sports Motors to ensure our loyal customers and Ferrari enthusiasts are offered the latest innovations and an unparalleled service. It’s a pleasure to share and reveal the Ferrari 488 GTB in Qatar in the newly-renovated showroom.
“The Ferrari 488 GTB’s name marks a return to the classic Ferrari model designation, with the 488 in its moniker indicating the engine’s unitary displacement, while the GTB stands for Gran Turismo Berlinetta.” Zauner said.
The new Ferrari 488 GTB not only delivers unparalleled performance, it also makes that extreme power exploitable and controllable to an unprecedented level even by less expert drivers. An exceptional engine and sophisticated aerodynamics combined with refined vehicle dynamic controls radically improve the already razor-sharp responsiveness of Ferrari’s road cars to near-track level.
Power (670 cv), engine, and vehicle response times (0.8s and 0.06s, respectively) give the Ferrari 488 GTB a unique character and guarantee unmatched driving pleasure to drivers of all abilities.
To achieve this result, Ferrari drew on its experience in both F1 and GT racing. The new model exploits to the full the know-how gleaned by Ferrari engineers over the last decade through the XX programme, which makes extreme track-only cars available to gentleman test-drivers.
