Fine China: One-off porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 special to be auctioned for charity [w/VIDEO]
One-of-a-kind Ferrari 599 in cracked porcelain by Lu Hao – Click above for UPDATED high-res image gallery
In a communist country, all Ferraris are equal, but some are more equal than others. Take the special-edition 599 that the Italian automaker debuted exclusively for the Chinese market. Only twelve of them will be made. And now, an even more exclusive version – as exclusive as they get, really – has been presented.
This one-of-a-kind special Ferrari has been further differentiated by Lu Hao, a Chinese artist who applied the special touches that make the China special edition, well...special. It's been decked out in the cracked glaze pattern of the coveted Song Dynasty-era Ge Liln porcelain, and signed by the artist. The unique supercar will be auctioned off for charity in Beijing on November 3, but you can see it for yourself in the gallery below and the video after the jump.
UPDATE: Two new images added to the gallery below, and official press release inserted under the video after the jump.
[Source: Ferrari]
PRESS RELEASE:
FERRARI ANNOUNCES A UNIQUE ONE-OFF VERSION OF THE 599 GTB FIORANO CHINA LIMITED EDITION
7 October 2009, Shanghai ― Ferrari announces the creation of a unique one-off 599 GTB Fiorano China Limited Edition, signed by Chinese artist Lu Hao, which will be auctioned on the 3rd of November at a special Gala Auction Event hosted by Ferrari in Beijing. This exclusive car follows the announcement in September of a small series of specially-designed 599 GTB Fiorano China Limited Edition models which won wide acclaim.
The one-off incorporates a number of the features of the China Limited Edition cars, a very limited series of less than a dozen cars finished in two-tone Rosso Fuoco with silver roof and characterised by unique Chinese design elements.
This one-off model represents an even more exclusive version, thanks to a very special exterior finish which draws inspiration from Ge Kiln porcelain of the Song Dynasty. Lu Hao has blended traditional design elements with Ferrari's innovative styling to create a truly unique vehicle using a 'cracked' glaze pattern which is elegantly coloured, with clearly defined cracks etched at different depths.
Only a few hundred pieces of Ge Kiln porcelain exist today, all of which are priceless treasures. The "cracked" glaze pattern has the lustre of jade and is often used to symbolise the qualities of a true gentleman. Porcelain is one of China's most distinctive ancient arts which was brought to the West via the Silk Road thousands of years ago. Using Ge Kin porcelain as the inspiration for the one-off version is a perfect complement to Ferrari's China Limited Edition Model.
As one of China's most successful and influential contemporary artists, Lu Hao has exhibited his work in major museums and galleries around the world. For this project he drew inspiration from China's rich cultural heritage, and as a Ferrari owner, he has a particularly intimate connection with the brand.
"The 599 China Limited Edition model is a true masterpiece, combining rich Chinese artistic heritage with Italian design in a most spectacular way," says Marco Mattiacci, CEO of Ferrari Asia Pacific.
Part of the proceeds generated from the sale of this car will be used on an educational sponsor programme aimed to help young Chinese students in the automotive engineering field. Details of this programme will be released during the auction.
This is just the latest example of charitable events organised by Ferrari in China since Ferrari Maserati Cars International Trading - Shanghai Co. Ltd was set up in 2004. Other fund-raising efforts have seen Ferrari donate over €500,000 to local charities.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dave 1:11PM (10/06/2009)
Hulk tear roof off and drive.
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Azael 6:47PM (10/06/2009)
Hulk also smash kid's college fund!
Flea 1:14PM (10/06/2009)
kids will find this awesome... sell models of it to them as the Ferrari Velociraptor edition...
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jonnybimmer 1:26PM (10/06/2009)
Ha, first thing I thought when I saw it was "Is that reptile skin?" Hopefully it looks different in person, it's a pretty strange pattern/design. Still, better than chrome!
Berto 1:14PM (10/06/2009)
Eh, it looks quite tacky.
It almost makes it look like a crappy promo car but just missing some decals.
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maestro340 3:11PM (10/06/2009)
Oh great, is China going to follow the footsteps of many tasteless wealthy Dubaians now they are getting rich? The other Chinese special edition 599 was pretty cool but this cracked dinosaur egg-look is just garbage. I don't see Chinese culture in this at all.
Zeph 1:25PM (10/06/2009)
Mixed feelings about the china pattern. It looks nice from an artistic point of view... but it just feels wrong on a car, it's like it dropped and got broken, which hardly gives a perception of value added.
At least you can scrape the thing moderately and nobody will notice with that camouflage pattern :D
Still a million times better than the Denim 599 (google it and be amazed at the kitsh car).
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The Hit 1:42PM (10/06/2009)
Still seems proper, since most Ferraris are bought to be seen, not to be used...
Venom 1:25PM (10/06/2009)
First of all it is ugly.
Just because something is exclusive does not mean it is good or worth the money.
I am sorry I would not buy anything or turn over a car that expensive to a man that wears linoleum t shirts while smoking a cigarette in a desperate attempt to look cool and not like the pudgy desperate middle aged man that he is trying to hang on to his youth.
This looks like something any Mexican in LA would be able to day anyway although their work usually looks much better than this...
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Wayno-san 1:27PM (10/06/2009)
Looks reptilian; I have nothing more offer.
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Dieter 1:27PM (10/06/2009)
Reminds me of the skin from a Borg!
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warsteiner89 1:33PM (10/06/2009)
looks like it could use some lotion
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Nibcrom 1:45PM (10/06/2009)
You gotta get yourself...a porcelain fountain.
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Jim Dubois 1:47PM (10/06/2009)
It's a Ferrari not a Celadon vase!!!
UGH
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ronzo 2:06PM (10/06/2009)
Ok, well, that's one way to ruin a Ferrari.
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Egon 2:48PM (10/06/2009)
Just another example of 'just because you 'can' doesn't necessary mean that you 'should''.
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LaserRed38 5:37PM (10/06/2009)
I personally think it looks beautiful. But then I love Asian women and culture, so maybe I'm biased. But if I was in the market for a Ferarri, a 599 would be in my garage. The new 458 hasn't grown on me yet.
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taipeileviathan 3:52AM (10/07/2009)
loving asian women and culture does not make you biased. proclaiming basically that you have an asian fetish in the unrelated context of this conversation does, however, make you an idiot.
Will 5:43PM (10/06/2009)
It looks great in the gallery. On the road it just seems pretentious.
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Paxx 8:44PM (10/06/2009)
Ok this is obviously a showpiece not meant to be driven. As it's an homage to a great piece of art you can't really expect it to be not a little over the top don't you think? And for all those saying it looks reptilian. . . you're mocking Chinese art here but I suppose it's hard to maintain that real porcelain look.
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