This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on July 21, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Naza Italia Sdn Bhd, the sole official importer and distributor of Ferrari vehicles in Malaysia, is geared up to join in the brand’s global festivities, celebrating Ferrari’s 70th anniversary with an exclusive schedule of events in Penang this weekend.

It kick-started the local events with the unveiling of the limited-edition special series model LaFerrari Aperta yesterday.

“Included in this weekend will be a grand rally of Ferraris from Kuala Lumpur to Penang’s United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization site,” it said in a statement yesterday.

An elegant gala dinner will also be hosted at one of George Town’s historical sites, Fort Cornwallis. The LaFerrari Aperta will be unveiled in a dazzling display at the gala dinner.

Naza Italia said the celebrations are part of a busy calendar of events happening in 60 countries around the world.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported Naza Italia chief operating officer Farid Sulaiman as saying that it will be opening the Ferrari City Showroom at the Naza Platinum Park by the end of September this year.

He said the RM3 million facility would showcase the latest Ferrari models as part of the company’s strategy to boost the Ferrari brand presence in the metropolitan area.

“We are not selling cars, we are selling a dream, so we need to provide the total ownership experience. Ferrari owners get to participate in lifestyle events created exclusively for the Ferrari community,” he said at the Ferrari 70th Anniversary press conference and unveiling of the LaFerrari Aperta yesterday.

Only 209 units of the spider version of the acclaimed LaFerrari supercar were manufactured to mark the Ferrari 70th anniversary.

“This is the very first hybrid car introduced by Ferrari,” he added.