President of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, hosted a splendid evening in the Palazzo Re Enzo in the Piazza del Nettuno, Bologna in the presence of Pierro Ferrari, Jean Todt, and 600 guests (including 80 from the UK invited to attend by Ferrari GB) for a private unveiling of the 599GTB.

Ferrari dealers and their customers from across Europe were present to see the covers taken off two examples of the car, one resplendent in Argento Metallizzato, the other in a stunning shade of metalic red, variously described as Rubino, but closer to Fiorano or almost Rosso Cordoba but eventually explained as a new red, but in the excitement no one could remember the name. As the covers came off The President announced that the 599 would be known as the 599GTB Fiorano.

This was a terrific opportunity to see the new Ferrari close up and there is no doubt that it is singularly striking, purposful and with a frontal aspect that is almost menacing with the deep sweeping bonnet area down to the front grill. One had to be pretty patient to get a close look once the cars had been unveiled – but we Brits have great tenacity and several of us remained sampling until the crowd thinned enough to picture the whole car. Piero Ferrari happily posed at the rear of one of the cars (last pic).