|
Price |
|
-- |
Production |
|
-- |
|
Engine |
6
liter V12 |
Weight |
3911
lbs |
|
Aspiration |
natural |
Torque |
434
lb-ft @ 5250 rpm |
|
HP |
540
hp @ 7250 rpm |
HP/Weight |
7.2
hp per liter |
|
HP/Liter |
90
hp per liter |
1/4 mile |
-- |
|
0-62 mph |
4
seconds |
Top Speed |
199
mph |
(from Ferrari Press
Release) First Day From Mysore
In the morning, before
the start of today’s leg, we have to say good- bye to some of our
journalists: Pedro Madera, Antonio Carlucci, Carlo di Giusto and
Yuin Tuin are leaving. Thomas Lam, the Korean Chris Kim from Strada
and the Indian Shapor Kotwal from Autocar India take over their
positions. First the road leads us through the green and fertile
landscape of the Mysore valley, but later it becomes more and more
arid and also the road conditions worsen, which forces the
journalists behind the wheels of the 612 Scaglietti to pay lots of
attention and avoiding bumps and holes. At the frontier to Tamil we
reach the Pandipur National Park with eucalyptus trees and gorgeous
flowers. Now the road leads up to the mountain pass with an altitude
of more than 2,000 metres, right in front of the Ooty valley. After
all the bumps and holes in the road, now the two cars from Ferrari
can unleash their horses and take the 36 turns up to the mountain
pass. After a short descent we reach Ooty, which looks like a
village in the Alps, on an altitude of 2,250 metres. The village of
Ooty has been built around 1800 by the Madras and smartened up by
the Brits, to escape the hot summers down in the valley. The village
is surrounded by woods and tea plantations (some of them are owned
by Tata) and with its numerous hotels it will soon be a tourist
location.
Second Day
We’re leaving Ooty and
drive through woods and tea plantations. The plantations are quite
small and they all look exactly the same. The houses are built on
terraces in the middle of the plantations. The roads are bendy and
very narrow and at a certain point we reach the descent leading the
plateau. The roads are now slightly better but there is more and
more traffic so our average speed drops. By the side of the road we
can now spot banana plantations and coconut trees. Fresh coconut
milk is sold right next to the road. We have a short stop at
Coimbatore at the Tata dealer, who, thanks to a commercial agreement
between the two companies, also sells Fiat. Later we’re on our way
to the frontier at Kerala, another state of the Federal Republic of
India. At the frontier there is a roadblock, because this is also
the entry to a Natural Resort. We’re crossing the wonderful park and
on the other side we find more tea plantations on the hillsides. The
villages around here do not only have Hindu temples but also
Christian churches, which is a sign for the Portuguese and Dutch
influence in this area. The roads are still very narrow and bendy,
which makes overtaking and passing other vehicles really difficult.
With a very low average speed we arrive at Munnar when it is already
dark. Tomorrow we will visit the tea plantations and learn about tea
production.
Third Day
Today is completely
dedicated to the world of tea. The valleys around Munnar are all
covered in tea plantations. India is the world’s biggest tea
producer and its production provides work for thousands of people.
The tea plants are all of the same height - at shoulderheight - so
the shoots can be taken off easily. The whole valley is cultivated
and paths - some measured out and some quite irregular - lead
through the plantations. The journalists are delighted by what they
see, but they also don’t stop taking photos and filming the two 612
Scaglietti with the valley and the plantations as a backdrop. We are
having lunch at the Tata Tea Club, which is exactly as it was at the
beginning of the 20th century, with its really magic atmosphere.
Afterwards we are
allowed to visit one of the tea producing factories, where the
tealeaves are prepared for processing..
Fourth Day
We are leaving the
valleys with their vast tea plantations and drive in the direction
of the coast. The roads are steeply sloping and there is almost some
sort of tropical vegetation by the side of the road. It’s not dry
and arid anymore now at all. The road conditions change quite
frequently and sometimes it is difficult to pass vehicles we meet
along the way. Slowly the temperature is rising, as we get closer to
the sea. The mild climate of Munnar and Ooty are now just a memory.
The houses in the villages we are passing are lined up right next to
the road and social life happens right here on the streets. People
are dressed in a traditional way: Sarees for the women, shirt and
Westi for the men. Before we arrive at Kochi we’re passing a village
of carpenters, selling drawers, chairs and settees. Now we can even
spot small supermarkets and the cows in the middle of the road are
less and less frequently. Obviously this area is somehow richer than
the ones we’ve passed before. We stop at the local Tata Fiat dealer
RF Motors to say hello and leave in the direction of Kochi. This
city is quite modern, with industry and shops, which are not the
general stores we’ve seen until now. The temperature is now at 39
degrees, but inside the two 612 Scaglietti the temperature is very
nice, thanks to the air condition on board. We’re off for some
sightseeing and stop at the “Chinese web” and visit the former
Jewish ghetto..
Fifth Day
Today we spend at Kochi
and the journalists are off to explore the life of the city. There
is an industrial harbour and Kochi’s part for its tourist can be
found on three interconnected islands. The ferries are the most
comfortable and fastest way of transport here. We’re going to see
the Dutch Palace, the residence of the Portuguese governor, the
church of the Holy Francis, the tomb of Vasco de Gama, the bazaar
with its typical stands and in the afternoon we watch a play at the
Cochin Culture Centre, a classic Indian dance.
Sixth Day
We drive along the coast
in Southern direction to the furthest point in the South. The road
conditions are excellent. It’s Sunday and there is hardly any
traffic. Our first stop is at Allepy and we visit the canals and the
dikes. There are many houseboats covered with palm leafs. It looks
like the Netherlands with all the canals around. Later we’re
driving in Southern direction and the road leads us through a
wonderful palm garden. There are houses along the road and one
village blends into the other. We can spot many craftsmen but also
some industry, mainly connected to marble.
Also here most of the people are wearing the traditional Indian
dresses: Sarees and Westis. We stop at the Tata Consultancy
Services College, which is one of the best think tanks in India.
The students, in touch with the world’s most sophisticated
technologies, are enthusiastic about the cars from Ferrari.
Tomorrow new journalists will join up with us.
Seventh Day
Today we are driving
from Kovalam to the furthest point in the South of India, Cape
Comorin, where the Arabian Sea meets the Indian Ocean and the Bay of
Bengal. This is the holy place of the goddess Kumari, where
religious men dive into the waters and pray in the direction of the
rising sun.
At Kovalam we find an impressive market selling spices, fish and
souvenirs and we stop to have a closer look. Just off the coast
there is a small island with the memorial of the philosopher
Vivekananda and an effigy of the poet Tiruvalluvar; later on we
visit the Gandhi Memorial, where the ashes of the founder of modern
India are kept, and the Temple of goddess Kumari. Outside the
village there is one of the most prestigious schools of India: the
engineering college Holy Francis Xavier, founded in the year 1540.
Kovalam just like Goa, is crowded with tourists, thanks to its
wonderful beaches with palm trees. There are many hotels,
restaurants, souvenir vendors and very nice shops to see. Tomorrow
we will go back up North, driving along the Eastern coast up to
Calcutta.
The remainder of the
day-by-day journal available at
www.ferrari-indiantour.com
