MYTHS OF THE MOTOR VALLEY

Discover the matchless myths of the motor valley on this full-day excursion from Bologna. Fans of all things fast and furious will take a peek into the factories of two exclusive car manufacturers and get a close look at the creations on view inside the Ferrari Museum.

Meet your private driver at your accommodation and relax on the ride to the Lamborghini plant. The history of Lamborghini Automobili officially began in 1963 when audacious entrepreneur Ferruccio Lamborghini debuted at the Turin Motor Show with his ground-breaking 350 GTV. Since then the creations of this trend-setting manufacturer have been enthusing the world of super sports cars with their cutting-edge design. Lamborghinis need to be instantly recognisable so Mr Lamborghini devised a simple but effective method to evaluate the impact his cars had on the public as he drove along: if people at the sides of the road did not turn around in astonishment and admiration, it meant the car was simply not attractive enough. He also had the idea of naming his models after breeds of fighting bulls – aggressive, dynamic and intrepid, just like his cars.

Car lovers will visit the original factory founded by Ferruccio in Sant’Agata Bolognese and find out how Lamborghini cars are made. A guided group tour will lead you across the assembly line of the Huracán, past the production line of the V12 engine and Aventador, right to the upholstery department. As you will have the chance to see, every single detail, from the chassis to the gearbox, from the suspensions to the leather seats, is forged with passion, finesse and the utmost precision. Once the tour is over, you may independently explore the museum, which features a small but amazing collection of vehicles, including the exclusive Asterion, the few-off Centenario and vintage models.

A 20-minute drive will then bring you to the Pagani plant. Here you will realise that Italy’s automotive successes are no less magnificent than its monuments. Indeed cars are authentic works of art themselves. “…So everything had to come together as if it was a car carved out of a block of Carrara marble…”. This is how entrepreneur Horacio Pagani, explained the aesthetics behind the genesis of his most epic feat, the Huayra Roadster. At Pagani Automobili vehicles are conceived as Michelangiolesque affairs, state of the art masterpieces designed by expert engineers and finely sculpted in carbon fibre. Their cars are a passionate response to complex challenges and involve ambitious resolutions, extraordinary effort, exquisite craftsmanship and sheer devotion, just like a sculpture or painting.

Join a group of like-minded car enthusiasts and enjoy a guided tour of the museum and factory. The tiny, but sensational collection displays a limited number of wondrous vehicles which you would almost certainly never get to see on the streets. What strikes the visitor about the factory is the absence of mass production lines and robotic devices. Cars are painstakingly and expertly assembled manually. This explains why fewer than fifty cars – of the very highest quality – are produced every year. Your guide will give you the backstory of the factory, tracing its development from 1992, when it was first established, to today’s latest projects, and explain how Mr Pagani successfully managed to bring his dream to life… if you’re lucky you might even encounter the gentleman himself!

After some free time for lunch set off for Maranello. Here, on a private tour of the Ferrari Museum, car lovers will discover the history behind this famous sports car brand, from 1947, when the 125 S was first test driven to the recent victories of its Formula One racing cars. They will also hear about the life of Ferrari’s founder, the automotive visionary Enzo Ferrari. Born in Modena in 1898, Mr Ferrari devoted his entire life to designing and creating sports cars. He discovered his passion for racing at the age of 10, when his father took him to watch a competition at a motor racing circuit in Bologna. Rejected as an employee by FIAT, Enzo Ferrari did not admit defeat and ended up developing his very own racing cars which would become one of the world’s most sought after sports car brands, a symbol of luxury and affluence for generations of drivers.

On display you will see exclusive creations for track and road together with engines, trophies, photographs and memorabilia relating to the motor racing industry. The museum also hosts a Ferrari store selling official merchandise, including clothing for men, women and children, model cars, mugs and caps.

Return to your accommodation in Bologna after an exhilarating excursion to the glamorous world of the supercar.