The 612 Scaglietti, introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, MI, this week, is the newest aluminum-intensive Ferrari. The 612's spaceframe, developed with Alcoa Advanced Transportation Systems, represents the second-generation of the Ferrari - Alcoa collaboration. The first was the Ferrari Modena. The 612 Scaglietti's performance is significantly enhanced by its lighter and stiffer body structure. Its aluminum spaceframe is 37% lighter than a comparable steel structure and features a 58% improvement in torsional stiffness over the steel frame it replaced on the Ferrari F456. The 612 Scaglietti, with its larger wheelbase, also enhances Ferrari's ability to design and engineer models offering additional passenger room while improving driving performance.

Alcoa Advanced Transportation Systems (AATS) announced that it has been selected by Ferrari as the sole provider for the next-generation aluminum space frame for its new, 12-cylinder, front engine 2+2 sports car, the 612 Scaglietti. Full-series production begins this year. "Alcoa is pleased to have been chosen to collaborate with Ferrari once again to help meet the design, interior space and performance challenges of what is destined to become one of the world's most exciting automobiles," said Rick Milner, President of Alcoa Automotive Transportation Systems. "The Ferrari 360 Modena has successfully demonstrated the capability of a highly-engineered aluminum structure to significantly increase interior space and occupant comfort while not only maintaining, but improving, driving performance. We also believe that the demonstrated safety performance of Alcoa's aluminum structures will be very important in helping Ferrari satisfy Europe's demanding safety requirements."

Production of Ferrari space frame components illustrates Alcoa's pan-European manufacturing and supply capabilities. Cast, extruded and fabricated components are produced in Hungary, Germany and the Netherlands and shipped to Modena, Italy, where they are assembled into the finished space frame at an Alcoa facility inside Ferrari's Scaglietti Works.