Leveraging decades of experience in the luxury car business, Frank Donatoni leads Porsche of Annapolis in Maryland as general manager. In preparation for his business career, Frank Donatoni graduated with a bachelor of science in economics from Michigan State University.

To mark its fifth decade as a luxury car manufacturer, Porsche is crafting a special 911 model with interior and exterior details inspired by classic Porsche cars. Inside the anniversary edition, the design recalls the company's models from the 1960s by employing tricolor seat embroidery and instruments with silver tops and green markings. The car's exterior sports front air inlets are decorated with chrome strips and a 3-D plaque that reads 911 50.

Performance wise, the vehicle hosts a flat six-cylinder engine capable of exerting 430 horsepower and producing speeds as high as 186 miles per hour. Porsche plans on creating 1,963 of the special vehicles in honor of 1963, the 911's first year of production.
 
The Ferrari Club of America (FCA) is a membership-driven social club headquartered in Atlanta, with 34 club chapters in 16 regions of North America. Founded in 1962, the FCA is the world’s largest Ferrari club, including over 5,000 active members who participate in many automotive events throughout the year. The FCA sponsors or is affiliated with track events, rallies, drives, swap meets, banquets, the Concours d'Elegance car shows, and a range of philanthropic and charitable activities. The publishing arm of the FCA issues a monthly newsletter to update members on Ferrari-related events, and it publishes a quarterly magazine, Prancing Horse, which includes in-depth information, news, and world-class photography and illustrations of Ferrari production, gatherings, and model-specific features.

About the author: Frank Donatoni is the General Manager of Porsche of Annapolis, Maryland, and has been a member of the Ferrari Club of America since 1973. A former Ferrari sales manager, Donatoni has participated in Ferrari-related events in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland for many years, and he is an active member of the FCA’s mid-Atlantic chapter. Through FCA membership, Frank Donatoni supports the community of luxury car enthusiasts and is doing his part to keep longstanding automotive traditions in America strong.
 
Reviewers at MotorAuthority.com considered several factors in naming the Porsche 911 the website’s Best 2012 Car to Buy, including performance and handling, available features, comfort, overall quality, and safety. The rear engine allows for incredible in-line acceleration, they noted, and Porsche engineers have corrected for the turning understeer that plagued earlier models. The front trunk is spacious and functional. In terms of safety, the Porsche 911 offers both Porsche Stability Management (PSM) and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), which monitor the build of power in the car and keep it under control regardless of driving conditions. Ultimately, the site reports, the Porsche 911 wins based on both the experience of driving and that of owning the car. The Porsche 911 offers performance combined with luxury, the website concludes, along with what many have described as an inexplicable satisfaction in driving it.

About the Author:

As the General Manager of Porsche of Annapolis, Frank Donatoni frequently helps customers choose the best Porsche model for their needs.
 
By Frank Donatoni

Three hundred and ninety-nine Ferraris rolled out of the company's Maranello's factory in Italy recently—all the cars manufactured by Ferrari that year. For a brand that is synonymous with engineering perfection and style, that might seem like an awfully small number. However, a smart business strategy is at work behind it. 

Businesses generally price products based on value and volume. Customers are ready to pay premium prices for products that are low in volume but high in their perceived value. Ferrari fits the premium brand perfectly. The Ferrari brand has prestige, heritage, and class associated with it. Buying a Ferrari confers a part of that prestige and heritage on its owner. With its high pricing, the brand is exclusively targeted toward the upper strata of society. 

However, cash alone is not enough to buy a Ferrari. Customers have to jump through several hoops to own or maintain the luxury car. For example, potential buyers have to apply to buy certain limited editions. Perks such as factory tours are immediately withdrawn if the customer fails to adhere to restrictions outlined in the application. Similarly, certain limited editions are not available for outright sale. Instead, the car can only be leased from the company. Because of this combination of pricing, quality, and exclusivity, Ferrari Limited Editions are a winner for the company. 

About the author: 
Frank Donatoni is a Ferrari enthusiast and member of the Ferrari Club of America.