India, Oct. 22 -- There are car shows, and then there is Universo Ferrari. Walking into the sprawling exhibition at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, I found myself looking at the automobile in a slightly different way. Yes, there were the sculpted bodies, the impossibly low silhouettes and the engineering that makes a Ferrari instantly recognisable. But there was also a much larger story unfolding around them: one about racing, design, craftsmanship, innovation and the emotional currency of owning a car that has become a cultural icon.

For someone encountering this side of Ferrari for the first time, Universo Ferrari is a compelling introduction. The exhibition, running until November 1, brings together the marque's current road cars, motorspor...