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Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge demonstrates evolution of the breed on Laguna Seca’s Corkscrew

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Challenge at Laguna Seca

Ferrari 458 Challenge at Laguna Seca – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Ferrari 458 Challenge made its racing debut last month at Monza, and the spec race car appeared for the first time here in the U.S. a few weeks later at California’s Infineon Raceway. While we couldn’t make it out to Sonoma for the latter, we did get our first look at the 458 Challenge this past weekend at the Ferrari Racing Days at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

As with its road cars, Ferrari somehow manages to vastly improve the performance of each generation of race cars, and the 458 Challenge is no exception. Ferrari says that the 458 Challenge can lap the Fiorano race track about two seconds faster than its predecessor, and that difference translated to Laguna Seca. The fastest 458 Challenge cars were turning in times more than three seconds quicker than the top 430 Challenge cars. Even the fastest 430 driver, who set a new class qualifying lap record of 1:31.630, was half a second behind the slowest 458.

You can see our photos of the 458 Challenge at the Ferrari Racing Days in the high-res gallery below, and follow the jump to watch a video of the cars tackle Laguna Seca’s famous Corkscrew.

Continue reading Ferrari 458 Challenge demonstrates evolution of the breed on Laguna Seca’s Corkscrew

Ferrari 458 Challenge demonstrates evolution of the breed on Laguna Seca’s Corkscrew originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ferrari Racing Days at Laguna Seca: F1 Clienti bring the Formula 1 experience closer to the masses

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari F1 Clienti at Laguna Seca

Without a doubt, the highlight of this past weekend’s Ferrari Racing Days at Laguna Seca was the F1 Cliente. Ferrari started the program in 2003 to allow their most significant and wealthiest customers to own and operate old Formula 1 cars at some of the world’s best racing circuits under the guidance and supervision of a dedicated team of Ferrari’s own mechanics and engineers. Participants in the program need only to show up – Ferrari takes care of the maintenance, care and transportation of the cars. The crew will even bring the owner’s racing suit to each of the events.

For the event at Laguna Seca, a total of six F1 cars were in attendance, ranging from a 1972 312 B2 driven by Jacky Ickx to an F2007 test car driven by Michael Schumacher. Two other Schumacher race cars from 2001 and 2004, an F2003-GA driven by Rubens Barrichello, and a Berger/Mansell F1-89 filled out the rest of the lineup.

The best part about the F1 Clienti is that Ferrari allows a relatively good amount of access to see the cars up close. Just try walking into the Ferrari garage at an actual Formula 1 race. To see and hear the cars in person is also an entirely different experience than watching on television. The zoom lenses of the television cameras betray the actual speed at which an F1 car can travel. The 599XX and FXX actually seemed slow in comparison.

You can watch the Ferrari F1 Clienti at Laguna Seca for yourself in the video after the jump, or check out our photos from the event in the gallery below.

Continue reading Ferrari Racing Days at Laguna Seca: F1 Clienti bring the Formula 1 experience closer to the masses

Ferrari Racing Days at Laguna Seca: F1 Clienti bring the Formula 1 experience closer to the masses originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 May 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari FF makes North American debut at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Ferrari

Ferrari FF

Ferrari FF North American Debut – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ferrari’s absence at North American auto shows the past few years has meant that its newer vehicles have made their debuts at some less conventional venues. Last year, the 458 Italia’s first U.S. appearance was at the Ferrari Challenge event at Miller Motorsports Park. This weekend, the Ferrari FF received a private showing at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the Ferrari Racing Days.

In addition to the new Ferrari four-seater itself, the display showcased the numerous interior options and a full set of matching luggage. The car on hand was a European version, but retail sales of the U.S.-spec FF should begin at either the end of October or the beginning of November of this year. Only 40 cars will be available for the rest of 2011. After that, Ferrari plans on selling approximately 200 cars yearly to American buyers.

You can see our photos of the Ferrari FF at Laguna Seca in the gallery below. Check back this week for more coverage of the Ferrari Racing Days.

Ferrari FF makes North American debut at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 May 2011 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch the Ferrari Superamerica 45 flip its lid

2011 Ferrari Superamerica 45 – Click above to view video after the jump

It’s a real shame that Ferrari is only building one Superamerica 45, because the car is gorgeous. Besides the lovely Blu Antille paint, the flying buttresses that mold the roof structure into the rear bodywork, and the body-colored wheels, this thing has one of the slickest roof mechanisms out there.

Hit a button, and the lid on the 599 GTB Fiorano-based roadster does a full backflip, executing a perfect landing on the car’s rear deck. It’s quick and sleek, and really helps sell the entire package. Like we said earlier, the Superamerica 45 is a one-off, built especially for collector Peter Kalikow.

Kalikow commissioned the car to be a modern version of the 1961 Ferrari Superamerica 400 that graces his collection. Color us envious. Check out the video after the jump.

Continue reading Watch the Ferrari Superamerica 45 flip its lid

Watch the Ferrari Superamerica 45 flip its lid originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 May 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat and Ferrari dominate 2011 International Engine of the Year Awards

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, Ferrari, Fiat

fiat 857cc twinair

Fiat 875-cc TwinAir engine – Click above for high-res image gallery

Italy knows how to put an engine together – at least, according to the International Engine of the Year voting committee. The votes have been tallied, and Fiat has taken home four out of 12 awards. The company’s 875-cc TwinAir mill has earned the title of Best New Engine of 2011, Green Engine of the Year, Sub 1.0-liter Engine of the Year and International Engine of the Year. Ferrari helped Italy earn two more awards, with the 458’s 4.5-liter V8 unit being crowned Best Engine Above 4.0-liters and Best Performance engine. All told, Italian powerplants claimed half of the awards handed out.

BMW was no slouch, however, with the German automaker acquiring four awards in the competition. Audi and Volkswagen also earned recognition. A great showing, but the Italians earn the win thanks to Fiat taking the top prize. Click past the jump to read the full press release and learn more about the International Engine of the Year awards.

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Fiat and Ferrari dominate 2011 International Engine of the Year Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rare four-cylinder ’57 Ferrari Testa Rossa expected to top $4 million at auction

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Ferrari

1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider

1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider – Click above for high-res image gallery

Wait a second, a Ferrari 500 with a four-cylinder engine? Come on, Autoblog – check your facts. Don’t we mean a Fiat 500? Maybe that special-edition Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari? Nope. What we have here is a genuine four-cylinder Ferrari. And a highly coveted one at that.

The Ferrari 500 TRC (that’s Testa Rossa Type-C) Spider was one of the last models Maranello ever built with an inline-four, the engine originally designed by Aurelio Lampredi for Formula Two, but later adapted for sports racing prototypes after the engineer’s departure. Derived from the Monza, this was the first Ferrari to bear the Testa Rossa name for its red valve headers. And though the styling is similar, it’s even rarer than the 250 Testa Rossa that followed: only 19 of these cars were built, all during just one year or production, making this rarer than the more powerful 12-cylinder 250 TR and 250 GTO that rake in the big bucks at auction.

This particular example – chassis number 0670 MDTR – was the sixth made, ordered by a customer in Sicily who entered it in numerous races around the world in its heyday. While other 500 TRC Spiders went on to claim class victories at Le Mans and the Targa Florio, this one took its class win at the Monte Pellegrino Hillclimb in Palermo – the same locale where we drove the Ferrari California on its launch several decades later.

The car stands as the latest consignment to RM Auctions’ docket for the upcoming Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, where it is expected to fetch €2,600,000 to €3,300,000 (equivalent to $3.6M to $4.6M at current rates). There it will stand alongside such notables recently covered on these pages as the collection of Bertone concept cars, the Talbot and Bugatti art-deco classics and the pair historic Zagato-bodied Kamm-tailed Alfa Romeos in what’s shaping up to be an historic event in its own right. Follow the jump for more details on the 500 TRC and take a closer look in the high-res image gallery.

Continue reading Rare four-cylinder ’57 Ferrari Testa Rossa expected to top $4 million at auction

Rare four-cylinder ’57 Ferrari Testa Rossa expected to top $4 million at auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Online Find of the Day: Ferrari 599XX puts the seven-figure track car into perspective

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 599XX on JamesList

Ferrari 599XX on JamesList – Click above for image gallery

Anything you can do, I can do better. It might as well be the battle cry sung along the autostrada between Maranello and Sant’Agata Bolognese. Because Ferrari and Lamborghini have been at each other’s throats like the Sforzas and the Medicis for decades. So if you thought the notion of Lamborghini charging €2 million for a track-bound production version of the Sesto Elemento sounded crazy, look no further than their cross-town rivals for the precedent.

Here’s a rare Ferrari 599XX – and a sinister one at that, decked out all in black – up for sale in France. It’s one of only 30 examples made for the company’s exclusive client test driver program and packs a screaming 720-horsepower 6.0-liter V12 with all the latest wind-cheating, stop-watch trouncing technology the company’s considerable army of engineers has come up with. It’s not every day that one of these goes up for sale. In fact, this is the first one we’ve seen.

So what’s the asking price? €1,315,600 – used. (That’s about $1.9 million at current exchange rates.) You can bet it was driven hard, too. What’s more, someone will most likely snap it up in due course. And if someone can spend €1.3 million on a used Ferrari track car that’s based on an existing production model, suddenly it doesn’t seem so far-fetched to imagine Lamborghini finding 20 buyers willing to shell out €2 million on a completely new one.

Head on over to JamesList for the full listing. We’ve got the regrettably low-res images of this particular example compiled for your viewing pleasure in our gallery, but for a better look at the gaggle of 599XXs we encountered up close and personal at Miller Motorsport Park, follow the jump.

Continue reading Online Find of the Day: Ferrari 599XX puts the seven-figure track car into perspective

Online Find of the Day: Ferrari 599XX puts the seven-figure track car into perspective originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Online Find of the Day: Luigi Chinetti’s ’69 Ferrari 365 GT Speciale cover girl

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Ferrari

1969 Ferrari 365 GT Speciale

1969 Ferrari 365 GT Speciale – Click above for image gallery

If one name is synonymous with Ferrari in North America, it’s surely Luigi Chinetti. The Italian-American was Maranello’s first importer and dealer in the United States, and was also the founder of the North American Racing Team (NART) that campaigned Prancing Horses on American circuits. And in case that wasn’t enough to prove his credentials, he also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans no less than three times.

Chinetti’s considerable influence with Ferrari also led to a handful of road cars built to his specifications. The convertible version of the iconic 275 GTB/4, for example, was known as the NART Spyder. Chinetti also had a pair of these 365 GT Speciales built to his specifications by Carrozzeria Autosport of Modena, and one of them is now up for sale out of Seattle.

Given the 80s styling, we’d venture that the conversion was undertaken years after the vehicle’s production. And while its coachwork may be divisive, it is consistent: one look at the NART’s later 512 BB LM and you’ll immediately see the family resemblance. Based on the 365 GT 2+2 (not to be confused with the Daytona that replaced it), it packs a 4.4-liter triple-carb V12 and independent suspension.

According to the seller, this unique example (chassis 12611 in red over black, as opposed to the second example in black over cream) was featured on the cover of the April 1989 issue of Automobile Magazine. Ferrari of Seattle is asking just under $300k, which may seem like a big chunk of change, but for such a rare example of American Ferrari history – one which sold for $314k in Tokyo way back in 1991 – this could worth it.

Online Find of the Day: Luigi Chinetti’s ’69 Ferrari 365 GT Speciale cover girl originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 May 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari and CVC Capital join the F1 buyout debate

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari, Fiat

Bernie Ecclestone at Ferrari's Wroom event

Unlike most business deals, which are negotiated behind closed doors with the general populace happily unaware, the effort to buy out the commercial rights to Formula One has been very public.

First came the rumors that Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation and a consortium of investors were interested in acquiring the rights from CVC Capital Partners, the current owners. Then their representative, Bernie Ecclestone, dismissed the reports offhand, insisting that the sport was not for sale. Following that, Exor (the Italian investment arm of the Agnelli family, which controls the Fiat empire) revealed itself to be the unnamed second party to Murdoch’s consortium, confirming that a bid is in the making. Now, CVC and Ferrari have responded with statements of their own.

For CVC’s part, the salient point in the press release (which you can read after the jump) is that while F1 is not currently for sale, “CVC recognises the quality of Exor and News Corporation as potential investors,” leading to speculation that News Corp and Exor could potentially buy part of the sport, if not the whole thing.

Meanwhile, Ferrari has responded to what it calls “many requests from the media wanting to know Ferrari’s opinion on this matter,” declaring that they are “not directly involved” in the bid and stressing “the importance of ensuring the long term stability and development of Formula 1.” While Maranello can deny being directly involved, the notion that the Agnelli/Elkann family would look into acquiring F1 without consulting their own team (headed by longtime confidant Luca di Montezemolo) is a bit much to swallow.

Continue reading Ferrari and CVC Capital join the F1 buyout debate

Ferrari and CVC Capital join the F1 buyout debate originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 May 2011 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pebble Beach to celebrate 50th anniversary of Ferrari 250 GTO with historic gathering

Filed under: Classics, Ferrari

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO

Ferrari 250 GTO – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 250 GTO has long been considered the most desirable Ferrari of all time, and up until last year was regarded as the most valuable car in the world. The 250 GTO’s rarity (just 39 were produced including a single prototype), its success in international racing in the 1960s, and the beautiful shape designed by Bizzarrini are an unmatched combination.

The 50th anniversary of the 250 GTO is just around the corner, and to celebrate, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has decided to hold a gathering of as many of the cars as possible. An invite has been sent out to each of the owners, and more than half have already committed to attend. If it’s anything like the Jaguar XK-SS reunion held at Pebble Beach last year, then the sight should be nothing less than epic. Hit the jump for the official PR from Pebble Beach, or peruse through our collection of Ferrari 250 GTO photos in the gallery below.

Continue reading Pebble Beach to celebrate 50th anniversary of Ferrari 250 GTO with historic gathering

Pebble Beach to celebrate 50th anniversary of Ferrari 250 GTO with historic gathering originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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