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Ferrari to skip 599M and go straight for all-new model?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ferrari

Ferrari 599 GTO

Ferrari 599 GTO – Click above for high-res image gallery

Typically, Ferrari works its products in two phases. First comes the all-new model, then a number of years later comes a substantially updated version that carries it through until the next all-new model comes along. Think 360 Modena to F430, 456 GT to 456M, 550 Maranello to 575M… noticing a pattern here?

That’s what Ferrari was originally planning to do with the 599 GTB Fiorano, but the latest reports indicate that the company has opted to skip the updated 599 and go straight to an all-new model. Which may make perfect sense, considering how many derivatives the existing 599 has spawned, from the HGTE to the latest GTO (pictured above).

The decision is reportedly spurred by the radical step forward which the company has taken from the 612 Scaglietti to the new FF. The 599’s successor won’t pack the FF’s all-wheel-drive system, or its shooting brake body style, but is likely to take advantage of its direct-injection 6.3-liter V12 to the tune of some 700 horsepower.

Sources expect the next front-engine/rear-drive V12 supercar to come roaring out of the gates at Maranello sometime late next year.

Ferrari to skip 599M and go straight for all-new model? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 May 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari to unveil unique Super America 45 at Villa d’Este

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Misc. Auto Shows, Ferrari

Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2011

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2011 official event poster – Click above for high-res image

Villa d’Este is a wonderful place. Situated along the shores of picturesque Lake Como in northern Italy, every year the palatial grounds play host to the Concorso d’Eleganza that strips all that is mundane and industrial about a regular car show and lets the sun shine through. The annual show is sponsored by BMW, but mixes the finest concept cars of the year with the most beautiful classics – and will feature an auction for the first time – but there’s always something new in store for the concours.

Last year it was Zagato’s Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa – the one-off that preceded the recently-announced TZ3 Stradale. And this year Ferrari and Pininfarina will showcase a new coachbuilt custom at the lakeside exposition, alongside the likes of the Audi Quattro Concept, Infiniti Etherea, Rinspeed BamBoo and James Glickenhaus’ P4/5 Competizione.

Dubbed the Super America 45, it picks up its name from the Ferrari back catalog with models based on the 400, the 410 and most recently the 575M. This latest one-off is tipped to be based on the 599 GTB Fiorano (or one of the myriad variants thereof), commissioned by a New York collector through Maranello’s custom orders department and fitted with unique sheetmetal from Pininfarina.

The press release on the event confirms the Super America 45’s participation, but indicates it’s a six-cylinder car. Since Ferrari hasn’t made a V6 since the Dino 246 went out of production 37 years ago, we’ll chalk that one up to a mistake. As for what the 45 stands for when the first Superamerica was introduced in 1956 is beyond us. One way or another, we’ll find out when the show opens later this month, so follow the jump for the press release and watch this space for more.

Continue reading Ferrari to unveil unique Super America 45 at Villa d’Este

Ferrari to unveil unique Super America 45 at Villa d’Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 May 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari gives a lesson on driving the 458 Italia

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Videos, Ferrari, Luxury

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia controls

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia controls – Click above to view video after the jump

The 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia is magnificent. With a vast array of electronic wizardry, a glorious 570-horsepower mid-mounted V8, statuesque bodywork, the track manners of an F1 car and the street manners of sleeping kitten, it may be the finest supercar available.

There is, however, a catch. The myriad controls for all those electronics and the information output by the car is enough to give even the most ADD driver sensory overload. With that in mind, Ferrari has released a video to walk you through the 458 Italia’s controls one at a time, breaking down their use and functionality.

Study the vid carefully a couple times, and you can stop worrying about hitting the turn signal when you simply wanted to tune the radio. Tired of turning off traction control when what you wanted to do was de-couple the suspension? The electronic instruction manual has you covered. Click past the jump to get acquainted with the Italia’s controls.

[Source: YouTube via WorldCarFans]

Continue reading Ferrari gives a lesson on driving the 458 Italia

Ferrari gives a lesson on driving the 458 Italia originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 May 2011 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari offers scheduled maintenance program for 7 years in Europe, other markets to follow

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Ferrari, Luxury

Ferrari has started offering a free, seven-year maintenance plan for customers in Europe. The plan covers all 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia, California Spyder or FF models bought at an authorized Prancing Horse dealership. For now, the program is only available across the pond, but will make it to these shores later in the year.

According to Ferrari, the plan is attached to each individual car, which means it’s transferable to different owners if the vehicle is sold within its first seven years. Coverage includes the cost of labor and original replacement parts, as well as oil and brake fluid.

When the program goes global, Ferrari says it will be the first maintenance plan of its kind to be offered around the world. With any luck, the new perk will help Ferrari gain back some consumer confidence after the the bad publicity surrounding the 458 Italia’s annoying propensity to burst into flames. Read the full Ferrari press release after the jump. Top tip, Don!

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari offers scheduled maintenance program for 7 years in Europe, other markets to follow

Ferrari offers scheduled maintenance program for 7 years in Europe, other markets to follow originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ferrari Enzo successor inspired by Bugatti Veyron

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ferrari

Ferrari Enzo

We don’t know a whole lot about Ferrari’s successor to the iconic Enzo, but we can guess that the engineers in Maranello are working on something very powerful and extremely fast. After all, the Enzo packed a 6.0-liter V12 with 651 horsepower, so the next model has to carry a bit more bite, right?

If the folks at Autocar are correct, the Enzo may not be the bogey Ferrari has in mind. The UK scribes quote unnamed sources from Ferrari who say the Bugatti Veyron has helped shape what the next range-topping exotic will be.

The British site speculates that one option for powering the next top exotic to don the Prancing Horse could be powered by a twin-turbo V8. Would that be enough power to take on all comers? Consider that the 458 Italia manages 570 horsepower from a naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V8. Add a pair of turbochargers and squeezing out over 700 horsepower doesn’t sound all that difficult. Those aren’t Veyron numbers, but we’d assume that the Ferrari wouldn’t be nearly as big or heavy, either.

Ferrari is reportedly looking to unleash the Enzo successor in the next year or two, and we’re not likely to know much until that time. But at the same time, it’s never too early to start dreaming of the next super Ferrari.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Ferrari Enzo successor inspired by Bugatti Veyron originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: EVO pits Audi RS3 vs. Subaru WRX STI Spec C vs. Ford Focus RS vs… Ferrari Enzo?!

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, Hatchback, Audi, Ford, Subaru, Ferrari

Evo Magazine hot hatch comparison

Evo Magazine hot hatch comparison – Click above to watch video after the jump

Occasionally, we can’t help but think we were born in the wrong corner of the globe. With our penchant for diesel fuel, wagons, hatchbacks and forced-induction four-cylinders, something tells us we would have been right at home growing up on the old continent.

Why all this musing on our misplaced youth? The goons at Evo Magazine have just released a new teaser video for the rag’s upcoming issue, and the cover story is rife with all sorts of metal we don’t get to play with here in the Land of the Free. The editors lined up three of the meanest hatchback bruisers available in the EU and matched them up against a mighty Ferrari Enzo. That’s right, an Enzo. Go big or go home, fellas.

The contenders include a Ford Focus RS, a Subaru WRX STI Spec C and the blistering new Audi RS 3 Sportback. For those of you who are keeping score, our chubby yank hands won’t even get close to touching any of that hardware in our neck of the woods. How’d the three musketeers stand up to the might Italian stallion? Your guess is as good as ours. We’ll have to pick up the next Evo Magazine to find out. In the meantime, check out the video after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Georgian!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: EVO pits Audi RS3 vs. Subaru WRX STI Spec C vs. Ford Focus RS vs… Ferrari Enzo?!

Video: EVO pits Audi RS3 vs. Subaru WRX STI Spec C vs. Ford Focus RS vs… Ferrari Enzo?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari 458 Challenge and GT3 racers debut at Monza [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Europe, Videos, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Italia GT3

Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 – Click above for high-res image gallery

There’s no shortage of race tracks in Italy and around the world that are commonly associated with Ferrari. The factory has its own Fiorano circuit on premises, and the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola – former host of the San Marino Grand Prix – is just fifty miles away. But the spiritual home of the Tifosi, Ferrari’s legions of fans, is at Monza. A fitting location, then, to launch the latest Ferrari sports racers.

This past weekend, Monza hosted a number of production-based races including the first rounds of both the European and Italian leagues of the Ferrari Challenge series. After launching the new 458 Challenge spec racer at the Bologna Motor Show several months ago, this was the first time the car was actually being raced. And what would you know, it actually won its first outing! (Okay, it is a spec racing series, but the new 458 Italia racers did beat out the older F430 models that are still being used by some teams.)

The Challenge, however, wasn’t the only version of the 458 that made its debut this past weekend at Monza. So did the 458 Italia GT3, which slots in between the GT2-spec 458 GTC and the aforementioned Challenge racer. The GT3 car was prepared by Michelotto Automobili – the same factory-endorsed racing garage responsible for countless racing Ferraris as well as the development of the 288 GTO and F40 – and campaigned by AF Corse in two races of the GT Sprint International Series that supports the Superstars touring car series, where it finished second and third overall on its race debuts – second only to the F430 GTC it replaces.

Want to see what it’s like to lap Monza in a 458 racer? To coincide with the launch of the new machinery, Ferrari has released on-board video footage of the 458 Challenge with Stefano Gai, the defending champion who dominated this weekend’s national series race from start to finish. Follow the jump to watch and check out the pair of press releases.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Challenge

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari 458 Challenge and GT3 racers debut at Monza [w/video]

Ferrari 458 Challenge and GT3 racers debut at Monza [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ferrari’s next-gen 599 to pack “at least” 700 horsepower

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ferrari

Ferrari 599 GTO

Ferrari 599 GTO – Click above for high-res image gallery

With the new FF already released, the focus at Ferrari is reportedly turning to a successor for the 599 GTB Fiorano, which, according to various sources, will pack “at least” 700 horsepower – the magic number achieved by arch-rival Lamborghini’s new Aventador.

The engine is expected to form the latest stage in the evolution of the V12 that powers the 599 GTB at 612 hp, upped to 661 hp for the 599 GTO and has produced as much as 850 horses in the FXX Evoluzione. With direct injection, a version of the same engine produces 651 hp in the FF – the same output as the Enzo for which the engine was originally designed – and a good 120 more horses than the 612 Scaglietti it replaces.

A lighter aluminum chassis is likely to further improve performance, but don’t expect the all-wheel-drive system from the FF to drive the 599’s successor too. While a future version could foreseeably adopt the system, reports indicate the car will (at least initially) be rear-wheel drive only, but the replacement for the California could incorporate all-wheel drive like its big brother.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 GTO

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Ferrari’s next-gen 599 to pack “at least” 700 horsepower originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari Daytona of royal, Top Gear provenance up for auction at Brooklands

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Ferrari, Celebrities

1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona - chassis #16531

1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona chassis #16531 – Click above for high-res image gallery

With examples from the 250 series fetching earth-shattering prices, the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona” is quickly becoming a classic favorite. The wedge-shaped GT from the late 60s and early 70s was a clear separation from the bulbous models that proceeded it, and is today regarded as one of the definitive classic Ferraris of all time. But even among the 1,400+ built, some are more special than others.

For starters, this particular example – which is going up for auction in May under the auspices of Historics at Brooklands – is one of only 158 right-hand-drive models. But chassis #16531 is set apart from the other 157 by its fate once arriving in the UK.

Its first owner was HRH Charles, Prince of Wales, who only drove it for about a week before selling it. A few owners of varied stature owned the car since, until it appeared on the BBC’s ever-popular car show Top Gear. You may recall the episode (twelfth in the fifth season) when James May set sail for Saint-Tropez from Portofino in a speedboat, while Richard Hammond took the coastal road in a Daytona? Well this is that very same car.

Resplendent in metallic blue, tan leather interior and Borrani wire wheels, this 365 GTB/4 has only 26,281 miles on the odometer, and was verified on the dyno shortly before the Top Gear filming to have lost none of the 352 horsepower with which it left the factory. It’s a beauty. Details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona – chassis #16531

[Source: Historics at Brooklands]

Continue reading Ferrari Daytona of royal, Top Gear provenance up for auction at Brooklands

Ferrari Daytona of royal, Top Gear provenance up for auction at Brooklands originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari F50 gathering set for 2011 Concorso Italiano

Filed under: Performance, Ferrari

Ferrari F50

In 2009, Concorso Italiano held a 25th anniversary reunion for the legendary 288 GTO, regarded as the first Ferrari supercar. The gathering was a resounding success, with fifteen examples showing up to break the record for the most 288 GTOs in one location at the same time. Concorso followed that up the next year with a stunning gathering of Ferrari F40s to celebrate the car’s 20th birthday.

So what’s next? The F50, of course. Concorso has announced that the third-generation Ferrari supercar will be honored at this year’s event, and are currently putting out the call for owners to bring their prized possessions to Monterey in August. Just 349 were produced from 1995 to 1997, so anything more than a few in one place would be impressive.

You can view the galleries of the 288 GTO and F40 reunions below, and look for our Monterey coverage in August for a report on the F50 gathering.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: F40 reunion at Concorso Italiano

Ferrari F40

Gallery: Ferrari 288 GTO 25th Anniversary Reunion

Ferrari F50 gathering set for 2011 Concorso Italiano originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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