1/29/2010

Driven: 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia

2010 Ferrari 458 Italia
There didn't seem to be a lot more that Ferrari could do with its V-8 berlinetta lineup. Over the past decade, the cars got better and better, further cementing Ferrari's role as the producer of the world's most desirable sports cars. The startlingly good 360 Modena began it all back in 1999, and each successive iteration of the mid-engine masterpiece from Maranello raised the bar: The 360 Challenge Stradale. The F430. The 430 Scuderia. And, most recently, the hyperfocused Scuderia Spider 16M. These cars became the backbone of Ferrari's resurgence by translating the automaker's hard-fought Formula 1 racing expertise into products that tantalized auto enthusiasts everywhere, rewarded the lucky few who owned them, and strengthened the ethereal aura around the brand. Ferrari created the gold standard in sports cars, a lineup that competitors as varied as the Ford GT, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, the Lamborghini Gallardo, the Porsche 911 GT3, and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage sought to assail. But in the tussle for sports car supremacy, Ferrari always managed to end up at the top of the heap.

With leadership comes responsibility, but it also can bring vulnerability. When it came time to replace the F430, would Ferrari succumb to success, throw up its collective hands, and decide that a mild refresh would do? After all, if any automaker today were to unveil a car that is as good as the F430 was five years ago, the car would be declared a champion. Ferrari could easily have simply tweaked the F430, slapped on a new skin and a new nameplate, and still filled its order books for a five-year run. This plan of action must have been tempting for a small carmaker that was already busy developing a class-leading V-12 GT flagship, the 599GTB Fiorano; an all-new convertible, the California; and a midcycle repositioning of its two-plus-two, the 612 Scaglietti, not to mention running a Formula 1 racing team and supplying engines to Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

Ferrari Introduces F1 Car Online

F1

Fernando Alonso, a two-time champion with Renault F1, standing with the Ferrari F10 Formula One car, which was unveiled Thursday morning.

Ferrari became the first team to introduce its new car today — after Mercedes introduced its new colors on the old Brawn car earlier in the week — and the teams seem already to be jockeying for position. Ferrari has stated that the new car has set a record: the connections to the ferrari.com Web site.

“More than three million users were connected to watch the presentation, which let the Web site freeze for a couple of seconds in several moments,” the team said in a statement.


Fears Ferrari's F10 is lacking in pace

Ferrari F10
Ferrari have not yet turned a wheel in anger with their new F10 and already there are concerns about the car's performance.

In the middle of a disappointing 2009 Championship, Ferrari opted to forgo development work on their existing car and instead put their efforts into this year's machine.

The early design programme means, theoretically, Ferrari should have the jump on their rivals, many of whom focused on last year's cars until the very end.

However, there are already reported concerns about the quality of the team's new charger.

According to The Times, 'rumours are sweeping the Italian media that the performance estimates for the machine are not as good as the team were hoping for and that a "B-spec" version is being prepared to try to move it a stage farther on.'

Those reports, though, are contrary to what new driver Fernando Alonso had to say at Thursday's launch of the new car, which he clearly stated that initial tests have been positive.

1/16/2010

Ferrari 599XX A Bright Red Diamond

Ferrari 599XX


As for the 599XX, it is a special track-only model and isn’t homolgated to compete in any racing series, meaning owners can only drive it on track, but can’t compete in racing. The car’s 6.0-liter V12 engine has been reworked to produce 700-hp at 9000 rpm, while new aerodynamics help to deliver 612 lbs of downforce at 124 mph and almost 1,400 lbs of downforce at 186 mph!

One particularly important innovation on the 599XX is Ferrari’s new “Actiflow” technology, that adjusts downforce and drag depending upon how the car is operating. This is achieved through the use of a porous material in the diffuser and two fans in the trunk lid that work to channel air from under the car out through two grilles next to the tail lights. Rather noticeable winglets have also been added to the the are just behind the winds, where the buttresses are located.

The 599XX also uses what Ferrari terms a, “Virtual Race Engineer” that essentially uses all the onboard computers to calculate what the maximum level of performance the car can achieve on a race track. To do this it takes every bit of data available, including tire temperature, tire pressure, engine and coolant temperature (as well as many other variables) and determines what the maximum level of performance capable by the car under those conditions is.

1/15/2010

ASI Ferrari F430 Spotted

ASI Ferrari F430

We have been following the ASI Ferrari F430 design since its initial concept stages and we were excited to finally spot a finished product in person. ASI is famous for some very wild creations, includig a matte-white widebody Bentley Continental GT, which debuted at the SEMA Show several years back.

Unveiled in the Forgiato booth at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon, the ASI Ferrari F430 is certainly more impressive in person than in any photos we’ve seen up until now. The aggressive yet clean styling further accents the already curvaceous lines of the Ferrari F430, while some of the more wild parts of the aero kit lend a race car-like feel to the car. Plus, there’s a nice set of Scuderia stripes to add to the package.

Ferrari Moving Forward With Hybrid Production

A few months back, Ferrari let their plans for a new hybrid system leak out. The ensuing uproar effectively divided the fans of the Italian Automaker into those who loved the idea, and those who were appalled by it. The decision by Ferrari to use the new powertrain in the 599 GTB is likely to divide this group even more.

While nothing is official yet, it is now known that Ferrari is planning on bringing a prototype hybrid 599 GTB with them to the upcoming Geneva Auto Show. If the schematics were correct, the design would call for the inclusion of 2 electric motors propelling the rear transaxle. The hybrid variant would still make use of the high revving V12, but would also employ the electric drive system to reduce fuel consumption by about 35%.

Ferrari 599XX is the best thing about Chrysler’s stand

Ferrari 599XX


Who would have thought that one day we’d mention Ferrari and Chrysler in the same sentence – but with Fiat and Chrysler now working together, that day has become a reality.

While the 458 Italia is no where in plain site, Ferrari is using a little section at Chrysler’s display to show off the Ferrari 599XX.

Power for the Ferrari 599XX comes from a 6.0L V12 engine
making 700-hp with a maximum torque of 479 lb-ft. Ferrari also added a new F1 inspired gearbox that transfers power to the wheels with gear change time cut down to 60 ms.

Ferrari 599xx Shows Chrysler

ferrari_599xx

Chrysler rolled into the North American International Auto Show pretty much empty-handed, so Ferrari took pity on its corporate sibling and sent over a 599XX so there’d be something worth seeing on the Chrysler stand.

For those whose blood doesn’t run rosso corsa, the 599XX is the sharpest track weapon the Scuderia builds short of its F1 cars. We first saw it almost a year ago at the Geneva auto show, but since Ferrari skipped Detroit this year it’s the only thing here wearing the cavallino rampante. It’s based on the magnificent 599 GTB Fiorano but is a different beast altogether. Maranello slathered this 700-horsepower rocket with all the latest high-tech hardware its racing department could muster.

1/07/2010

GTO BADGE IS BACK WITH FERRARI 599

FERRARI 599
Ferrari is planning to 'Scuderia-ise' its 599 GTB hyper-GT with a hardcore version based on the track-only 599XX (pictured).

The new car could even bring back the fabled GTO moniker, a badge that hasn't been attached to a Ferrari since the mouthwatering, achingly desirable 1984 288 GTO.

According to the fine fellows at EVO magazine, the new 599 GTO will cost around £300k (a snip considering the 599XX costs a cool million quid), and could become one of the fastest Ferraris ever.

288 GTO was last Ferrari to bear the badge
288 GTO was last Ferrari to bear the badge
The 599 GTO should manage 0-62mph in just 3.2secs (half a second up on the regular car) on its way to a 217mph top speed (the standard 599 HGTE is done at 205mph). The extra pace comes courtesy of a V12 that's had an extra 600rpm liberated to allow it to run up to 9000rpm and gives it a whopping 700bhp.

Apparently, this has only been made possible since the debut of the 458 Italia, when the 599 was recategorised by Ferrari as a 'sports car' rather than a 'GT'. To be honest, though, we don't really care how or why it's happened, we're just glad that it has.

Ferrari 599 GTO? EVO says 700-hp bruiser is on the way

Ferrari 599XX

Few words have greater impact when mashed together than "Ferrari" and "GTO." While there are rivals at times, the most expensive car in the word for the last three decades has been the original, Daytona Coupe battling, Le Mans winning Ferrari 250 GTO. Designed by Giotto Bizzarrini and raced into history by Phil Hill, few cars wear the moniker "legendary" quite as well. After all, only 39 were ever made.

But, like Leah, there is another. The mighty Ferrari 288 GTO. Developed -- like Porsche's 959 and 961 -- for Group B action, few if any cars set our hearts so totally on fire. Know nothings might scoff at the 2.85-liter displacement, but those of us in the know will point to the two turbochargers, two intercoolers and 400 stampeding horses. We might even tell them that if they turned the boost pressure up from 11.6 psi to something a bit higher, 600 hp is well within reach. However, the 288 GTO isn't, as just 272 examples (though some say 273) were made. Compare that to the 1,315 Ferrari F40s that were built. A car we should point out, that's basically a 288 GTO with a body kit.

Now there might be three. EVO is reporting that Ferrari is about to let loose a new GTO upon the world in the form of a 700 horsepower monster called the 599 GTO. Obviously, it's an evolution of the street 599, and in fact EVO's claiming it's the racetrack only 599XX for the street. During a recent interview, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa told the Brit mag that when the 458 Italia debuted, the 599 was internally reassigned to the "Sports Car" division, instead of where it used to reside, as a "GT."

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