Category: Ferrari

The Italian marque took the wraps off an all new model called California which is powered by a V8 engine.

The new California is Ferrari’s serious attempt to compete with Aston Martin and Bentley on the growing GT market segment. Instead of two bodystyles, coupé and convertible, for the British models, the California will be a tow-in-one featuring a metallic folding roof.

The California is powered by a 4.3-litre V8 engine features direct fuel injection and a "flat" crankshaft. Normally aspirated, it delivers 453bhp at 7500rpm. The V8 unit is hooked up to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission.  Ferrari claims the California runs the 0-62mph in less than 4.0 seconds.

The Ferrari California is also equipped with the exclusive F1-Trac traction control system which made its debut on the 599 GTB Fiorano and has been further honed to suit the typical driving conditions expected for this new GT according to the carmaker. Brembo brakes features carbon-ceramic material disks as standard.

The new model will be unveiled at the next Paris Motor Show.

Ferrari has announced it will open its first British store in London this autumn.

The first British Ferrari Store will be located on Regent Street. Its 550 square metres spread over two levels will stock the entire range of the company’s products aimed at Formula 1 fans, GT enthusiasts, children and collectors.

The Italian marque has currently 20 outlets in the Ferrari retail chain, half of which are outside of Italy in China, the United States, United Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Macao and Singapore.

Fifteen years ago, ferrari sold 128 cars on our shores. Last year the company sold 699 vehicles and it becomes really difficult to get one. Depending on the model, the wait can last up to three years.

If you want a Ferrari 599, but you haven’t place an order yet you will have to wait three years. For the 430 Coupe and 430 Spider the waiting list is of 30 months and the wait for a 612 Scaglietti is around 24 months.

Massimo Fedelli, managing director of Ferrari GB, told The Times: “Britain is Ferrari’s most important territory. Rich people come here to spend their money, so no matter what happens with the economy, I believe the UK market will remain strong.”

The company reported record sales in 2007, and it looks like that trend will continue into 2008 with the launch a new more affordable model.

The Italian marque has announced that its turnover had jumped from £1,076million in 2006 to £1,240million last year and that 6,465 cars had been delivered representing a 14 per cent increase over 2006.

Asia Pacific recorded the strongest growth with a 47.2% increase, followed by the Middle East region whose sales rose by 32.3%. The UK sales grew up by 8.2% while the US recorded a 7.7% increase. Germany followed by a 5.9% increase.

The company increased its investments to £222 million. The investments related to future model development, the building of a new company restaurant as well as the new production lines facility designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. Both facilities are scheduled to be opened over the next few months.

The car you see here is the future Ferrari which will be unveiled at the next Paris Motor Show. On the menu: 2+2 architecture, front engine and £100,000.

This is the company serious attempt to take on Aston Martin in the hundred grand segment. Like Aston Martin models, the Ferrari will feature a front engine with a 2+2 interior architecture. Details remain scarce but Ferrari engineers might use the V8 engine seen in the F430; however the engine might feature a direct-injection system and be detuned to 450bhp.

The biggest visual design element will be without a doubt the hatchback in order to boot roominess and practicality. The car is expected to be 20in shorter that the 612 Scaglietti.

Source: Quattroruote

In a recent interview, Ferrari general manager Amedeo Felisa has ruled out the rumours of Ferrari planning to build a SUV. He also denied once again the rumours of the future Dino.

Porsche Cayenne’s success keeps maintaining the rumours, but Ferrari statement matches the decision made by Lamborghini which chose not to build a SUV. Launching a super SUV in the coming years would be a bad idea at a time when polluting emission regulation becomes stricter. Even Porsche might downsize the next-generation Cayenne, which will use the Audi Q5 underpinnings.

Amedeo Felisa acknowledged that Ferrari had tested a four-wheel drive transmission on the F430 but also added that the car maker dropped the idea because of the extra 176lbs generated by the system.

The new Ferrari FXX is presented as the most sophisticated Ferrari in all time, F1s excepted. Only 20 highly skilled (and wealthy) customers will be granted the right to spend € 1.5 million (£1 million) for a car they won’t even drive on open roads for it’s not homologated. As a consequence, it won’t be a competition model either. Actually, clients will exclusively use it on track and, thanks to its on board telemetry system, gather information that will be exploited by Ferrari for further development. The FXX is powered by a 6262cc V12 engine delivering 800bhp at 8500rpm coupled with an F1-inspired gearbox changing gears in 100ms, a figure almost matching that of a real F1. Moreover, it’s possible to adapt the various spoilers configuration to suit a specific circuit. Along with an innovative shape allowing a 40% increase of the downforces, 19’’ Bridgestone slick tyres and special extra-large brakes designed by Brembo composed of ceramic and metal, reaching the limits of the car will require a skilled pilot’s know-how. On request, the FXX can get a passenger seat.

Ferrari will organize a series of track events on various circuits in the world over the next 2 years. On these occasions, an official team of technicians will be there to collect the 39 elements of information gathered by the cars and provide assistance to the so-called Client Test Driver. Given the degree of performance of the car, each customer will follow a training-course given by a professional driver, on the Fiorano track.

The icing on the cake is that the seat and pedals will be individually tailored for each client. The first FXX will be delivered at the end of the year, so, if you’re interested, you still can fill a form to be part of the program.  No other supercar, neither the Bugatti Veyron nor the Mercedes SLR can claim to such a degree of exclusiveness: Ferrari have understood it’s not a mere question of price and styling…

Believe it or not, but the Ferrari diesel exists and is for sale in the south of France, for €38,000 (approx. £24,000). In fact, this is a Ferrari 400i whose owner replaced the engine with that of a… boat! Yes, the mythical V12 has given way to a 6-litre 6-in-line turbodiesel made by VM, delivering 175bhp.
Yes, this frenchy deserves a nasty sentence, but then, Ferrari is rumoured to proceed with tests on a 612 Scaglietti diesel! That on the photo below was followed and the photographer reported a strange noise, ground-oriented exhausts and strange smokes. If it’s true, what on earth is Ferrari doing?
There were once rumours of talks between Audi and Maserati, when Fiat’s misfortunes were peaking. It was question of putting the V10 TDI into the Maserati Quattroporte. Happily, this never happened.

But then, since even Jaguar makes an XJ diesel, why not a Quattroporte V8 JTDM one day?

The convertible version of the Ferrari F430 is now available : you’ll be able to show off next summer on the French Riviera.

Ferrari remains faithful to the good old canvas roof, for reasons of space and weight. It will automatically fold in 20 seconds, allowing the lucky driver, provided he looks back, to admire the 4,308 litres V8 engine, amazingly quiet under its transparent panel.

But this quietness won’t last: apart from the roof, the F430 Spider is identical to the Berlinetta, the 490bhp’s breathtaking acceleration may make you a dangerous deliquant!

For the passengers’ safety, 2 roll-bars take place behind their heads and the driver still can rely on the E-Diff (electronic differential) to keep the car on track when pressing the accelerator too hard.

He, or she, will be tempted to do so for the Manettino is still here, on the Momo steering-wheel. This F1-like device allows the driver to tune the car according to his will, if the Manettino is set on “race”, then the suspension gets stiffer and lower and the gear change faster.

490bhp at a screaming 8500rpm in your back, a weigh-to-power ratio of 2.9 kg per hp: you are propelled from 0 to 60 miles in 4 seconds, with a top speed over 190 mph.

I am sure you can’t wait until June, when this toy for grown-ups goes on sale, to sign a cheque of £127,000.

If you think this is too much, or if you like discretion, the Fiat Group, Ferrari’s owner, still has a bunch of  Barchettas to sell, production having ceased for a few months.