Ferrari
Volkswagen Group shows interest in Ferrari
Looks like Volkswagen is ready for a shopping spree. Autoweek has reported that the German giant is interested in acquiring Ferrari, which sits under Fiat’s umbrella. Unfortunately we don’t have an official word from Volkswagen just yet. However Volkswagen’s interest may grind to a halt as Ferrari is Fiat’s most profitable brand and it wouldn’t let it go easily.
However there are also rumors that Fiat is looking to sell 49% of Ferrari while retaining the other 51%. Ferrari is said to be worth approximately US$4 billion and it may join rivals such as Lamborghini, Bugatti and Porsche under Volkswagen if everything goes the giant’s way. Earlier in August, rumors were also going around regarding Volkswagen’s interest in Alfa Romeo.
Ferrari SA APERTA 599 shown ahead of Paris debut
Ferrari has unveiled a new variant of the 599 called the SA APERTA, which essentially is a drop-top version of the 599. The roadster is based on a limited production run with only 80 units planned. The number 80 signifies Pininfarina’s 80th anniversary. Furthermore, the “SA” designation is also connected to Ferrari’s must-have designer.
It pays homage to both Andrea and Sergio Fininfarina. The SA APERTA is motivated by the 661hp 6.0 liter V12 which comes from the 599 GTO. This engine also makes 620Nm of torque. The roadster comes with a light soft top “designed to be resorted to only if the weather gets particularly bad”.
There is also a low-slung windscreen, two roll-bars that mimic the outline of the seats as well as a stiffer chassis. Ferrari also claims that the SA APERTA’s weight difference compared to the hard top’s is negligible. The Ferrari SA APERTA 599 will make it’s public debut at the 2010 Paros Motor Show.
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Ferrari 458 Challenge: More images released!
Ferrari has released more images of the Ferrari 458 Challenge which it is treated to a complete race trim and it is non-street legal. The Prancing Horse was testing the 458 Challenge at the Vallelunga circuit with drivers Maurizio Mediani and Jaime Melo. The 458 Challenge race car features Ferrari’s F1 dual-clutch transmission with revised ratios, an F1-Trac traction control system, a race-tuned suspension, an E-Diff electronic differential as well as high performance Brembo brakes. The Challenge is also lighter to help improve power-to-weight ratio.
The 458 Challenge which posted a lap time of 1 minute 16.5 seconds around Ferrari’s Fiorano race track (two seconds quicker that it’s predecessor) is powered by the same 4.5 liter V8 used in the road-going version. The engine’s state of tune is also similar, which means it has 562hp and 540Nm of torque. You can click here to read all about the Ferrari 458 Challenge. You can continue reading to check out the images. Read the rest of this entry.
Ferrari reveals the track-friendly 458 Challenge
Ferrari has unveiled a Challenge version the 458 Italia in Maranello, Italy. Called the 458 Challenge, it will race along side the F430 Challenge in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli next year, which will expand to Asia Pacific. This track-ready 458 has it’s rear wheels driven by 4.5 liter V8 with 562hp and 540Nm of torque. This means that the engine still has the same state of tune like the standard 458.
However modifications were performed on other areas of the car. First up, the modified gear ratios and the re-calibration of the dual-clutch F1 transmission. The Prancing Horse says that this helps offer higher torque at lower revs. Linked to the gearbox is an E-Diff electronic differential which is offered with the road-going version but its the first for a Ferrari track car.
To help improve power-to-weight ratio, the 458 Challenge carries less weight. However Ferrari decided not to reveal the weight figure but it should be lower than the 1,380 kilograms figure offered by the road-going version. The company did say the weight reduction work has been carried out by reducing the thickness of the bodyshell panels and using lightweight materials such as carbon-fibre and Lexan.
Suspension has been tuned up as well with solid aluminium bushings, stiffer springs, single-rate dampers, centre-nut 19” racing rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height that has been lowered by 30mm. Stopping power is provided by new Brembo CCM2 used in the 599XX. F1-Trac traction control system is also featured in the 458 Challenge, also the first time for a Ferrari Challenge car. It offers two specific track-biased calibrations including wet and dry.
It was also said that the 458 Challenge laps Ferrari’s Fiorano testing grounds with a 1 minute 16.5 second-time. This means that the 458 Challenge is about two seconds quicker than it’s predecessor around the track. Unfortunately Ferrari only released one single image. Nevertheless continue reading to view a high-res version of the image above. Read the rest of this entry.
Ferrari to unveil 599 Roadster at Pebble Beach
The Prancing Horse has announced that it will reveal a top-less version of the 599 at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August. The roadster which is expected to be produced in limited numbers will come with its own designation. Ferrari’s CEO Luca di Montezemolo also said to BBC that the vehicle will not be displayed at a conventional motor show, instead it will be available for private viewing at the company’s headquarters in Maranello.
“This is a very unusual car and it will certainly surprise you. It’s only going to be available to a very select number of clients who’ve been asking us for an open-top version of the 12-cylinder for quite some time now. We won’t be unveiling it at a show though. Instead we’ll be organising private presentations,” he said.
The 599 Roadster is rumored to feature a V12 used in the 599 GTO that makes 661hp and 619Nm of torque to compensate for the weight gain, due to the convertible mechanism. It is unknown at this point if the roadster would use a fabric top or a retractable hard top but my money is on the latter.
At the same time the CEO also confirmed Ferrari’s interest in hybrid cars and said that “Maranello’s engineers are working on all fronts”. He was also asked about details on V6 or turbo engines and he replied by saying, “Technologies aside, what will continue to drive emissions and fuel reductions for Ferraris will, as always, be innovation, extreme technology and a constant exchange of information with Formula 1, aimed at maintaining the sportiness and driving pleasure that make Ferraris unique.”
Upcoming Ferrari 458 Italia Spider to feature a foldable metal roof?
It was recently confirmed by Luca di Montezemolo himself that Ferrari will build a Spider variant of the 458 Italia but the guys over at the Prancing Horse have been tightlipped about the car’s ‘topless’ mechanism. Many expect Maranello to put on a canvas roof but we now have news that the 458 Italia Spider will likely feature a foldable metal roof, similar to the one seen on the California.
As expected from a convertible with a foldable metal roof, the Italia’s weight will be compromised hence acceleration performance is likely to reduce. Just like the coupe variant, the Spider is expected to feature a 562hp 4.5 liter V8 with 540Nm of torque, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. We are not sure when we can see the 458 Italia Spider but 2011 would be the earliest.
Ferrari Rossa roller coaster – 20,800 bhp, 240 km/h
This is the most powerful and fastest accelerating Ferrari ever, the Formula Rossa roller coaster. It’s set to be the star attraction of Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, which opens on the 28th of October. Unveiled over the Spanish GP weekend, the car accommodates eight people in an F1 car style body, propelling them to a top speed of 240 km/h, making this the fastest roller coaster in the world, faster than the F430 inspired GT Racing Coaster (also to call Abu Dhabi home), which “only” does 200 km/h.
The track shoots you 52 metres into the desert sky to the maximum speed, producing 1.7 Gs of pressure. Actually, this and the 0-100 km/h of two seconds isn’t that unique, Superman Escape in Movie World Gold Coast has more Gs and matches the Ferrari’s century sprint (I was screaming like a little girl on it, losing my voice in the process), but it doesn’t do 240 km/h! Powering the Rossa is a 20,800 horsepower winch. Passengers will be given goggles for protection. Not for the faint hearted, this.
“I can’t wait to have a go on it, It’s true that we drivers are used to speed, but this way I’ll get the chance to share the thrill of doing 240 an hour with my engineers, so they can get a feel for what it’s all about!” said Ferrari’s two-time champion driver Fernando Alonso.
