The opening of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world's largest indoor theme park, has been delayed due to the death of a ruler in another part of the United Arab Emirates, organisers said on Thursday.

The postponement until November 4 came after the ruler of the tiny but strategic emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed al-Qassimi, died on Wednesday at the age of 92.

The park had been due to be inaugurated on October 27, but it will still open before before Abu Dhabi hosts the eagerly awaited final Grand Prix in this year's tightly contested Formula One world championship.

Despite the delay, journalists were allowed inside the park which features a record-breaking roller coaster ride meant to emulate the feeling of being in a Ferrari F1 car.

Sitting next to the futuristic Yas Marina circuit that hosts the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the theme park is housed under a massive triangular red roof on the $40-billion Yas Island development.

Ferrari World spreads about 86 000m², while the red roof bearing the world's largest logo of Ferrari's prancing horse stretches about 200 000m².

Among its 20 attractions are two roller coasters, including the F1-themed Formula Rossa which is set to be the fastest ever reaching a top speed of 240 kilometres per hour.

Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates capital, hopes the park will help to draw tourists from around the globe along with several other ambitious projects including state-of-the-art branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums.

British tuner Oakley, better known for their unique Porsches, will unveil a production version of their special Ferrari 458 Italia during this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas. The car will be featured in HRE booth, which is relevant becasue it actually has HRE lightweight, high-strength custom forged alloys wheels, specially made for the 458.



Oakley’s 458 also sports a distinctive aero kit with a front spoiler (ugly) a rear spoiler (magnificent) which both add a considerable amount of downforce at high speed, while the airflow is improved with the central radiator vent, radiator exhausts next to the headlights, stylized side sills, and new rear and underbody diffuser.

All that aerodynamic tweaks are much needed becasue of what they’ve done to the engine. They’ve remapped ECU, a larger carbon-fiber air intake box, larger ram air feeds and larger diameter white silicon pipes with Oakley Design logos connecting the air boxes to the intake.



The result of that is ten percent more power, from 562hp to 618hp and five percent more torque from 540 Nm to 567 Nm, and the result of that is 0.4-second improvement in 0 to 60 acceleration and top speed of 330 km/h.

US magazine Car&Driver released a new great video, a comparison test between Ferrari 599 with the optional HGTE handling package and the Lexus LF-A. Both cars have similar performance but the Lexus, being more exclusive and all, is more expensive. Now, that’s kinda funny becasue between these two if you pay more you will end up with the worse badge! So the LF-A must be extraordinarily good to drive, so it can justify its insane price tag. But is it? Watch this video, you may find the answer!

A Washington Ferrari collector set a world speed record for a Ferrari last week, with an average 275.4 mph in a 288 GTO. The secret to its speed? A 540-ci Chevy big block, boosted by twin turbos. Enzo, meet Louis.

The run by Steve Trafton, 64, in his 1985 288 GTO came after two years of work and previous attempts at the record. The 8.8-liter GM engine gets fed by two Borg Warner turbos producing about 17 psi, good for somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 hp.

Trafton, a retired investment banker with several other Ferraris in his garage, had the car built by Texas Ferrari expert Bob Norwood, and drove the car himself on the Bonneville Salt Flats earlier this month for the AA/Blown Fuel Modified Sport record. That class requires engines larger than 500 cubic inches.

"Ours is stock body," Trafton told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "It not only holds the world speed record for its class, it's the world's fastest Ferrari and the world's fastest sports car," he said.

But the question remains: is a Ferrari without a prancing horse on its engine block still a Ferrari? The answer will have to get hashed out without Trafton, who says he's retiring the 288 from speed record chasing to focus on his other hobbies, such as extreme kayaking.

Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge, as I’m sure you know, is the official racing version of the supercar made for its one-make racing series. It will replace the current F430 Challenge next season, but until then it’s got plenty of free time. So every once in a while Ferrari engineers take one out on the track to tweak it a little bit, make it a bit better. Here’s a footage of one of those occasions the Challenge been out flexing muscle around Monza race track. Enjoy the noise!

The Twin-Turbo Ferrari Enzo overcame early problems to set a class record speed of 238 mph at Bonneville this weekend. It's now both the fastest and most driven (31,366 miles) Enzo ever.

Richard Losee's twin-turbo Enzo attempted numerous passes to set a record but faced issues getting in the proper tune and, when the car was setup, an improperly deploying chute. Despite these challenges, the team was able to get everything dialed in properly for a last run.

"I had to leave for the airport literally right when we made the run as I was headed for a race in Phoenix," said tuner Shane Tecklenburg. "I was changing the tune up while we were towing the car back to the pit and I left immediately afterward not really knowing if what I had done would be enough to get them there."

It worked, and they set a speed of 238.142 mph and average run of 237.81 mph, setting a Class C (360 cubic-inch) Blown Fuel Modified Sport category and overall Enzo top-speed record.

However, while doubts continue to rumble about the readiness of the race, the five championship contenders cannot afford to be distracted.

Focus and concentration will be of paramount importance and there is none stronger in this regard than Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard sits tied for second place with Sebastian Vettel, 14 points behind the German’s Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber, who will arrive at the track in South Korea’s coastal Yeongam province with a dominant machine.

Alonso is quietly confident he has what it takes to beat both Red Bulls over the next three races.

Describing his third place in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix as “damage control”, he warned Webber and Vettel they would not have it all their own way from now on.

“We knew before coming here that third was probably our maximum position,” Alonso said. “But we are convinced that this was the worst track of the remaining races for us.

"We only lost three points in the championship, so overall we have to be extremely happy. When we arrive at circuits with more difficulties for Red Bull we need to take our opportunities.”

No one knows quite what to expect of the Korean International Circuit. Charlie Whiting, the FIA’s race director and safety delegate, begins a two-day 'final inspection’ on Monday.

But with Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One’s commercial rights holder, having stated categorically over the weekend that the race would take place, Whiting is not expected to fail it at this late stage.

This despite the fact that the FIA may be breaking its own rules in allowing the race to take place. The final inspection “should” have taken place in late July according to the governing body’s statutes.

As it is, the final layer of tarmac went down only last week. Rumours of chaos and confusion abound.

Alonso is licking his lips. “Always something happens, and if something happens we can take the opportunity,” he said.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is backing Alonso’s team-mate, Felipe Massa, to make a difference.

The Brazilian, who is not in the title race and is therefore expected to support Alonso, crashed out on the opening corner on Sunday. “I’m sure that Felipe will be the surprise of the last three races of the season,” Di Montezemolo said.

“After this bad day he will be desperately keen to react and we will do everything to give him the possibility to win.”

Meanwhile, Mercedes have rejected reports that Michael Schumacher could lose his drive at the end of this season and take up a management role at the team.

Mercedes Motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug said: “There is more credibility in Norbert Haug becoming an F1 driver than in Michael Schumacher becoming sporting director of Mercedes.”

Chasing the new 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia. Check out the Video.

All Ferrari fans are looking forward to this ever since the first news about the Ferrari World got released. Today we can tell you that the Ferrari Theme Park in Abu Dhabi will officially be opened on October 27th, 7 pm.

Standard tickets cost 225 UAE Dirhams ($ 61 – € 45) for visitors over 1m50, and 165 AED ($ 45 – € 33) for kids. Premium tickets, which provide access to an exclusive lounge with refreshments as well as other as-yet unannounced benefits, cost 375 AED ($ 102 – € 75) for visitors over 1m50 and 270 AED ($ 74 – € 54) for the younger Ferrari fans.

Important to know is that the October opening is meant as a soft launch, and only exterior features will be available to visitors. A full-blown grand opening will follow this December, when the full park will open up to the public.

Ferrari has made a new three-hugging step at the Paris Auto Show, as the company has introduced the Ferrari California with the new HELE (High Emotion Low Emissions) system.



The automotive producer’s new technology doesn’t include any hybrid hardware. Instead, it uses less radical solutions to cut CO2 emissions and increase efficiency.

The technology uses multiple electronic toys, such as a stop/start system that only needs 230 miliseconds to restart the engine (Ferrari promises that this will not alter the driving experience). The system has also been optimized for special race-driving techniques, such as left-foot braking.

“Once again, the technicians’ goal with this technology was to improve fuel consumption levels and sportiness in tandem. They have done so using features designed specifically to allow the driver to restart the engine not just by releasing the brake pedal, but also by using the accelerator pedal (ideal for people who left-foot brake) or the UP paddle mounted on the steering wheel,” stated the press release.

The HELE system acts like an electronic brain for a number of components including the air-conditioning system’s compressor, fuel pump, engine fan and uses an adaptive control function for the gearbox that is aimed at increasing efficiency. The system also adds a 25 Nm boost that the driver can access when necessary (or just desired).

The eco incarnation of the Ferrari California comes with CO2 emissions reduced from 299 grams per km to 270 grams per km. As for the urban driving cycle, this sees the vehicle reduce its emissions by 23 percent.

Well it seems that Ferrari is all set to find alternatives for the betterment of the company, which is as seen on the company’s Fiorano test circuit and if going by the videos of the tests it seems that it may be the new 2011 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti.



But we can’t decide or predict about the car or any sort of releases but as far as this car is concerned then Ferrari has made a proclamation that the new Scaglietti would make a mark for the dealership and would surely find one and that too possibly before 2012. And we all even know that the all new 612 Scaglietti is equipped with a V12 engine, and even the car has shed some weight by stripping down its chassis so it is definitely going to sprint much faster than the predecessors.

Even some news is buzzing around us that the new 612 is set to make use the systems of the Formula One that is the gasoline-hybrid technology which is a system that was jointly designed by Ferrari and KERS. With this new technology lurking in it, this supercar will be equipped with an electric motor which has a dual 7 speed clutch and the formula one transmission, while it also has a set of lithium-ion batteries which will surely pull down the emission rates of the CO2 considerably. It has a very similar concept to the 599 GTB Fiorano HY-KERS which was launched lately this year by the company.

Based on the Ferrari 599, it is a special model limited to just 80 cars, and all have already been sold. Ferrari chose to build 80 SA Apertas in celebration of Pininfarina's 80th anniversary.

The SA nomenclature stands for Superamerica but also pays homage to both Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina, whose company and work have been linked to the most successful road-going cars ever built at Maranello.



The SA Aperta is a true roadster, which allows its occupants to enjoy the emotions afforded by the signature front-engined V12 architecture in a completely open-top setting.

The car is fitted with a lightweight soft-top, designed to be used only if the weather gets particularly bad. By doing away with a bulky convertible roof, the designers have saved weight.

A low-slung windshield and the cars low stance lends the SA Aperta an aerodynamic sleekness. Its profile arches back from the A-post to two fins integrated into the two roll-bars, which themselves mimic the outline of the seats.

The chassis has been redesigned to deliver a standard of stiffness comparable to that of a closed coupe, and there is a negligible weight difference, thanks to work done on the structure.

Thanks to the 670hp 6.7-liter V12 engine beneath its hood, the SA Aperta embodies the spirit of the Ferrari 599, incorporating Ferrari's most advanced technology to deliver benchmark performance and superb driving pleasure.

The star Ferrari at the Paris Auto Show next month will be the gorgeous SA Aperta, which Ferrari bills as the "most exclusive Ferrari ever."

Just eighty will be built. The special-edition V-12 roadsters -- based on the 599 GTO coupe -- honor the 80th anniversary of Carrozzeria Pininfarina, the famous Italian auto design and coachbuilding house that's long worked with Ferrari. The SA in the name pays homage to now honorary company chairman Sergio Pininfarina, 84, and his son Andrea, who ran the company before his death in 2008.

Aperta is Italian for "open" and that's how this front-engine, rear-drive roadster is intended to be driven. It has a simple soft top Ferrari says is "designed to be resorted to only if the weather gets particularly bad." Anything more complicated would have added weight, and Ferrari proudly claims the chassis was given the necessary stiffening to be topless, but brought in at the same weight as the coupe.

The powertrain it shares with the 599 is a 670-horsepower, 6.7-liter V-12 mated to a six-speed automated manual -- good for 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds in the coupe. The open SA Aperta sits slightly lower and features aerodynamic fins that sweep back from the roll bars. Ferrari says there are enough color, material and trim choices that no two cars will be alike.

But don't get your heart set on one. Ferrari gave a private showing at this summer's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and apparently all 80 of the roughly $450,000 cars are taken.

Italian sports car maker Ferrari says it will show a new special-edition model called the SA Aperta at this month’s Paris Motor Show. The car is a convertible version of the current 599 Fiorano,a 12-cylinder coupe, or berlinetta, that has been on the market for a few years.

The SA Aperta is meant to mark the 80th anniversary of the Pininfarina design firm that has been responsible for many of Ferrari’s most successful models. Ferrari says the “SA” stands for the designers Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina.

The company says it limited production run to 80 cars, all of which are already sold. Typically when a new Ferrari comes along, particularly a special edition model, the company gives its longtime customers the first shot at buying them. For those willing to wait, the cars usually wind up selling at a discount within a few years.

To really save a few bucks you could settle for a 550 Barchetta, the open-top special edition car Ferrari rolled out a decade ago to mark — you guessed it — Pininfarina’s 70th anniversary. They originally sold out quickly at the list price of about $258,000 and shortly thereafter began changing hands at nearly $500,000. Today you can get one for less than $200,000. Of course they are not as rare as the SA Aperta, as Ferrari built 448 Barchettas. So the new car probably will suffer less from depreciation.

The company says the SA Aperta is a true roadster, meaning it is meant for open-top driving and has a cloth roof essentially designed for use only in emergencies like a sudden downpour. Its chassis was designed to make it about as strong and stiff as a car with a roof without adding too much weight. Converting an existing coupe to a convertible almost always adds weight because of the need to add reinforcing structures to make up for the loss of the roof.

Ferrari fanatics should be familiar with the work of Novitec Rosso. The Dutch tuning house regularly churns out beefed-up versions of Maranello's finest. But while recent releases have upgraded the California, 599 GTB Fiorano and 430 Scuderia, Novitec has now turned its attention to Ferrari's flagship grand tourer.



The custom 612 Scaglietti has been treated to an ECU upgrade and a host of cosmetic and rolling stock upgrades. The lightly massaged 5.7-liter V12 – good for 530 horsepower and 434 lb-ft in stock trim – has been boosted to nearly 560 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, dropping the big coupe's 0-60 mph sprint below the four-second mark and its top end to north of 200 mph.

Coupled with interior enhancements, darkened indicator lights and 20-inch front and 21-inch rear modular wheels, Novitec has imbued the big Scag with a modest, but much needed attitude adjustment until its replacement arrives.

Source: autoblog.com

If you're a big fan of the prancing horse but can't afford to have a real Ferrari sitting in your drive, then Acer may just have the answer. The Acer Liquid E Ferrari edition smartphone is not quite as impressive but just as flashy.

As announced at Mobile World Congress this year, the limited edition handset will run Android 2.1, with special Ferrari wallpaper to brighten up those numerous home screens (see below for proof). Purportedly the most exclusive smartphone in the world, the Ferrari special edition of Acer's high-end Liquid E smartphone will also feature a bright Ferrari-red case with chrome trim, pre-loaded Ferrari car images and videos and a special set of ringtones allowing you to personalise your phone with "the inimitable sweet music of the Ferrrari engine" - more commonly known to the automotive philistines among us as noise.



As if all that wasn't enough to prove your love for and devotion to the Ferrari brand, you can also accessorise the handset with a Ferrari-branded Bluetooth headset - you little style icon, you. I understand that Ferrari jackets and caps and keyrings and folders and laptops are also available. Go wild.

The Liquid E Ferrari edition handset should be available in mid-July; there's no word on prices yet but we'd expect them to be pretty high.

Source: recombu.com

Amusement parks. The essence of every summer vacation, the joie de vivre of childhood. All the memories of roller coasters and ensuing vomit bringing back a smile on your face? You think your life is as livid as it gets? Well, help is just a couple of hundred miles away. Presenting, the ultimate (claimed) amusement park christened, The Ferrari World.



If you thought that Ferrari had all its money secretly taped to a flush in a loo, you are quite off the mark. By the looks of it, selling some of the best road cars ever is good enough to make the world’s largest amusement park.

Sprawled across the Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the Ferrari World has already played host to a number of attractions before its formal launch on the 28th of October, 2010 such as the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the Yas Marina circuit, concerts by Jamiroquai, Beyonce, Kings of Leon and Aerosmith and the famous UFC 112 bout.

Although the views of the park from the top looks like an amoeba, it sure is imposing. I will not be surprised if this can be seen from space and is used to contact E.T. life. The massive prancing horse logo that adorns the amoeba (the covered bit of the park), is the largest Ferrari logo ever created at 65 m x 48.5 m in dimensions.

Thrill attractions at the park will include a giant drop tower, the GT Coaster – a dual launched coaster and Formula Rossa – a hydraulically-launched roller coaster manufactured by the Swiss coaster design firm Intamin AG. It will be the world’s fastest roller coaster reaching a top speed of 240 KPH! The attractions were dreamed up by Cincinnati based visitor experience design firm – Jack Rouse Associates.

The project is owned by Aldar Properties PJSC, Abu Dhabi’s leading property development, management and investment company. Architects for this architectural marvel are multinationals Benoy Architects. The rides will be the responsibility of Farah Leisure Parks Management L.L.C, a joint venture between Aldar Properties PJSC and ProFun Management Group Inc. (international leisure facilities management and operating company).

Enough of who’s who of the theme park lets get down to business. Inspiration for the giant blob design? Apparently, Ferrari World iconic sleek red roof is directly inspired by the classic double curve side profile of the Ferrari GT body.

The whole theme park will span 200,000 square metres. The indoor enclosed space (area accessible to the general public) will be 86,000 square metres. This area will have arcades, car exhibits, food joints, amphitheatres and the whole shebang.

Another vulgar display of money and avarice, we think. But it will surely attract a large section of enthusiasts and owners alike. Let us know what you think.



Source: indiancarsbikes.in

599XX Ferrari managed to become the fastest derived vehicle from a series model on the Nurburgring circuit. The Italian model has crossed the 12.4 miles in 6 minutes and 55 seconds.

Ferrari manages to add further distinction to his great showcase of trophies. This time it is a recognition performance obtained on the famous Nurburgring circuit, where the supercar managed to establish a new world record.



The exclusive Ferrari 599XX, presented last year at Frankfurt, managed to travel the approximately 12.4 miles of the circuit in just 6 minutes, 58 seconds and 16 hundredths, making it the fastest derived car from a production model, traveling the “Green Hell.”

The 722 HP supercar, and almost $1.9 million has been conducted successfully by the one of the most experienced Ferrari test driver, Raffaele de Simone. To achieve this performance, the 599XX received a new traction control system and Actiflow System technology, which increases the aerodynamic down-force at high speeds.

However, the 599XX failed to rank in front of the Radical SR8, which drew 6 minutes and 48 seconds in 2009, but is built on the chassis of a racing model. For Ferrari is a big performance and they can be proud for their model.

Source: mibz.com

“The Chinese don’t understand us,” Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari’s global chief executive, told me in a recent interview. “They don’t understand why we make only two-door cars. They don’t understand why we don’t make a limousine.”



If Ferrari does someday make a stretch limo, it will be because the Asian market demanded it. China, or what is being increasingly referred to as the “C-Factor” in the auto industry, is likely have a significant say from now on in how automobiles are designed, built and sold.

The fact that luxury coupe makers like Porsche, Aston Martin and even Bugatti have designed their first four-door models is directly attributable to the Chinese market. So that begs the question: Can a four-door Ferrari be far behind?

“We aren’t there yet,” Mr. Felisa told me. “But we reserved a very special car to introduce in Beijing, in the 599 GTO, to show how important China is to us.”

The 200-m.p.h. 599 GTO is the fastest Ferrari ever offered and only 599 will be built. Although a price hasn’t been announced publicly, the entire production run has already been spoken for, Mr. Felisa added; at least 20 were purchased by Chinese buyers.

Exhibit A in making a case that China could dominate the car industry was this year’s Beijing auto show. More than 1,000 cars were on display; some 65 concept cars made debuts as well as nearly 100 new or prospective alternative-fuel vehicles. That total was more than were unveiled at the most recent Detroit, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles auto shows combined. By the time Auto China reconvenes a year from now in Shanghai, the show could outstrip Geneva as the world’s most important auto salon.

“China is rapidly becoming the world’s most important automobile market,” Mr. Felisa said.

Last year, China surpassed the United States as the world’s biggest automobile market, ending more than a century of American dominance. The swap in places was sudden and dramatic: China’s sales grew by more than a third to 13.6 million units in 2009, while the United States market plunged 21 percent to 10.5 million. Sales in the United States are expected to rebound to about 12 million units in 2010, after a disastrous two-year recession that helped to bankrupt the Detroit auto giants General Motors and Chrysler. But the Chinese market is not idling, waiting for the Americans to catch back up; sales to the increasingly car-crazy Chinese are forecast to continuing growing – perhaps to as many as 20 million units yearly by 2015.

As recently as 10 years ago, total annual sales in the Chinese market was barely two million vehicles. In fact, this is only the 11th Beijing auto show, or Auto China, as it is officially known. The exhibition alternates host cities every other year with Shanghai; up until two years ago, the two China shows were more like automotive trade shows or flea markets.

Home-grown Chinese autos are expected to proliferate and grow rapidly in sophistication; many Chinese automakers have announced ambitious plans to take leadership in hybrid and electric vehicle production.

An indication of how China’s car manufacturers expect to quickly attain expertise in areas like greentech, and even safety, is underscored by Geely’s recent acquisition of Volvo and all its considerable intellectual capital from Ford. Ford, meanwhile, announced it was studying expansion of its partnership with the Chinese automaker Changan; G.M. already has in place a large-scale joint venture with China’s S.A.I.C.

But automakers outside of China have also taken note of the potential to sell their own cars in Asia. Many, particularly German automakers, like Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche, presented vehicles at the Beijing show that were specifically designed with Chinese tastes in mind. Notable among these were BMW’s Gran Coupe design study and a stretched-wheelbase 5-Series sedan. VW unveiled several new models here, including four electric vehicles and its newest full-sized luxury sedan, the Phaeton.

Ford introduced its Start concept vehicle, which was powered by a unique EcoBoost 3-cylinder engine. G.M. showcased 37 production and concept vehicles, including the Sail hatchback and a Chevy Volt variant called the MPV5 electric crossover.

Volkswagen announced in Beijing that it would open two new manufacturing plants in the country and design several models specific to the Chinese market in the immediate future. VW also announced plans to invest a further $2.2 billion in the Chinese market.

Source: wheels.blogs.nytimes.com

The new Ferrari 599 GTO may not have the supercar looks of a McLaren MP4-12C or a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, but it should be right up there with those two in terms of speed and quickness.



Ferrari revealed the 599 GTO on Thursday in pictures, videos and specs over the Internet. Only a very limited number will be built. It is a homologation model for the Ferrari 599XX racecar, which has been sold to a few customers for GT competition.

“On the 599XX we have managed to make a vehicle that nobody else has ever made,” said Amadeo Felisa, the chief executive of Ferrari, in a video on the Ferrari Web site. “With structure and an architecture with the front engine, we have obtained a vehicle that nobody else will be able to equal in performance.”

In February, the 599XX was tested in Valencia, Spain, by Felipe Massa, Ferrari’s Formula One driver. It is a race-modified 599 GTB Fiorano that puts out 700 horsepower. The GTO 599 road car is only slightly less capable. It is powered by a 6-liter V-12 that makes 670 horsepower at 8,250 r.p.m. and 457 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 r.p.m. (And it sounds like this.) Ferrari says the 599 GTO will accelerate from zero to 62 miles an hour in 3.32 seconds. It will have a top speed of 208 miles per hour. Ferrari says it is the fastest road car that it has ever built, which implies that the 599 GTO is faster than even the Enzo.

“One of the most significant innovations on the 599 GTO,” Ferrari said in its news release, “is the close correlation between the chassis set-up, which is close to the handling limit, and the input from the electronic controls, which are developed to increase overall levels of performance.”

The GTO badge has only been used two other times in Ferrari history. The 250 GTO of the 1960s was built off the short-wheelbase 250 GT and used for GT racing. In the mid-1980s, Ferrari created the 288 GTO (based on the 308 GTB) for Group B racing. Both cars were produced in limited numbers, just enough, in fact, to make them eligible for racing; GTO stands for gran turismo omologata, or homologation.

Ferrari is planning a small preview for clients next week at the Military Academy in Modena, Italy. The 599 GTO’s official debut will take place at the Beijing auto show at the end of the month.

Source: wheels.blogs.nytimes.com

After taking a strong haul of points away from last weekend's Australian grand prix with a third and fourth place finish, Ferrari have vowed to retain the same approach in Malaysia.

After Fernando Alonso led a one-two victory for the Maranello-based outfit at the opening grand prix of the season in Bahrain, it was Felipe Massa who had the edge in Melbourne, brining his F10 home in third place, just ahead of his Spanish team-mate.

Two strong results means double-world champion Alonso leads the drivers' standings, with Massa trailing him by four points, and Ferrari leads the constructors'.

"We are happy with the Melbourne result, even if, on Sunday morning, we might have expected a slightly better one," said Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali.

"Considering what happened in the race, we can be pleased with finishing third and fourth, partly because our closest rivals either failed to score, or at least did not pick up many points.

"We have to be very happy with our situation, because we are still first in the constructors' championship and still first and second in the drivers' one too.

"And considering what happened at the start of the race, with Fernando [Alonso] having a difficult start and falling down to the last position, he managed to keep both Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton behind him at the end.

"Felipe [Massa] had a difficult weekend as we couldn't find the right setup on his car, so we should be really happy that he has been on the podium twice in succession."

With back-to-back races, formula one teams have arrived at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia for the third round of the 2010 world championship season.

Domenicali said Ferrari will keep the same approach for the time being, with their focus on reliability and on improving the F10's performance with small upgrades.

"We have to keep the same approach going to Malaysia as there is a lot of strong competition around," said Domenicali.

"We will continue to work hard and to keep our focus on reliability and on new parts in order to keep improving the performance."

Source: inthenews.co.uk

Ferrari launched the new F10 and with the new fuel rules of the FIA and the tightly controlled and highly regulated component of life in the Formula One paddock. Although regularly considered in its role in pit stop strategy, this year Shell faces perhaps the biggest challenge in its Formula One fuel formulation in 15 years.



The Fédération Internationale de l’ Automobile’s (FIA) change in fuel regulations for the 2010 season has been two-fold. Refuelling during the race will no longer be allowed, so Shell V-Power race fuel will power Ferrari around the entire length of all 19 Grand Prix races with no refuelling during pit-stops. In addition, the FIA has widened the specifications for fuel formulation development, giving Shell two exciting opportunities for the season ahead.

With the rule changes come challenges to balance the need for constant high performance from Shell V-Power race fuel with tackling increased fuel temperatures and the vital need for each driver to conserve enough fuel to simply finish the race. Shell has worked alongside Scuderia Ferrari to develop the best possible Shell V-Power formulation in preparation for the new regulations and will continue development throughout the season to maintain optimum performance.

Mike Evans, Shell Formula One Fuels Development Project Leader explains, “For 2010, we've got the new fuel regulations; the formulation space for the fuel has been enlarged and we've got the change in refuelling rules. We really need to get the performance out of the car to make sure Scuderia Ferrari make the end of the race, and to make sure there's no problem with the fuel temperature since we can no longer have the benefit of adding slightly cooler fuel during a pit-stop. We've got some exciting challenges ahead for the sport, and we've been working hard for that.”

Evans continues, “Engines, performance-wise, are tuned to run a rich, heavy type of fuel but you can then run them on a slightly leaner formulation, which will give you a small drop in performance but it will also give you better fuel efficiency. It's getting that balance right. We can alter the mix of components in the fuel to enable the engines to run leaner but still give optimum performance, and that's an area we've been working hard on for the last nine months leading up to the 2010 season, given the latest FIA rule changes.”

Source: Ferrari

Ferrari, the Italian manufacturer whose prancing horse logo usually adorns a flame-red veneer, has shifted to a more environmental gear.



The high-performance sportscar manufacturer unveiled its new hybrid at the Geneva Motor Show.

Painted bright green, the Hy-Kers prototype could hardly have signalled a bolder change of direction for the company.

The technology, based on the same regenerative brake system used in its Formula One cars, is set to reduce emissions by 35%.

Ferrari hopes to move from the experimental stage to having hybrid options available for all its models within three to four years.

In unveiling the Hy-Kers, Ferrari formally indicated it is lining up with the electrification of the motor industry - a broader trend signposted by any number of brands on display in Geneva.

The change is more pronounced - and the need more pressing - for high-end carmakers like Ferrari.

They find themselves having to fit a more sober mood in the wake of the economic crisis, as pressure over carbon emissions translates into taxation and inner-city driving restrictions in some countries.

German luxury marque Porsche showcased a 911 GT3 with a hybrid petrol-electric engine, a day after merger partner VW vowed to lead the market in electric cars by 2018.

Carlos de Silva, an analyst at IHS Global Insight, said the Geneva show would be "marked by the colour green and the ecologically responsible".

"Even on the stands of Porsche or Ferrari, they must demonstrate that they are coherent with the times," he added.

Source: news.sky.com

The next time you find yourself driving a car in South Korea, you might want to think twice about breaking any speed limits unless you want these guys on your tail.



Needless to say, the South Korean patrol cars are not your everyday Kia Rios or Hyundai Getzs. By our tally, that’s a Ferrari 360, a Porsche 911, and a Lamborghini Gallardo all serving as patrol cars for South Korea’s police department.

If you’re picturing a car chase, you’re probably thinking that the scenario would be the other way around. Supercar gets jacked and standard patrol cars give chase. Well, in Korea, the shoe is in the proverbial other foot and trying to engage these cars in a good old police chase is as dumb an idea as drinking milk on Fat Tuesday.

Source: topspeed.com

Felipe Massa is confident the Ferrari F10 is getting stronger and stronger ahead of the first grand prix in Bahrain.

The car is widely regarded as the frontrunner after four weeks of pre-season testing and Massa said he had noticed continual improvements in its handling throughout February.

"I have a very positive impression," he said after Saturday's test. "You can feel more grip and more downforce. It's encouraging, because it means that we made another step ahead compared to Jerez."

In spite of the wet weather on the third day, Massa completed an entire race simulation and said he had learned a lot about the new car.

"We managed to drive many miles, which is always positive," he said. "We finished another race simulation without any problems, which helped us to better understand the tyre behaviour with different fuel loads and under different track conditions. I'm satisfied with today. We're working in the right direction for the start of the championship."

Massa will stay in the car for the final day of testing on Sunday, when he is hoping to collect enough information to be able to make one last development push ahead of Bahrain.

"Let's hope the weather improves," he said. "It would be important to finish the tests on a dry track to collect some more important data regarding the car under various conditions, also with less fuel on board."

Source: en.espnf1.com

NOVITEC ROSSO RACE 848 – this name stands for an absolutely unique high-performance sports car.

Only three of these automotive masterpieces will be built. The two-seater car is based on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and celebrates its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2010.



Underneath the striking aluminum skin that sports the unusual color combination of matte white and grey beats an extremely powerful heart: The NOVITEC ROSSO RACE 848 twelve-cylinder twin compressor engine produces 848 hp / 624 kW of power and has a peak torque of 842 Nm. Powered by this engine the car sprints from rest to 100 km/h in less than 3.4 seconds, to 300 km/h in just 23.7 seconds, and reaches a top speed in excess of 345 km/h. This exclusive special model also features an aerodynamic-enhancement kit developed in the wind tunnel, three-piece 21-inch wheels with matching sports suspension, a high-performance brake system and exclusive interior options.

Source: autospies.com

Double F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso has warned Ferrari's rivals that whilst they might have been demonstrating their raw pace during testing, the Scuderia has conversely been keeping its powder dry - as he ominously rated the F10 the best car he has ever driven

In an early warning shot to his F1 2010 rivals, Fernando Alonso has labelled the Ferrari F10 'the best car I've ever had' – as he contended that whilst rival teams have been quick to demonstrate their potential during testing, the Prancing Horse has been keeping its powder dry and will only reveal its true form once the real action gets underway in Bahrain.

In the hands of both Alonso and team-mate Felipe Massa, Ferrari's new baby has proven to be fast and consistent throughout pre-season testing to-date, be it at Valencia – where the Spaniard led an ominous and commanding Maranello one-two on the final combined timesheets – or Jerez de la Frontera.

Other drivers have confessed that they believe the scarlet machine is the one to beat at this stage of proceedings [see separate story – click here] – and despite winding up 1.5 seconds shy of the ultimate marker set by reigning F1 World Champion Jenson Button for McLaren-Mercedes last week, the Oviedo native confirmed that his adversaries have good reason to be worried.

“It is already the best car I've ever had,” the 21-time grand prix-winner told Spanish sports newspaper AS, as he eyes a third drivers' crown in the top flight to add to his back-to-back title glories with Renault in 2005 and 2006. “There is no reason to be pessimistic.

“Red Bull, McLaren and Renault have gone quick and shown their cards; we are still hiding ours. If I was with another team I would be looking at Ferrari, because everything so far is working very well.”

Whilst insistent that he is underestimating nobody, Alonso did add that one reason Ferrari's competitors have been so rapid over the past week could be down to lapping on low fuel to simulate qualifying runs – and as the Scuderia bids to recover in 2010 from its worst campaign at the highest level since 1993, it is clear that the 28-year-old's hopes are high of springing a surprise when the starting lights go out in Sakhir in just under three weeks' time.

“This is where Red Bull and McLaren are showing very fast,” he opined of the low-fuel outings, “and it is certainly the basis for trying to improve the performance of the F10 at the next test in Barcelona.”

Source: crash.net

In 2009, Ferrari sold 6,250 cars worldwide, a 5% drop compared to the previous year. This is by no means a remarkable feat but it is a far cry from the 35% sales plunge felt in the luxury sports car market.

Ferrari sold 1,467 cars in North America, its largest market, 200 fewer cars than in 2008. In Europe, Ferrari delivered 2,752 units, a 6% drop compared to the previous year. In particular, Ferrari’s main markets in Europe are Italy (655 units sold) and Germany (644 units sold). Ferrari’s new markets have displayed increasing sales. For instance, sales in the Middle East were up 29% to 471 cars. Continued after the jump!

Meanwhile, in the Asia Pacific Region, 2,752 Ferrari cars were sold, a 3% increase. Japan is still one of Ferrari’s top 5 markets worldwide, with 8% of worldwide deliveries. In China, 206 cars were sold. About 60% of the total vehicles sold were California models.

Incidentally, the new 458 Italia did not contribute to 2009 sales, as this model had entered the market after the results were obtained. Last year, Ferrari’s market share increased and posted an average worldwide increase of 10%, thus making the company the segment leader.

At the end of last year, consolidated revenues dropped by 7%, reaching 1,778 million euro with its operating profit falling 28% to 245 million euro. Ferrari said that these figures were seriously affected by the weakness of the US dollar because 30% of its sales were made in this currency.

Source: 4wheelsnews.com

Two shiny new exotic cars – a Lamborghini Murcielago and Ferrari F430 – wrecked into each other in South Africa, and that’s not even interesting part. The two drivers involved were attending a wedding reception for the family of the ruling political party in the town of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, when the cars collided. The Lamborghini was apparently driven by a former hitman convicted of six murders, but was granted political amnesty and let off.





Source: automoblog.net

Two rainy days of exclusive team "filming" at Jerez was actually Giancarlo Fisichella's first chance to drive the new Ferrari F10 single seater.

It had been reported that the Italian team's use of Jerez on Monday and Tuesday featured Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa at the wheel of the red car.

But it was actually team reserve driver Fisichella, 37, who was in charge of the F10, proving that Ferrari is the F1 team arguably most adept at driving through the loopholes in the sport's tight testing restrictions.

Fisichella's running, although done in torrential rain, gave the Roman a chance to get comfortable in the F10, whilst freeing up the four days of official testing this week for Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.

After the same F10 prototype did all the seven days of testing at Valencia and Jerez this month, a second model - chassis 282 - will make its debut in Massa's hands on Wednesday.

Source: motorsport.com

Turn your speakers ON! You will see all sorts of amazing and exclusive models from the italian manufacturer: from the legendary Enzo and F50 to the rather common yet very loud F430 and 599 GTB Fiorano... and many more, in all colors!

After intense speculation, Ferrari has finally given confirmation that the 599 GTO will be released.
Basically, the 599 GTO is a road variant of the racecar Ferrari 599 XX.

Interestingly, this is the first time that Ferrari has used the GTO nameplate since the 288 GTO, which was built from 1984-1986. Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa, who confirmed this news through Evo Magazine, said that the classification of the 599 GTB Fiorano has been changed from “GT” to its “Sports Car” designation, allowing for the development of this extreme GTO version.

Source: autospies.com

During a recent interview, Amedo Felisa, boss of the Italian supercar brand, divulged Ferrari's plan to build a V6-engined car in the future. He further added that if he would have been asked the question a year ago he would have said no.
"Attitudes are changing and we build cars for customers" - Amedo Felisa.

Taking into consideration the global warming issue, full electric cars are not the best choice for the customers. Furthermore, he also emphasized that sound is just as important as design and performance for Ferrari. "We'll not make engine sounds with speakers", he stated.

Felisa also confirmed that Ferrari's current plans included the making of the 458 Italia Spider as well as a successor to the Enzo supercar.

Source: ozcarguide.com

Just a couple of weeks ago, we had the chance to review the latest driving game from the venerable Need For Speed franchise, and found NFS Shift to be a worthy rival to the likes of Forza 3 and the upcoming Gran Turismo 5. The one thing it was missing? Ferraris. But a new downloadable content pack on Xbox Live aims to fix that shortcoming.



Available for download on February 16, the Ferrari Racing Pack features 10 absolutely drool-worthy Prancing Horses. Included in the package are the FXX, F50 GT, 599 GTB Fiorano, California, 575 Superamerica and five variants of the F430: Spider, Scuderia, 16M Scuderia Spider, Challenge and GTC.



The gamesmiths at Electronic Art have also devised an array of challenges designed specifically for these ten Maranello monsters, including hot laps, eliminators, endurance races and a world tour. The 46 challenges are included as well in the download pack, which costs $10 or 800 Microsoft Points. You're also going to need a copy of the game, an Xbox 360 console and an Xbox Live account to make it happen. Full details are available in the press release after the jump, with a batch of screen shots in the gallery below.



Source: autoblog.com

Any doubts or skepticism on the validity of the Ferrari 599 GTO – the road version of the Ferrari 599XX – can now be put to rest after spy photos of what appears to be the 599 GTO was recently taken in Europe. It certainly helped that Ferrari didn’t put a whole of effort in disguising this car because it looks eerily similar – especially the roof elements and those easy-to-notice rear exhaust design - to the 599XXs that Felipe Massa and six of his cohorts were seen driving a week ago.



Official details behind the car are still being kept under wraps by Ferrari but those who are in-the-know have said that the car’s 6.0-liter V12 engine will be derived from the Ferrari Enzo, which, if accurate, should give the 599 GTO a top speed of somewhere in the neighbourhood of 220 mph and a 0-60mph time of around 3.2 seconds.



The Ferrari 599 GT0 is expected to make an appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in March and is rumoured to be headed out to dealerships in the succeeding months on a limited run of just 500 total units with a price tag that is expected to fall just a nail under half-a-million dollars ($464,950).

Source: topspeed.com

More details on the Ferrari 599 hybrid concept that is set to be shown at the Geneva motor show have been revealed by company boss Amedeo Felisa.

Felisa revealed to that a 599 hybrid test mule has been running for a year now, and that its fuel consumption is around 25 per cent less than the standard car's.

However, the hybrid technology adds around 80kg to the standard car (pictured here), and it is unlikely to be seen on a production Ferrari for five years.

“The technology is not ready," he said. "The suppliers are not ready. Everything is underdeveloped. There is a lot of work to so. It is not for tomorrow. We haven’t decided when [it will be introduced]. It will be around 2015, but not before five years.”

He added that the members of last year's F1 team who had developed KERS have now been reassigned to developing greener road car technology.

Felisa also reiterated that the 599 was being used to present the hybrid technology, and would not necessarily be the first car in Ferrari's range to get hybrid technology. He said the systems under development would fit to all Ferrari cars, whether front or mid-engined, or V8 or V12 powered.

Source: autocar.co.uk

Fernando Alonso will kick off Ferrari's testing on his home ground at Jerez in Spain this week, driving for the first two days before handing the car over to Felipe Massa.

The Spaniard was fastest of all in last week's first pre-season test at Valencia, with the early indications suggesting that Ferrari has an early edge in its preparations for the 2010 season.

The F10 will feature a few mechanical updates for this week's run, with the team not intending to bring any aerodynamic improvements until the next Jerez test - when the team is expected to use its second chassis for the first time.

The Jerez test is set to feature 10 teams – with Force India, Virgin Racing and Red Bull Racing joining the seven current outfits who tested at Valencia.

Source: autosport.com

For a brand that once considered the sales of roadgoing vehicles a means to support a racing empire, Ferrari’s recent decisions to move the brand into lower and lower price brackets has come as something of a shock to the system. With the V8 cars ushering in a new era that’s finally culminated in the polarizing entry level Ferrari California, the brand is breaking new, cheaper ground than ever before.

But if the California is still too expensive for you, Ferrari’s latest announcement should be exciting. Now offering a factory-supported certified pre-owned program replete with two year warranty, owning a cheap Ferrari is now easier than ever. Valid for approved models of 360, F430, 550/575, 599 and 612, the program includes any car manufactured in the last eight years with less than 90,000 kilometers on the clock.

Source: carguideweb.com

In this new video from Ferrari, you have Massa driving the new exclusive Ferrari 599XX at the Ricardo Tormo circuit outside of Valencia

According to Ferrari, the Ferrari 599XX is "incorporates the most advanced technologies resulting from Ferrari's road-going and F1 research."

It only makes sense to have Mr Massa from the world of F1 take the car for a spin on the track.

Ferrari's 599XX will demand a cost over 1 million euros and featured 700 Ferrari race bred horses.

The 599XX debuted at the 79th Geneva International Motor Show




Source: Ferrari

RM Auctions, the global leader in the collector car market with a specialization in the sale of Ferraris, is representing the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO (chassis no. 4675 GT) – one of the most coveted cars in the world, for private treaty sale.

In addition to its impressive motor car auction results at prestigious locations around the globe, including the sale of seven of the top 10 Ferraris ever sold at auction, RM generates an average of $50 million in private treaty transactions year over year.



“The Ferrari GTO is unquestionably one of the most iconic and coveted cars in the world,” says Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM Europe. “This is truly a rare occasion for collectors to acquire such an important piece of automotive history and we are pleased to be chosen by 4675 GT’s current custodian to represent it on the open market.”

The 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO (chassis no. 4675 GT) is one of only 36 250 GTOs originally produced and one of a limited few with Series II GTO bodywork. In addition to being considered one of the most beautiful cars ever built by Ferrari, the GTO was tremendously successful in competition, securing multiple World Championships for the Modenese car builder.


In April 1963, 4675 GT left the factory finished in Rosso Cina. It was raced by such drivers as Guido Fossati, Jean Guichet, Oddone Sigala, Vincenzo Nember and Luigi Taramazzo and proved itself a tremendously capable racing car, rarely finishing outside the top three in its class and achieving numerous race wins. It participated in the full range of competitive events, including hillclimbs, endurance races and rallies.

The present owner acquired 4675 GT in 1996, and has maintained it in his exceptional, world-renowned Japanese collection ever since. Most recently 4675 GT has participated in the ultra-private events reserved only for GTO owners, namely the 35th and 45th GTO Anniversary Tours in France and California.

For more information about the purchase of this car, please contact Max Girardo at RM Auctions on +44 (0) 20 7851 7077.

Source: classicrallies.com

Fernando Alonso took the wheel of a Ferrari for the first time Wednesday on the final day of Formula One's first pre-season testing session.

The two-time world champion, who left Renault at the end of last year to join the Italian team, came out to busy grandstands at the Cheste circuit, which is expecting up to 30,000 spectators for the Spaniard's first session in the iconic red car.

Alonso took over from teammate Felipe Massa in the F10 car, which has been fastest in the seven-team field through the first two days.

Alonso is one of three F1 champions testing on Wednesday, with seven-time champion Michael Schumacher of Mercedes GP and defending winner Jenson Button of McLaren also driving.

Source: usatoday.com

Everything seemed fine. Sublime, actually. Outskirts of Nagoya, in a tweaked F430, pulling back on the paddle for fourth gear, hard on the throttle, revs climbing, engine screaming and traffic politely moving over.



Then, as I was just starting to get a feel for the car, came the lost-in-translation moment. On the GPS came a women's voice, something in Japanese, which I don't speak. Having ignored her earlier announcements, I kept my foot in it. Then, from the passenger seat, Mr. Tanii, manager of ASI said in English, "Speed camera! Slow!"

I stepped hard on the Brembos to wipe off speed, the Performance Friction race pads, which were squeaky and touchy around town, brought us safely below the speed limit before the cameras came into view. No drama; the car was perfectly stable thanks to a firm set of Sachs coilovers and extra aero downforce from the wing and body kit. Unfazed as well, Mr. Tanii gave me directions to the restaurant for lunch.



Japan's probably not the first place-but definitely not the last-you'd think to find a company that tunes Ferraris. Their tuners are more famous for 1000-horsepower Nissan Skylines, Toyota Supras, nimble Mugen Hondas, and brutally effective Mitsubishi EVOs. With so many good cars available for tuning, and the Japanese tendency toward insularity, tuning of European cars seems an anomaly. But horsepower, speed and handling are universal terms and the world is becoming a flat, level playing field.

ASI, an acronym of accuracy, spirit, and imagination, was founded by Satoshi Kondo in 2007, but that wasn't when he personally started modifying exotica. Inspired by a Testarossa-based Koenig Competition Spider, Kondo bought a Testarossa and proceeded to chop the top, re-enforce the chassis, and fortify the engine to create a one-off that still sits in his garage today.

ASI's styling and tuning program for the F430 includes, most noticeably, front are rear bumpers that have been re-sculpted to seem more track-inspired. The side vents on the front bumper fuse elements of the Scuderia and F430 GT2 and the side skirts' intakes extend further than stock to draw in more air. The rear bumper relocates the exhaust pipes to a position similar to the Scuderia's. However, a stock F430 exhaust can still be used and routed to end where the tips normally exit, lower and to the sides. For the weight-conscious, ASI claims to have shaved 60 pounds with this body kit. To top it off, ASI offers three kinds of dry carbon rear wings. The one pictured here is the Type 2 street wing. It has been flawlessly finished and blended into the car's lines instead of dominating or unbalancing them.



Protruding from the rear bumper is a stainless steel exhaust system, which was developed with Ito Racing. Together with a revised ECU, ASI claims an increase of 30 hp, with emphasis on increased mid-range torque. The system adds low-frequency depth while also allowing the engine to shriek only as only a high-strung Ferrari V8 can. While there wasn't a stock F430 for comparison, I can say that ASI's car had plenty of meaty midrange that made it feel bigger than 4.3 liters.

Underneath, ASI replaced the stock suspension with the aforementioned Sachs coilovers and adjusted the settings to their liking. The ride around town is expectedly firm but surprisingly compliant over dips and bumps at highway speed. As this car spends a lot of time on the track, ASI upgraded the brake rotors to 14.5-inch slotted discs and also asked Brembo to supply narrower 6-piston calipers to clear the wheels the company mounts its racing slicks on. And to keep the driver in position, lightweight Bride racing seats were also installed.



Before going to drive and shoot ASI's F430, there were fears that I might have a PF Chang's experience-Chinese food cooked by non-Chinese never tastes right. In this case, an Italian car tuned by Japanese could be disastrous. Luckily, that isn't the case with ASI's work. The quality is world class, the attention to detail obsessive, the finished product lust-worthy.

2009 Ferrari F430
Layout
Longitudinal mid engine, rear-wheel drive

Engine
4.3-liter V8, dohc, 32-valve. Stainless steel exhaust, remapped ECU

Transmission
Six-speed sequential manual

Suspension
Sachs coilovers

Brakes
Six-piston Brembo calipers, 14.5-inch slotted rotors

Wheels & Tires
ASI forged alloys, Michelin Pilot Sport PS2

Exterior
ASI front and rear bumpers, side skirts, rear wing

Performance
Peak Power: 520 hp @ 8300 rpm
Peak Torque: 360 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.9 sec.
Top Speed: 195 mph (est.)

Source: europeancarweb.com

Giancarlo Fisichella has signed up to contest the Le Mans Series in 2010.

The 37-year-old is a veteran of 231 Grands Prix since 1996, but he will be Ferrari's reserve driver this season.

However, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's Le Mans Series said on Monday that Fisichella would contest "the whole season" of the endurance sports car calendar in 2010.

A full entry list will be published within days, but it emerges that he will drive a Ferrari F430 with AF
Corse in the LMGT2 category.Two Le Mans Series races clash with F1 rounds in 2010: May 9's 1000km of Spa (Spanish GP), and the 1000km of Silverstone (Italian GP) in September.

Source: formula-one.speedtv.com

As the 2010 F1 season approaches Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando looked at what they expect the new season to bring from the new rules, and from each other.



“All my dreams in my career came true: now the one to become a Ferrari driver,” said Alonso. “I can almost feel the car in Valencia, it’s very exciting. I hope to stay here for many years, because if you
don’t win the Championship one year, you don’t have to consider to change the team.”

“Regarding its comfort it seems to be more or less on the same level as last year’s car,” he added when asked about his first impressions of the new F10. “There’s always something to improve in the cockpit – seat, elbows, pedals, which have a different inclination compared to the standard set up.”

“We started very early thinking about 2010,” Felipe Massa told the assembled crowd, turning to the changes for 2010. “We were asking for many modifications not just regarding aerodynamics, but also the engine and the tank. Everything was really important considering the 2010 rules. What’s very important is that every single detail can bring tenths of a second.”

“We’ll start with less petrol into the weekend, while we will start into the race with enough petrol for the whole distance. Then there are other details, such as the points assigned to the first and second in the races. Having all these changes in mind we have to pay a lot of attention and learn rapidly in terms of strategy and, as far as I am concerned, regarding driving the car to be immediately competitive.”

“We’ll have a more precise idea after the first test,” added Alonso. “With the petrol load we can put into the tank we’ll all have a different load on board. We’ll concentrate on our work during the tests, without considering the lap times; we’ll see if we’ll be satisfied with the car or not.”

Massa also had to answer the inevitable questions about his Hungaroring accident, describing it as “really unbelievable”, before talking about how safety is one of the primary concerns of drivers and tracks and assuring that “nothing has changed” in his outlook on F1.

But there was much more interest in what the pair saw of each other, the Ferrari line-up being one the three (along with McLaren and Mercedes) sure to generate headlines this year.

“The expectations as far as my teammate is concerned I’ve been living for many years now,” Massa explained. “When there’s a new driver at Ferrari there are great expectations and the goal is to work well as a team, to be complete. I’ll have a very strong teammate. I’ve always done good work, learned a lot, shown many times that I’m able to win and fight, whoever my teammate was.”

Alonso on the other hand was quick to emphasise the team work element of the pairing. “Felipe and I both race for Ferrari. It is important that a red car wins. We’ll both give it our all to improve our performance, we’ll both give 100%. I’ve always had strong teammates and I never had any problems with then. I have a great relation to all of them and it won’t be different with Felipe.”

“Every season is exciting and interesting at the start,” he added. “It’s the same this year, although there are the expectations regarding Schumacher’s comeback, which is very good for F1, which might be well received by TV viewers. I think that there will be two teams fighting for the Drivers’ Title and two for the Constructors’ Title. Let’s hope we’ll be there. Winning the title. I’m not making a bet here, right now everything is too open.”

Source: thecheckeredflag.co.uk

Ferrari’s 2010 Formula One racing car was finally uncovered in a lavish ceremony at Maranello, by none other than the Ferrari boss Luca Di Montezemolo. The event could not have been complete without the team principal Stefan Domenicali and the drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso and the third driver Giancarlo Fisichella who took the stage along with the CEO.



The 620 kg racing monster is powered by a 2.4 liter V8, and has a limited slip E- differential and a 7 speed sequential gearbox. With some aerodynamic upgrades to the car, we may expect more exhilarating performance this season. Resembling last year’s Red Bull RB5 at the front, the F10 just could not heat the racing circuits because of the bad icy weather. But as part of their initial test runs, it will set out to Valencia, Spain for the official testing on Monday. Check out the videos of the event after the jump.

In news from Ferrari, following the release of F10, CEO Luca de Montezemolo has confirmed that a production-ready hybrid version of the Ferrari 599 will be officially unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March.
The two-seat 599, designed by Pininfarina, will keep its V-12 engine and carry Ferrari’s kinetic energy recovery system (KERS). A start/stop system is also likely to appear on the hybrid. Reducing the fuel consumption by nearly 30%, the Ferrari 599 will provide a combined economy ratings of 14 mpg. At the event, Ferrari also stated its plans to continue looking out for ways to improve the efficiency of its cars and will persist adapting the F1 technology for its street vehicles.





Source: nitrobahn.com