Last year, the Ferrari FXX was featured in one of the Top Gear episodes and it managed to take the first place on the show’s lap time board. The Ferrari FXX managed to be a full 6.4 seconds faster on the Top Gear track than the Gumpert Apollo. Top Gear released a video about a week ago showing the Ferrari FXX being driven by the Prancing Horse’s test driver Dario Benuzzi.

The Ferrari FXX is powered by a 6.3 liter V12 monster that sends 800 hp to the rear wheels via an F1 transmission.

Watch the new Top Gear Ferrari FXX video above.

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Source: zercustoms.com

 The year 2010 will be the last time you will see the Ferrari F430 GT in action in the ALMS. Considering the production version was already replaced by the new 458 Italia, the same fate will also strike at the racing version. And who better to produce a rendering of the future racing car than Jon Sibal and, lucky for us, he has already done it.

“I basically just used the current F430 GT for some ideas for the 458 GT,” Sibal says. “I also widened the fenders but it’s subtle so not sure if anyone will notice. Gave it the racecar stance, race wheels, race interior and other details to make it somewhat convincing.” The result is a 458 GT prepared for the RISI Competizione.

Of course the production version will be powered by the same 4.5 liter V8 engine that will deliver 570 hp, but for the racing version, Ferrari will mostly focus on improving the car’s aerodynamics and weight. The F1 technology will also be present, so expect the next 458 GT to be a lot quicker than its road going version.

What do you think about the photo rendering of the Ferrari 458 Italia GT by Jon Sibal?

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Source: topspeed.com and egmcartech.com  

The Formula Rossa rollercoaster

 A year after its first Formula One race, Abu Dhabi hopes to lure even more tourists with “Ferrari World” — a grandiose theme park that is the first of its kind for the iconic Italian carmaker.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi announced on Monday, the 19th of July, that the park will open in 100 days featuring 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 hosted Abu Dhabi’s inaugural Grand Prix race in November 2009, the sprawling complex will be the world’s largest indoor theme park.

Due to open on October 28, little more than two weeks before this year’s Abu Dhabi GP, it will be housed under a massive triangular red roof on the 40-billion-dollar Yas Island development.

“It is an indoor thing with an outdoor feeling,” said Claus Frimand, the general manager of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.

“You forget that you are inside a building because the roof is between 35 and 50 metres (115 and 165 feet) above you and there are no support structures, except the funnel in the middle and one row of columns,” he added.

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.

Ferrari World spreads over 86,000 square metres (925,696 square feet), while the red roof bearing the world’s largest logo of Ferrari’s prancing horse stretches over 200,000 square metres (2.15 million square feet).

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 (150 miles) per hour.

“It gives you the feel of driving in a F1 car very close to the ground,” said park manager Andy Keeling.

The second of the roller coasters, which stretch beyond the building’s perimeter, features two tracks with Ferrari-shaped trains.

“The unique feature is that it has two tracks, two trains side by side and depending on the weight of the passengers, one will cross the finish line first,” said Frimand.

Right in the centre of the building, out of a big funnel which is the only area with daylight, visitors can experience the space-shot G-force Tower.

“That is the highest we could build on the island,” said Frimand. “We can shoot people up through the roof where they can look over the whole island.

“It gives you the G-force that the drivers are experiencing during the race,” he added.

Elsewhere, a Ferrari California Spyder convertible takes visitors through Bell’Italia, a reproduction of the Italian countryside with model villages and tourist highlights like the lagoon of Venice, the Colosseum, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

A large replica of the Maranello factory demonstrates the manufacturing process from the design stage to the finished product.

Motoring enthusiasts will even be able to experience the inside of a Ferrari V12 engine in another ride.

Abu Dhabi hopes such features will boost tourism in the desert emirate.

“It is a good thing for the tourism offering in Abu Dhabi as there is not all that much to see,” said Grant Salter, general manager of the leisure consultancy Grant Thornton.

“But in isolation, it is not going to drive a huge volume to the capital. It will rather create an additional activity for people who are visiting the emirate anyway,” he added.

Premjit Bangara, manager at Sharaf Travel, sounded more upbeat about the impact of Ferrari World on tourism, saying it will stimulate interest from neighbouring countries where people are passionate about racing.

Another challenge will be profitability.

“Very few theme parks in the world are financially sustainable,” said Salter. “Generally the number of visitors coming in is never enough to cover the costs.”

Rides and attractions:

* Formula Rossa – The world’s fastest roller coaster, reaching speeds of 240 kmph.

* Speed of Magic – A fantasy 4-D journey following the adventures of a young boy as he travels through a kaleidoscopic dreamscape of natural and phenomenal environments, where no Ferrari has gone before.

* Made in Maranello – A virtual trip behind the walls of the famous Ferrari factory in Maranello, taking guests through the intricate process of making the world’s most sought after car.

* V12 - An exciting flume ride to the heart of a 12 cylinders engine.

* G-Force – A thrilling tower ride that will shoot thrill-seekers through the red roof and 62 meters in the air before plummeting back to Earth, experiencing the actual G-force of a Ferrari, in a seat directly inspired by the Ferrari Enzo.

* Scuderia Challenge – Cutting edge racing simulators similar to those used by the drivers of the Scuderia Ferrari in training.

* Viaggio in Italia – A virtual aerial voyage over Italy’s cities and their main monuments, mountains and coasts pursuing a Ferrari.

* Fiorano GT Challenge – A unique dueling rollercoaster with Ferrari F430 Spiders twisting and turning through tight corners on a sprint to the finish line.

* Bell’Italia - A miniature recreation of Italy’s most famous locations, from the picturesque Portofino and the Amalfi Coast to Monza racetrack, the Colosseum in Roma, Venezia and Maranello, the heartland and home of Ferrari.

* Paddock – A re-creation of the Ferrari motor home including garages, transporters & hospitality suites with interactive shows offering fans a taste of the true action behind the scenes on a Grand Prix race day.

* The Pit Wall – An interactive theatre that allows guests to test their judgment in realistic racing scenarios.

* Galleria Ferrari - The world’s largest Ferrari gallery outside Maranello, showcasing the most exclusive range of classic and contemporary Ferrari’s from all over the world.

* Junior GT - A driving school for children with expert instruction where they will drive reduced scale F430 GT Spiders on an equipped driving course.

* Junior Grand Prix - After the Junior GT driving experience, budding F1TM drivers can enjoy the race track in scaled down Ferrari F1TM racers.

* The Racing Legends - A ride through Ferrari’s greatest racing moments starting from the first races all the way to today’s F1 victories.

* Driving with Champions – An interactive 3-D show which follows the adventures of a young engineer who is taken on the ride of a lifetime with a racing champion on his first day working at the Ferrari factory

* Cinema Maranello - Ferrari World’s own theatre showing ‘Coppa di Sicilia’, a short film that tells one of the many inspiring stories from the life of the legendary Enzo Ferrari.

* Junior Training Camp – An interactive play area for children where they can engage with a waterless car wash, become custom ‘constructors’, climb up the grandstand, pilot remote cars, peddle their own miniature Ferrari and play with an F1TM car made of soft, guest-friendly foam.

* Carousel - Featuring never-before-seen Ferrari prototypes based on winning designs from a Ferrari competition.

* Dining and Shopping – A range of concept restaurants and cafes offering authentic Italian dining experiences, in addition to unique shopping locations.

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Source: FerrariWorld via news.yahoo.com and nitrobahn.com

Ferrari 599 GTO shooting flames from it's exhaust

This is a video below of a new fire-breathing Ferrari 599 GTO shooting flames on the highway. It’s just a bad-assed car, the dragon lady of the streets… enough said. Enjoy!

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Source: automotiveaddicts.com

Ferrari 458 Italia

 The increasing appetite of Indian consumers which made the country’s automotive market explode over the past few years is ringing quite some bells in Europe, with more and more carmakers either expanding or setting up operations there.

Already present in the other Asian star market, the neighboring China. Italian manufacturer Ferrari is currently considering starting a dealership network in India. The company’s president Luca di Montezemolo said in an interview with BBC, cited by Business Standard, that the first Ferrari dealerships in the country will be opened in the next six to eight months.

Business Standard says the most likely locations for the dealerships will be New Delhi and Mumbai with the latter most likely to be the first one. In Mumbai, the dealership will most likely be located in South Mumbai. The Italians’ operation in the country would be managed through Tata Motors. The move would make sense both economically and on a more personal level, as Ratan Tata serves on the board of Fiat Auto. In fact Ratan Tata also drives the only known Ferrari California in existence in India.

Ferrari sold 68 vehicles in China for the January-April period, meaning it managed to double its sales in the country compared to 2009. Although a similar growth in India might be bit of a stretch, the carmaker can be hopeful it will leave its mark.

Ferrari’s entry into India comes at a time when other supercar manufacturers are making a beeline into India. Bugatti recently appointed its dealership together with distributor for India while Aston Martin too has appointed two dealers, both in Mumbai and New Delhi. A whole host of other supercar manufacturers too have shown interest in India so stay tuned to the latest information.

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Source: bsmotoring.com via autoevolution.com

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

Ferrari laid out its model refresh plan last month, and it is promising to Ferrari lovers. The company will continue with four lines: the California, 612 Scaglietti, 458 Italia and 599 Fiorano. The former two will be part of the GT division and the latter two will be part of an “extreme performance” car division. Each individual car’s cycle will run four years, at the end of which, a heavily-revised M or modificato model will replace the original and will include significant styling, powertrain and chassis changes. Four years later a completely new model will replace the M model. With four cars in its line, Ferrari will add an M or brand new model every single year.

If that isn’t intriguing enough, Ferrari will also launch a flagship model like the Enzo every 10 years or so and will launch variants like Spyder and Scuderia models within the cycle.

Ferrari believes that they will keep the four-model range for years to come, with the two GT models and the two high performance models. The Italian automaker intends to widen the gap between the two types in the future.

The first new model will be the 612 Scaglietti replacement, codenamed F151, which will be due out in 2011. It will be cheaper and more practical car than the current 612. The F151 will cost around the same amount as the 599 GTB, with an aluminum body and engine in the front, but it will also get more interior and cargo space.

The 599′s replacement, the F152, is due in 2012. It will be positioned farther from the F151 than the 599 is from the 612. We think that this new model will be harder and faster than the current 599 GTO. The F152 will keep its front V12 and rear transmission layout.

Even though Ferrari is working on a hybrid model, nothing has yet been planned up to 2014. At the Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa told Motor Trend “It’s not feasible for production yet. It would take three years to develop the components and two more years to get the suppliers ready for production. The purpose of this is to find customers.

“We are doing hybrids because if we don’t there will be no more Ferrari,” he added. “We are forced by fuel consumption and CO2 rules. We will have to do other things too-aerodynamics and lightweight-because hybrid isn’t enough. But it’s not under discussion to change the character of a Ferrari. We won’t lose performance.”

He finished by ruling out the possibility of an all-electric Ferrari, though he believes that an electric motor combined with a normal engine can result in serious fun. “Every new model needs a new sensation. It is not just about extra performance or lateral g. If you couple an electric motor with a combustion engine, you can have an extra feeling of sportiness. I cannot imagine a fully electric Ferrari.”

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Source: motorcrave.com and topspeed.com

Ferrari 599 GTO

 Ever since the Ferrari 599 GTO made its debut, we’ve only seen some studio shots of the car along with some user submitted photos of the car hanging outside the company’s Maranello headquarters. We now have new pictures of the Ferrari 599 GTO in action on the track for you to drool over and take a break from the day.

You can check the images from the updated gallery below. That is, assuming you haven’t seen enough from the seemingly endless stream of videos that have circulated since the supercar’s debut. Yeah, we didn’t think so.

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Source: egmcartech.com and autoblog.com

Ferrari 599 GTO

 The latest episode of Fifth Gear brings a new review of the Ferrari 599 GTO. This time, the Ferrari 599 GTO gets tested both on and off, but mostly on, the Fiorano race track by WTCC champion Jason Plato. The hardcore Ferrari 599 GTO hides under its red skin a V12 engine good for 670 hp (500 kW) and 620 Nm (457 lb ft)of torque. Apart from having obscene amounts of power, the Ferrari 599 GTO also has a relatively low weight of just 3289 lb (1495 kg). The Ferrari 599 GTO can rocket from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.3 seconds and to 124 mph (200 km/h) in less than 10 seconds.

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Watch the two videos below of Jason Plato of Fifth Gear testing the Ferrari 599 GTO.

Source: zercustoms.com

Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge

The 458 Italia, like any other roadgoing Ferrari, draws its inspiration and development from the Scuderia’s considerable racing prowess. Turning the 458 back into a racing car, then, is an extra special feat – one to which Maranello is well accustomed, from the Challenge versions of the 348, 355, 360 and 430 that came before. The new race car will run alongside the F430 Challenge as part of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo next year, the latter of which is also getting a new Asia-Pacific series for 2011 as well.

While the Challenge car maintains the production 458′s 5.5-liter V8 drivetrain, it has gone on a substantial diet that includes thinner body panels comprised of Lexan instead of glass windows and carbon-fiber components. Ride height has been dropped for circuit duty by 30mm, and the Challenge also gets its own suspension bits and setup with stiffer springs, dampers and aluminum bushings. Center-lock 19-inch racing wheels are banded in slick Pirelli tires, and the whole gorgeous Italian parade reins to a halt with Brembo CCM2 carbon-ceramic brakes from the 599XX. In other big news, the 458 Challenge receives F1-Trac electronics that makes use of specific programs that help set the car up for both wet and dry conditions.

All of this information arrives on the heels of the initial spy shots and the video that followed, with Ferrari having issued an official statement (available after the jump) and the image above. In addition, a small batch of photos have crept their way onto the Teamspeed forums, apparently from the vehicle’s official unveiling in Maranello. Read the press release below.

Press Release:

Maranello, July 14th 2010 – The 458 Challenge has made its world premiere debut in Maranello during the Annual Dealer Meeting, a traditional event that brings together the representatives of Ferrari’s international sales network.

The new berlinetta, which will flank the F430 Challenge in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli in the 2011 season, is the fifth model used by Ferrari in its one-make championship which, next year, will be extended to include a new Asia-Pacific series.

Coming just a few months after the Frankfurt Motor Show unveiling of the 458 Italia on which it is based, the 458 Challenge introduces a number of important modifications to adapt it for competition use.

The direct injection 4497 cc V8 remains strictly in production tune, with an output of 570 hp at 9,000 rpm. That said, modifications have been made to the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox to guarantee higher torque at lower revs. The 458 Challenge is also equipped with the E-Diff electronic differential already employed on the road-going version, a first for Ferrari’s track-only cars.

Significant work has also gone into cutting the car’s weight. This focused on both the exterior and interior with Ferrari’s engineers concentrating in particular on reducing the thickness of the bodyshell panels and on using lightweight materials, such as carbon-fibre and Lexan.

The new 458 Challenge also has a specific suspension set-up with solid aluminium bushings, stiffer springs, single-rate dampers, centre-nut 19″ racing rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 30mm all round. It is also equipped with the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes which debuted on the 599XX, Ferrari’s extreme experimental laboratory car, and which are integrated with an ABS system that features two configurations – low grip and high performance for dry surfaces.

Another first for a Ferrari Challenge model is the adoption of the F1-Trac traction control system, the most sophisticated of its kind. Developed in-house by Ferrari, the F1-Trac system constantly monitors levels of grip for maximum high-performance road-holding. Two specific track-biased calibrations – wet and dry – have been developed for this application, with control logic and strategies derived from Ferrari’s extensive racing experience in the F1 and GT championships. The F1-Trac is completely integrated with the E-Diff to guarantee maximum acceleration out of corners.

The required ABS, F1-Trac and E-Diff calibration settings are selected via the manettino on the steering wheel, the first time this solution has been adopted on a model developed for the Ferrari Challenge series. The driver can thus either chose from the WET or DRY configurations. In high grip conditions it is also possible to select CT-OFF to de-activate the F1-Trac traction control.

In the course of the intensive development sessions involved in honing the 458 Challenge for the track, the engineers also managed to improve the car’s lap time at Fiorano by two seconds over that of its predecessor, resulting in a new record of just 1’16.5″. Equally impressive is the amount of lateral grip the new car generates – up to 1.6G.

With the new 458 Challenge, Ferrari is offering its sportier clients – professional and gentlemen drivers alike – a car that is extremely responsive, with great performance and superb handling. This mid-rear V8-engined berlinetta will allow Ferrari Challenge participants to enjoy to the full the exhilarating cut and thrust of the race weekends on the world’s leading circuits, as well as the passion that has always been an integral part of Ferrari’s one-make championship.

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Source: Ferrari.com via Teamspeed.com

Ferrari 458 Italia by Oakley Design

British tuning firm Oakley Design has just released a new package of upgrades for the Ferrari 458 Italia. Limited to a small series of five individually-numbered units, the tuned vehicles sees aerodynamic changes, a few cosmetic changes, and a remapped engine computer.

Read the Press Release below to find out the latest information on this Ferrari tuned by Oakley Design.

Press Release

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Following international acclaim for their finely honed Porsche GT2, GT3 and Panamera conversions, Oakley Design is now proud to announce their tuning programme for the Ferrari 458 Italia. 

Production will be limited to just 5 cars, each bearing a unique build number plaque.

Outside of this Limited Edition model, individual parts will also be made available for clients who do not require the complete package.

With Jon Oakley’s motorsport background central to the company’s philosophy, any change, whether aerodynamic or mechanical, is only done for sound technical reasons.

Wind tunnel testing proved that the carbon-fibre front spoiler lip adds 45kg of downforce over the front axle at 150mph (240km/h), while the racecar style centrally positioned radiator vent now channels air out over the bonnet instead of under the car. This vent also helps to boost the airflow at the base of the front windscreen, benefiting aerodynamics.

Further internal airflow management is seen in the radiator air exit ducts beside the headlamps, which receive carbon-fibre inserts and improved ducting from the radiator.

Deeper, wider side sills improve airflow control down the cars flanks, as well as helping to optimize the flat-bottom effect. The longer but lighter carbon-fibre rear diffuser has deeper boundary layer fences to improve directional stability.

Finally, a new rear spoiler with Gurney flap adds 25kg of downforce over the rear axle at 150mph. This works together with the underbody diffuser to reduce the Italia’s overall drag by smoothing out the separating airflow.

The only exterior alterations made for cosmetic reasons are the signature Oakley Design carbon-fibre roof panel, mirror covers and engine cover insert below the rear window glass. These are matched in the engine bay by carbon-fibre panels covering the inner wings and rear bulkhead.

Lower kerb weight automatically improves performance and puts less stress on the suspension, tyres and brakes. The complete titanium exhaust system with triple outlet pipes and no bypass valve shaves a huge 30kg from the Italia’s aft section, where it counts the most.

At half the weight of cast alloy equivalents, the signature Oakley Design lightweight composite wheels save a significant 8.0kg of unsprung weight per corner. Made in the UK, these two-piece wheels have a magnesium-alloy centre married to a carbon-fibre rim. Their adjusted offset keeps the wheel centre line the same as OE to compensate for the half-inch wider footprint at each corner.

Oakley Design plan to offer 9.0J x 20-inch and 11.0J x 20-inch wheels with 245/35ZR20 and 305/35ZR20 tyres, as well as one-inch diameter smaller 9.0J x 19-inch and 11.0J x 19-inch OZ Racing wheels shod with the New Pirelli Trofeo tyre that meets the latest EU regulations for street legal trackday rubber.

Apart from lower back-pressure in the new exhaust system, the improved throttle response and output is down to the larger carbon-fibre air intake box, larger ram air feeds and larger diameter white silicon pipes with Oakley Design logos connecting the air boxes to the intake.

With an ECU remap optimising the fuelling and ignition curves, these changes account for an approximate 10 percent power gain from 570bhp to 627bhp, while torque is up five percent from 540Nm to 567Nm

Carrying around 65kg less and with more power on tap, the factory 3.4 sec 0-100km/h time drops to around 3.0sec, while top speed has been calculated at over 330km/h.

As reducing the sprung weight has the effect of stiffening the suspension, the car is undergoing extensive testing in this form. A bespoke suspension kit for hard-core trackday drivers is also underway at Intrax, Oakley Design’s suspension and development partner.

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Source: worldcarfans.com