The owner of a brand new Ferrari 458 Italia with some 500 miles on the odometer in Brandon Florida received a quick lesson on the disadvantages of a low slung sports car in the land of pickup trucks and SUVs when a Ford F-150 ran over its hood. We don't know if the F-150 driver mistook Maranello's creation for a red speed bump or if the Ferrari owner questioned Ford's 'Built Tough' slogan, but something tells us this video is going to become a hit. You can watch the clip after the break.
The heavy snowfalls paralyzing most of the northern hemisphere are just another reminder that enthusiasts will have to wait a bit until they’ll be able to enjoy their cars on the track again. In the meantime, let us provide some driving “medicine” in the form of a video that shows the Ferrari F40 LM racecar driven by former F1 driver Jacques Lafitte. Don't forget to turn up the volume to properly enjoy the video available after the break.
Earlier this week, a video showing ousted Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano dangling from the forks of an industrial truck made world headlines. But that wasn't the only car from Maranello to be targeted by the angry protesters. New videos and photos showing yet another Prancing Horse model being 'liberated' have now surfaced online.
This time it's a red-colored Ferrari California claimed to be owned by a member of the former Tunisian Preseident's family named Sofiane Ben Ali. In their mad rush, Tunisian rioters utterly destroyed the hardtop convertible relieving it from tires, badges and anything else that could get their hands on.
The looting seems to have taken place in the garage where the Ferrari was parked, meaning that no one took the Italian supercar for a spin, which is kind of sad (in a twisted way of course...). Scroll down for the video and photos.
Ferrari's replacement for the 612 Scaglietti has finally come out of the closet ushering a radical new concept for the famed company from Maranello. The FF, which is an acronym for Ferrari Four, is probably the company's most versatile series production model ever featuring seating and luggage space for four, an all-wheel drive system and a shooting brake body style. It will be revealed at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show with sales to follow later in the year.
Designed by Pininfarina, the FF is a large sports car measuring 4,907 mm in length, 1,953 in width and 1,379 mm in height. The elongated roofline, the styling of the rear quarter and the car's proportions bring to mind a variety of older models, one of which is the BMW Z3 Coupe.
The Prancing Horse company has not published any photos of the interior yet, but notes that the FF "can comfortably accommodate four people and their luggage". Talking about boot capacity, there's 450 liters of space with all four passengers about, or 800 liter with the rear seats folded.
Ferrari added that it has developed a vast array of personalization options and accessories for the FF, including include six model-specific exterior colors and interior trims.
There's a lot going on under the sheetmetal as the FF introduces company’s first ever [production] four-wheel drive system. Called 4RM, it is said to weigh 50 per cent less than a conventional four-wheel drive system, thus helping to maintain an almost perfect weight distribution [47:53].
The Italian company has released few other details about the system, but it claims "it delivers record levels of performance on all terrains and in all conditions via continuous and intelligent predictive torque distribution to all four wheels."
The FF is powered by a brand new 6.3-liter V12 engine with direct injection and Ferrari's HELE tech that includes a stop/start system. Sitting up front, the 12-cylinder motor delivers 660-horses at 8,000 rpm and is hooked up to dual-clutch F1 gearbox. Ferrari said the FF completes the 0-100km/h [62mph] sprint in 3.7 seconds and 335 km/h (208 mph), while returning a combined fuel economy of 15.4 lt/100km, equal to 15.3 mpg US, with CO2 emissions of 360 g/km.
The GT tips the scales at a hefty 1,790 kg or 3,946 pounds, but thanks to the powerful V12, it boasts a weight-to-power ratio of 2.7 kg/hp.
Other highlights include the latest magnetorheological damping system (SCM3), as well as the most recent development in carbon-ceramic brakes from Brembo.
More details will be released at the Geneva Motor Show in March, but until then, check out the photos and video below, and tell us what you think about Ferrari's latest model in the comments section.
While promoting Jeep products must have been a boring chore for Ferrari’s F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, we’re pretty sure they had a good time competing against Ducati Moto GP’s Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden in a series of races held on ice. Vehicles of choice were the ever entertaining karts and some sweet looking Fiat 500s. Highlights in the video after the break.
We’ve already seen car collector James Glickenhaus’ Ferrari P4/5 Competizione on the racetrack in Turin, but the video footage wasn’t that impressive. Luckily, Youtube user Marchettino has caught the one-off special on tape (or so to speak) while running some tests on the Franciacorta circuit, near Brescia in Italy. Despite the foggy conditions, this video provides a....clearer picture of what the endurance racer is capable of. Hit the jump to see the clip.
As a result of the political turmoil going on in Tunisia, president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali has fled the country. But like any dictator on the run, Ben Ali had to leave plenty of wealth behind, accumulated in his 20+ years of totalitarian rule, including his Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, which was “repossessed” by angry protesters using a forklift. Video after the jump.
There’s still much to be discovered about James Glickenhaus’ Ferrari P4/5 Competizione racecar, but judging by the latest update on the dedicated Facebook page, the F430 Scuderia-based competition model has reached the final stages of its development, hitting the racetrack for the very first time.
The finished product is quite a handsome beast, boasting sharp edges and voluptuous curves, complemented by the large rear wing and exposed carbon fiber. When it makes its racing debut later this year, the P4/5 Competizione will most certainly adopt some kind of livery, but to be honest, we like its “natural” look.
Racing pilot Fabrizio Giovanardi and engineer Paolo Garella drove the P4/5 Competizione during the track test held in Torino.
“The test was fine, or better fantastic. The car is so easy to drive and all the controls light and very direct. The circuit was very short but I was able to go up to the 3rd gear. Engine and gearbox very light,” said the first test report, uploaded to Facebook less than 24 hours ago.
To see the P4/5 Competizione in action and hear its magnificent engine sound, scroll down and check out the videos.
James Glickenhaus’ P4/5 Competizione project may have missed its June 2010 deadline, but luckily for the famous car collector, he still has the “normal”, Enzo-based Ferrari P4/5 to kill some time with, while waiting for the custom racecar. In the latest footage available on Youtube, Mr. Glickenhaus took the car to France for high speed testing, followed by some R&R time in Paris. Check out the video after the break to see the simply breathtaking P4/5 in action.
In 1971, one of the greatest one-on-one boxing matches took place in New York's Madison Square Garden: the bout between Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier. So big was this event, advertisers dubbed it, 'The Fight of the Century'. Now, two different contenders take to the ring (uh...tarmac). The reigning champion: the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE. The challenger: the Lexus LFA. Video after the jump.
One is a purebred, Italian racehorse with decades of motor racing heritage under its belt. The other is the new kid on the block: the young hood with its 'doof doof' music and unshakable will to win.
So maybe I went a bit too far with the boxing analogy...
The real scoop here is U.S. magazine Car and Driver putting the V12-powered 599 GTB HGTE and V10-powered LFA through their paces on the narrow, sodden backroads of Wales. Technical editor Michael Austin is behind the wheel of the Ferrari while executive editor Mark Gillies is in the Lexus. Their goal: to find out which of these two, similarly priced front engined, rear-wheel-drive GTs is the best?
What is believed to be a test mule of the next Ferrari 612 Scaglietti using the current model's sheet metal as camouflage, was spied doing the rounds at the Italian firm's Fiorano race track near Maranello. From what we know up until now, the 612 Scaglietti's replacement is due in showrooms by early 2012 and will benefit from a lighter chassis and a revised V12 engine with direct-injection.
Though not confirmed, there's also the possibility the new four-seater supercar may adopt the gasoline-hybrid technology Ferrari unveiled in the 599 GTB Fiorano HY-KERS concept at the Geneva auto show earlier this year.
The system, which is derived from the kinetic energy recovery tech Ferrari used in Formula One, comprises of an electric motor coupled to the rear of the dual-clutch 7-speed F1 transmission and a set of lithium-ion batteries, to boost fuel economy and cut CO2 emissions by around 35 percent.
Ferrari has announced a virtual simulator to give fans of its Scuderia F1 team something to do between races. Using input from its F1 drivers (Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Giancarlo Fisichella) and engineers, the Ferrari Virtual Academy will be revealed live at Monza in Ferrari's paddock at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix.
The game will evolve and be released in stages, allowing people to race each other online on a variety of tracks. At launch, races will be held at the Fiorano track, followed by Mugello and the Nürburgring at a later date.
According to Ferrari, this is the only simulator to faithfully reproduce the F10 in all its glory. It is derived from Ferrari's own driver simulator, provides gamers with a realistic portrayal of the F10's cockpit, as well as realistic "aerodynamic effects, tire characteristics and behaviour of the chassis-suspension system and engine".
For fans willing to get seriously involved, there will be an online tournament that will track the simulator's top performers and reward them with weekly Ferrari goodies. Not only that, but Ferrari will bring the top five fastest tournament drivers to Maranello to do the Ferrari Driver Academy.
The Fiorano simulator will be released online at a price of €14.90, with Mugello and the Nürburgring set to follow at €9.90.
