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Ferrari reveals future plans, confirms 599 GTO and Enzo replacement

Ferrari Enzo

Down under in Australia the launch of a brand new Ferrari and Maserati dealership in Sydney, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa has revealed some of the automaker’s future projects, confirming plans for the revival of the legendary GTO badge as well as the replacement for the Enzo supercar.

Putting the recent global financial crisis well behind it, Ferrari will be launching a number of new models in the coming years, starting off with the brand new 458 Italia. Felisa confirmed this model would be followed by a 458 Spider convertible next year but said there were no plans for a track-focused ‘Scuderia’ version just yet.

He went on to disclose that the 599 Hybrid set for next month’s 2010 Geneva International Motor show isn’t destined for production, although the limited edition 599 GTO is. Speaking with GoAuto, Felisa said early hybrid prototypes are already showing improvements in fuel economy of more than 25% but stressed that the technology is just not ready for production and likely won’t be for another five years.

“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 that period [2015], but not before five years,” Felisa explained. In the meantime, Ferrari will launch milder fuel saving technologies, such as cylinder deactivation, engine stop-start and electrically-powered auxiliary systems to take the load off the engine. The first of these systems will appear in the California next year.

As for the new GTO based on the 599, Felisa said the car “is coming” and in the process revive the legendary three letter badge last used on the 288 GTO almost a quarter century ago. Similar in theory to the 430 Scuderia and the 360 Challenge Stradale before that, the new 599 GTO is essentially a lighter and more hardcore version of the regular V-12 powered 599 GTB.

The story doesn’t end there as Felisa also confirmed the news we have all been salivating about for months-a replacement for the Enzo supercar is in development. He said it will be available in left-hand drive only and designed with all the characteristics Ferrari is famous for, which we can safely interpret as being loud, fast and bursting with Italian flair.

What do you think about the future models coming from Ferrari?

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Check me out on Twitter: http://twitter.com/FerrariDreams and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rick.resch

Source: motorauthority.com


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Posted in Amedeo Felisa, Australia, Ferrari 288 GTO, Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale, Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Ferrari 458 Italia, Ferrari 458 Italia Spider, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Ferrari 599 GTO Limited Edition, Ferrari California, Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari hybrid, Geneva Intl. Motor Show, GoAuto, Sydney. Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

By Rick Resch
02/07/2010

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Ferrari 599XX makes appearance at Valencia with Massa

Felipe Massa in the lead 599XX at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, Spain

It’s been almost a year since the Ferrari 599XX made its first appearance at the 79th Geneva International Motor Show and we’ve seen it quite a few times since. Each of those times has been either in a dealership or on a show floor though and the 599XX has yet to be see in action.

Just ahead of Ferrari’s test of their new Formula 1 car at the Ricardo Tormo circuit outside of Valencia, the 599XX was taken for a spin by none other than Felipe Massa behind the wheel. Massa led a group of seven cars around the circuit, the others piloted by the lucky members of Ferrari’s Corse Clienti program.

Fortunately, we might just get to see the 599XX here in the States, as Ferrari has planned various events in America, Europe and Asia for their most special customers. We’ve included a video of the proceedings after the press release and you can check out the photos from the 599XX’s debut below.

PRESS RELEASE

Today Felipe Massa was the main protagonist on the last day of the Ferrari 599XX’s activities with its debut on the track. The Brazilian driver, who will be busy as of tomorrow in the first official Formula 1 test session this season held at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit, met the clients, who, by purchasing the non-homologated sports Berlinetta, planned exclusively to use on the track, participate in the exclusive programme bearing the same name. After several laps on board of the car Felipe said: “I really enjoyed testing this car, I think it’s extremely powerful and has an exceptional stability. Considering that it has been planned for the track it’s really easy to drive.”

The clients showed great enthusiasm for the Ferrarista sharing the debut of this exceptional car: they now have a series of events ahead of them Ferrari will organise on race tracks in America, Europe and Asia, including the Finali Mondiali. Just like in Valencia on these occasions the cars will be taken care of by the team of official technicians, able to guarantee the necessary support and assistance.

What do you think about the Ferrari 599XX?

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Source: autoblog.com

Thanks to our sponsor, Ricambi America - the Ferrari Parts Specialist

Posted in Felipe Massa, Ferrari 599XX, Ferrari's Corse Clienti program, Geneva Intl. Motor Show, Ricardo Tormo circuit, Spain, Valencia. Tagged with , , , , , , .

By Rick Resch
02/05/2010

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Ferrari first to start offering 24 month warranty on certified cars

Ferrari F430

Ferrari announced that they’ve begun a 24-month Power Warranty on all Ferrari Approved cars purchased through the Official Ferrari Dealer network. Ferrari is the first manufacturer to offer a 24-month factory on pre-owned vehicles, and offers customers twice the peace of mind when investing in the Prancing Horse of their dreams.

The warranty stays with the vehicle and has a duration of 24 months from the date of vehicle purchase from an Official Dealer provided that the vehicle is correctly maintained (including the annual inspection) at an Official Ferrari Dealer or Authorized Repairer within 30 days of expiration of the first 12-month period. In addition, customers of the Ferrari Approved program also receive a free subscription to the Ferrari Magazine and Ferrari Roadside Assistance service for the duration of the warranty.

The Ferrari Approved program offers peace of mind and reassurance for customers purchasing a Ferrari up to eight years old. With the support of a warranty underwritten by Ferrari, and a comprehensive 190-point technical inspection, Ferrari Approved is proof to the company’s confidence in the enduring appeal of cars which proudly wear the Prancing Horse badge.

The program is available through all Official Ferrari Dealers and it offers considerable benefits to customers for ultimate peace of mind:

–190-point comprehensive and detailed technical inspection

–Only Ferrari Genuine Parts are used to repair or replace defective items

–An independent verification check to certify the car’s identity, mileage and ownership history

–Verification the car is not subject to any outstanding finance agreement

–A Ferrari Service History Check to verify the car has been appropriately maintained by Ferrari

–A minimum of 24 months Ferrari factory based warranty*

–A minimum of 24 months Ferrari Roadside Assistance

The program’s comprehensive 190-point technical inspection and factory-backed warranty are designed to offer similar standards of vehicle preparation for customers buying a pre-owned Ferrari as those buying a new one. Cars available in the program include icons from both the V8 and V12 ranges:

V8 range:

–360 Modena

–360 Spider

–F430

–F430 Spider

–430 Scuderia

V12 range:

–550 Maranello

–550 Barchetta Pininfarina

–575M Maranello

–Superamerica

–599 GTB Fiorano

–612 Scaglietti

The extent of Ferrari Approved cars that are available can be viewed through the www.ferrariapproved.com website, with full details of each car available for sale through the Official Ferrari Dealer Network. The website features the most comprehensive and up-to-date list of Ferrari Approved Used Cars available in the network, with personalized search criteria to refine the search by preferred color, mileage, tranmission, and price range.

Do you have any questions or comments about the 24 month warranty?

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Source: europeanmotornews.com

Thanks to our sponsor, Ricambi America - the Ferrari Parts Specialist

Posted in 24-month Power Warranty, Ferrari Approved program, Ferrari Genuine Parts, Ferrari Magazine, Ferrari Roadside Assistance, Ferrari Service History Check, Official Ferrari Dealer Network. Tagged with , , , , , , .

By Rick Resch
02/04/2010

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Ferrari 599 Hybrid to debut at Geneva Motor Show

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

In addition to unveiling the new 2010 Ferrari F10 Formula 1 car, CEO Luca di Montezemolo used last Thursday morning’s press conference to briefly announce a hybrid version of the company’s 599 GTB Fiorano that will be shown in March at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Though the car at the show will be a prototype, the hybrid 599 is in fact destined for production. The car will be based on technology developed by Ferrari’s F1 team. It is designed by Pininfarina. Rumors of a hybrid Ferrari based on the Ferrari 599 GTB, which debuted at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, have long been making the rounds.

“It has to be the avant-garde in automobile technology. We’re constructing cars with an enormous part of the innovative technology. We’ll present a 599 hybrid in Geneva, which will represent a great path towards the future,” Ferrari Luca di Montezemolo said in Maranello, Italy, at the presentation of the 2010 Formula One Ferrari.

Ferrari filings with the European Patent Office for a “4WD system with hybrid propulsion” were reported last June. Ferrari first disclosed its plan to launch a hybrid to British magazine Autocar also last June, though the company didn’t say when it would first be viewed by the public, but hinted at a release within a year.

The Italian enthusiast magazine Quattroruote first reported last December that the car would be unveiled to the public in Geneva.

At the announcement, which seems appropriate as it was during the 2009 F1 season when Ferrari first began using its Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)-a kind of mild hybrid system of sorts that captures energy normally lost to braking in a flywheel-was used in actual competition… with mixed results though.

The hybrid we expect will be fitted with a rear-mounted electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack and a street-going version of the KERS Ferrari developed for-but has since dropped from-its Formula 1 cars.

A KERS system recovers energy at one of the car’s axles, rather than in the brakes like most hybrids. As used in racing, it can actually be a performance enhancement, allowing drivers a temporary power boost for a burst of speed and also permits the 612 hp engine to shut down at stop signs.

The hybrid system will decrease overall fuel consumption from around 8.7 miles per gallon to 11.75 miles per gallon with the battery being recharged while the 599 is decelerating. That is about a 35 percent savings in fuel.

Ferrari has already produced a car that can run on biofuel. The ethanol-gulping F430 debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January of 2008.

Also at the unveiling of the new F1 car event, di Montezemolo mentioned that the automaker will continue to adapt F1 technology for its street vehicles. Ferrari will also continue to look for ways to improve their car’s efficiency as part of the board’s plan to make the company more sustainable.

It was announced also last week that there is the driving debut of the Ferrari 599XX. Seven owners of the car will have them delivered to Spain’s Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, where they’ll get to drive them for the first time. Upon arriving at the track, the 599XXs will be fitted for their drivers, then the owners will be familiarized with the cars with the aid of individual Ferrari instructors before being let loose on the circuit. Because the 599XX is not approved for any major safety standards, it is reserved for off-highway use only.

What do you think about a Ferrari 599 Hybrid?

Join the discussion. Please leave a comment.

Check me out on Twitter: http://twitter.com/FerrariDreams and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rick.resch

Source: motorauthority.com, worldcarfans.com, blogs.edmunds.com, rumors.automobilemag.com, fwd.five.tv, seekingalpha.com, usnews.rankingsandreviews.com, luxist.com, news.cnet.com, motorcrave.com, and wot.motortrend.com

Thanks to our sponsor, Ricambi America - the Ferrari Parts Specialist

Posted in Autocar, Detroit Auto Show, European Patent Office, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Ferrari 599XX, Ferrari F430, Ferrari hybrid, Ferrari patent/s, Geneva Intl. Motor Show, Italy, Luca di Montezemolo, Maranello, Pininfarina, Quattroruote, Ricardo Tormo circuit, Spain, Valencia. Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

By Rick Resch
02/01/2010

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Ferrari chooses Bridgestone tires for 458 Italia

The Bridgestone Potenza S001 ultra-high performance tires will be the original equipment on the new Ferrari 458 Italia.

The tire was developed “to match the high-level handling, control and safety requirements” of the car, say Bridgestone officials.

Bridgestone Corporation has supplied tires to Ferrari since 1990. “Many of Ferrari’s flagship models have been fitted with Bridgestone tires, including the 612 Scaglietti, the Enzo and the Superamerica.”

What kind of tires are on your car?

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Source: moderntiredealer.com

Thanks to our sponsor, Ricambi America - the Ferrari Parts Specialist

Posted in Bridgestone Corp., Ferrari 458 Italia, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari Superamerica. Tagged with , , , , .

By Rick Resch
01/29/2010

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Gold Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta in Palm Beach

Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta

Ferrari officially debuted the one-off P540 Superfast Aperta this last weekend at the Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach, Florida.

In case you missed it the first time, the P540 Aperta was commissioned and partly developed by Edward Walson, son of John Walson, the inventor of cable TV. The P540 was produced by Pininfarina and Ferrari’s Special Projects division, which handles one-off customizations for the automaker. It is a modified 599 made to look like the Ferrari from the movie Toby Dammit.

While it shares similar technical specs with the 599, it’s obviously a strong visual departure. With touches of Maserati, 250 GTO and even a bit of the Shelby Series One, this won’t be mistaken for anything else on the road built this decade-especially not with that luminescent gold paint job and the black and carbon fiber accent elements.

Whereas the donor car is a sportier GT, the P540 is a more aggressive and masculine take on it. Most notably, and the reason for the Aperta label (Italian for “window”), is the open top.

What do you think about the gold Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta?

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Check me out on Twitter: http://twitter.com/FerrariDreams and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rick.resch

Source: jalopnik.com and motorcrave.com

Thanks to our sponsor, Ricambi America - the Ferrari Parts Specialist

Posted in Cavallino Classic, Edward Walson, Ferrari 250 GTO, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta, Ferrari Special Projects Division, Florida, John Walson, Maserati, Palm Beach, Pininfarina, Shelby Series One, Toby Dammit. Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , .

By Rick Resch
01/27/2010

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Ferrari 458 Italia searches spike on weekends

Ferrari 458 Italia searches see the most action on Saturdays and Sundays which provide the most search volume for this keyword. When looking at the 90 day Google Insights chart for Ferrari 458 you can clearly see that weekends provide a high amount of volume for this vehicle in terms of searches. If you expand the chart out to one year you’ll notice that at the end of July 2009 there was a huge spike which was when this luxury vehicle was released.

With the global economy continuing to struggle it will be interesting to see if the search volume for Ferrari vehicles continues. By looking at the Google trends chart for Ferrari you can clearly see a slow drop for this search term. When the overall economy is struggling it is usually the case that the high end luxury goods continue to be sold but with the huge economic crisis that has slowed the global economy it may be changing.

Have you looked up on Google the term “Ferrari 458 Italia?”

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Posted in Ferrari 458 Italia. Tagged with , .

By Rick Resch
01/25/2010

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Ferrari.com arrives in Japan

Ferrari has just announced that they have released for Japanese shoppers the Ferrari.com website. These users will be able to surf the Ferrari store online in their native language of Japanese.

According to Ferrari:

“The new version of the site is an acknowledgement of the Japanese public’s enormous passion for the Ferrari brand. It aims to foster an even closer relationship between the Prancing Horse and the Japanese public, and boost already-high user participation by eliminating any language barriers. In a further acknowledgement of the Asian world’s passion for Ferrari, we now also have a Chinese language version of Ferrari.com under construction.”

If you are interested in the Japanese Ferrari website watch the video above for a special introductory.

What do you think about the video?

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Source: luxvelocity.typepad.com

Thanks to our sponsor, Ricambi America - the Ferrari Parts Specialist

Posted in Ferrari.com, Japan. Tagged with , .

By Rick Resch
01/24/2010

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Pininfarina’s Paolo Martin revisits the Ferrari Modulo

Paolo Martin's concept drawing of the "nuovo Modulo"

Having worked for several decades on Ferraris, the designer Paolo Martin from Pininfarina-the design house of choice for Maranello-has styled several Prancing Horse design studies. One of his most iconic designs was the Ferrari Modulo concept, unveiled at the 1970 Geneva International Motor Show.

Based on the chassis from a homologated Ferrari 512 S racing car, the Modulo was the absolute cutting edge of space-age design. It was far too radical to ever see production, of course, but its design has lasted as one of the best of its era.

Now, in a rather unique move, Martin has revisited his concept, re-interpreting the theme in a more modern design. Theoretically based on a Ferrari Enzo chassis, the “nuovo Modulo” looks as radical now as the original did in its day.

What do you think about Paolo Martin’s concept drawing of the “nuovo Modulo?”

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1970 Ferrari Modulo

Source: autoblog.com

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Posted in Ferrari 512 S, Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari Modulo, Geneva Intl. Motor Show, Maranello, Paolo Martin, Pininfarina. Tagged with , , , , , , .

By Rick Resch
01/23/2010

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Ferrari 458 Italia price released in the U.K.

Ferrari 458 Italia

The Ferrari 458 Italia will be priced in the U.K. starting at £169,545, or nearly $277,000.

The price includes a local value-added tax of $41,125, plus a $1,550 “road tax.”

A quick look at the outgoing prices reveals a whopping increase over the $199,000 MSRP for a 2009 F430, but a touch less than the $282k commanded by the 430 Scuderia (whose performance the new 458 eclipses and, it could be argued, effectively replaces). It’s also worth noting that the figures are a bit higher than those suggested in the alleged leaked price sheet from back in October.

Of course pricing for new vehicles around the world isn’t based on current exchange rates, but rather on local market considerations, so until U.S. pricing is announced, it’s more relevant to look at relative prices in the U.K. itself. The £169k 458 Italia is over £40k (~$65k) more than the £128k F430, but a couple grand less than the £171k Scuderia. The California, in case you were wondering, lists at £143,325 on the 2010 U.K. price sheet (which includes all Her Majesty’s tea party taxes)-but we’re still supposed to believe the Cali’s not the “baby Ferrari” we all predicted it would be.

If that isn’t enough, the price for a new 458 only continues to rise from there, with options like LEDs on the steering wheel at £2,794 ($4,563), Alcantara trim for the trunk at £1,445 ($2,360), electric seats at £2,120 ($3,462) and finally for a spare wheel-£1,156 ($1,888).

Short of stealing a 458 Italia, what do you think about the price of the new Ferrari?

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Source: autoblog.com and insideline.com

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Posted in Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Ferrari 458 Italia, Ferrari California. Tagged with , , .

By Rick Resch
01/21/2010

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