FerrariDreams » Bologna Motor Show

Ferrari 599XX Evolution unveiled at 2011 Bologna Motor Show

Rick — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:18:19 +0000

Ferrari has a long and eventful history and many races have been won by this legendary carmaker. The carmaker has just unveiled its latest model at the 2011 Bologna Motor Show. This new vehicle is the Ferrari 599XX Evolution. The car has more power and has more aerodynamic enhancements than the existing 599XX. This new model is an evolution of the 599XX and is a track-only model that was developed by the carmaker for its most loyal and wealthiest customers.
It is very unlikely that this car will be seen driving down the street as it will only be available to clients who participate in the racetrack-based development and research program for the 2012-2013 season. The existing 599XX is already extreme in its power and speed, but Ferrari has managed to coax even more power out of the newest version by giving it an extra 20bhp taking the total to 740bhp. The weight of the car has been cut by 35kgs.
The current Ferrari 590XX is already a serious weapon on the track and the Evolution is set to be even faster. The 590XX has lapped the world famous Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in only 6 minutes 58 seconds. The Evolution has the same 6.0-liter V12 engine but produces 552 KW instead of 540KW and the torque is 700Nm. This is the result of the new racecar modeled side-exhaust. The total mass of the vehicle is 1486kg since the engineers have managed to pare the weight down by 35kg. There are new carbon fiber components such as a multi-plane rear wing and the Drag Reduction System or DRS. The car features a carbon front splitter and a dramatic rear diffuser. The aerodynamic revisions make it possible to produce up to 440kg of extra down-force when driven at high speeds. This increases the Evolution`s cornering potential. This vehicle is not road legal because of the 9000rpm redline as well as the side-exhaust system.
Chassis dynamics are improved thanks to the active aerodynamic package that is integrated into the vehicle`s electronic control system. Ferrari has also chosen to adopt new Pirelli tires for the 590XX Evolution. There is an active rear wing featuring two flaps that have profiles very similar to those used by Formula 1 cars. The flaps rotate electronically so they can adjust the down-force between front and rear axles. This functions to affect the speed and maneuverability of the vehicle. The car manufacturer claims that this can produce 440kgs of down-force when driven at speeds of 124mph.
The changes that have been made allow the 590XX Evolution to lap the Ferrari test circuit in only 1:15 seconds. This is 1 second faster than the 590XX and 11 seconds faster than the standard 599 car. The price tag has not been determined but it is expected that customers will have to pay several million dollars to have the privilege of having ownership of the extreme new 590XX Evolution. It would certainly look good in anyone`s driveway but people interested in buying their own home may wish to focus on mortgages rather than a luxury indulgence such as this.

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Ferrari 458 Challenge and GT3 racers revealed at Monza [video]

Rick — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 06:01:59 +0000

There’s no shortage of race tracks in Italy and around the world that are commonly associated with Ferrari. The factory has its own Fiorano circuit on premises, and the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola – former host of the San Marino Grand Prix – is just fifty miles away. But the spiritual home of the Tifosi, Ferrari’s legions of fans, is at Monza. A fitting location, then, to launch the latest Ferrari sports racers.

This past weekend, Monza hosted a number of production-based races including the first rounds of both the European and Italian leagues of the Ferrari Challenge series. After launching the new 458 Challenge spec racer at the Bologna Motor Show several months ago, this was the first time the car was actually being raced. And what would you know, it actually won its first outing! (Okay, it is a spec racing series, but the new 458 Italia racers did beat out the older F430 models that are still being used by some teams.)

The Challenge, however, wasn’t the only version of the 458 that made its debut this past weekend at Monza. So did the 458 Italia GT3, which slots in between the GT2-spec 458 GTC and the aforementioned Challenge racer. The GT3 car was prepared by Michelotto Automobili – the same factory-endorsed racing garage responsible for countless racing Ferraris as well as the development of the 288 GTO and F40 – and campaigned by AF Corse in two races of the GT Sprint International Series that supports the Superstars touring car series, where it finished second and third overall on its race debuts – second only to the F430 GTC it replaces.

Want to see what it’s like to lap Monza in a 458 racer? To coincide with the launch of the new machinery, Ferrari has released on-board video footage of the 458 Challenge with Stefano Gai, the defending champion who dominated this weekend’s national series race from start to finish.

The wraps come off the 458 Italia GT3
Monza, 10 April – On the same card at the Monza National circuit as the opening round of this season’s Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, featuring the new 458 Challenge car, there was another significant track debut, that of the Ferrari 458 Italia GT3.

The car is prepared by Ferrari in collaboration with Michelotto Automobili and was on track for the first round of the GT Sprint International Series, which runs to a two race format, each of 25 minutes and runs as part of the Superstars event.

Over the weekend, Fabio Mancini and Niki Cadei took turns at the wheel of the new Ferrari which was running in the colours of the AF Corse team and which confirmed in today’s race, the very high potential the car had to offer.

It came second overall in Race 1 and third in the GTS3 with Niki Cadei’s excellent driving delivering the race fastest lap in 1.49.910 on lap 9. The outright win went to the F430 GTC of Massimiliano Mugelli (Vittoria Competizioni) with third place going to another F430 GTC driven by AF Corse’s Giuseppe Ciro.

In the second race, the AF Corse Ferrari 458 GT3 took another good result finishing third overall in the hands of Fabio Mancini,behind the Vittoria Competizioni F430 GTC driven by Andrea Palma and the Ferrari of Michael Dalle Stelle (Racing Team Edil Cris) first and second overall respectively. Mancini, the leader in class GTS3 took a well deserved third place ahead of the Roberto Del Castello Corvette Z06 R.

The next round of the GT Sprint International Series takes place at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit at Cheste, over the weekend of 8 May, which also hosts the second round of the European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli.

Full marks for the launch of the 458 Challenge in Monza
Monza, 10 April –The opening round of this season’s Italian and European Challenge Trofeo Pirelli took place this weekend at the Monza National Circuit, with the debut of the new 458 Challenge. The car’s maiden outing was watched by special guests in the shape of Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa and Enrico Galleria, Ferrari Commercial and Marketing Director, who were in Monza for this special debut. A good crowd, which on Sunday alone reached 24,000.

Victory in the second and closely contested leg of the European division was decided pretty much at the start with the advantage going to Alexandr Skryabin (Ferrari Moscow) who, of the drivers in the Trofeo Pirelli category remained solidly in command for the entire race, despite the arrival of the safety car after Howard Blank’s (Motor Piacenza) accident. The Ferrari Moscow man crossed the line ahead of Max Blancardi (Motor Malucelli) and Alexey Vasiliev (Ferrari Moscow) with both men driving great races featuring amazing climbs up the order. Equally closely fought was the race to the podium for the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell: Jean Marc Bachelier (Motor Piacenza) took the win ahead of Dirk Adamski (Baron Service) and Dennis Andersen (Formula Automobie), while of those in the F430 Challenge, Alexadner Moiseev (Motor Piacenza) was first, beating Carsten Andersen (Formula Automobile.)

In the Italian Trofeo Pirelli, the top step of the podium was occupied once again by Stefano Gai: the Rossocorsa driver led all 35 minutes of the race, to finish ahead of Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor Piacenza) who drove a consistent and error free race. Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel Racing) having started alongside Gai, had to pit early and then climbed up the order to stand on the third step of the podium. In the Coppa Shell race, Benedetto Marti (Motor Piacenza) took a fantastic win, getting the better of Mario Molteni (Rossocorsa) and Emilio Rossi (Motor Piacenza.) In the second leg of the F430 Challenge, Giosuè Rizzuto (Motor/Modena) was impressive on his way to the win over Sossio del Prete (CDP) and Andrea D’Antonio (Ineco/Ram.)

Competitors in the European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be back in action at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, Cheste near Valencia over the weekend of 8 May, while they and the Italian competitors will both race in the brand new round at the Le Mans circuit on 11 June, in one race with separate classifications, as a curtain raiser to the famous Le Mans 24 Hours.

What do you think about the Ferrari 458 Challenge and Ferrari 458 Italia GT3?
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Source: autoblog.com

Ferrari 458 GTC unleashed onto Fiorano race track

Rick — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 05:24:29 +0000

The car that was introduced a few days ago as the GT2 version of the Ferrari 458 Italia, has been revealed by the company as the Ferrari 458 GTC. Here is a few shots from the car’s first shakedown at the Fiorano test track, as it’s being prepared to take on Porsche, Aston Martin, Corvette and all the other names in different GT series next year.

A week after the official launch of the 458 Challenge at the Bologna Motor Show on December 2nd, the Maranello carmaker released just one image of its latest sports racer. The Italian automaker and racing team have now released a set of four additional shots.

Ferrari has revealed that the reins of the car were given to Jaime Melo, the Brazilian driver who competed in the ALMS this year with team Risi Competizione. He also teamed up with Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander in the AF Corse squad’s F430 GT2 to bring in the Constructors’ title in the 2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

“We are pleased with the impression that engineers and drivers have expressed their vehicles. Thanks to the favorable weather of these last two days it was possible to collect more data than previous sessions, conducted in conditions of snow and rain conditions. We will continue with development work in the winter months, culminating with the debut of the car in the 12 Hours of Sebring , the first round of the American Le Mans Series,“ said Antonello Coletta, head of Ferrari Corse Clienti department.

The Ferrari 458 GTC is said to be limited to 470 hp because of Automobile Club de l’Ouest regulations. This is 100 horsepower less than the 458 Italia street car and 30 less horsepower than the Ferrari F430 GT2. Weight is down to 2,745 pounds (1,245 kg) but up 60 pounds (27 kg) from the old F430 GT2 it replaces. The standard seven-speed DCT gearbox is replaced with a six-speed SMG unit, while the wheels are downsized from 20 to 18 inches.

The Ferrari 458 GTC is expected to cost €480,000 excluding VAT.

Press Release:

458 GTC takes its first steps at Fiorano

Maranello, 10 December 2010 –A few days after the official launch of the 458 Challenge at the Bologna Motor Show on 2 December, today saw the end of a two day shakedown carried out by Ferrari at Fiorano of the 458 GTC, the latest jewel to emerge from Maranello, which will be taking on the opposition in the most important GT races at international level.

The car’s development on track has been entrusted to Jaime Melo, the Brazilian who competed in this year’s American Le Mans Series with the Risi Competizione team. He also teamed up with Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander in the AF Corse squad’s F430 GT2 to bring the Prancing Horse the Constructors’ title in the 2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

Antonello Coletta, head of the Ferrari Corse Clienti Department had this to say about the initial testing of the 458 GTC: “We are pleased with the feedback we have had from the engineers and drivers about the car.” Development is in its initial stages and this is just the third test the car has undergone at Fiorano. “Thanks to the good weather these past two day, it has been possible to gather more data than in previous sessions, which were run in snowy and rainy conditions.”

The next step? “We will continue development over the winter months, which will culminate in the car’s debut in the Sebring 12 Hours, the famous endurance race and the first race in next season’s American Le Mans Series.”

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Source: autoevolution.com, motorward.com and nitrobahn.com

Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge on the Valencia race track

Rick — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 06:28:29 +0000

Now that the Ferrari 458 Challenge has made its debut at the Bologna Motor Show, Ferrari reveals videos of the car on its natural territory, the race track, Valencia track to be exact. Although this race-spec 458 has the same power output as the road-going version, but because it’s lighter, and comes with modified suspension, differential, and electronics, it is a totally different beast. Just looking at this car, you can tell it is hugely fun to drive.

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Source: motorward.com and ferrari.com

Ferrari 458 Italia revealed at 2010 Bologna Motor Show

Rick — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 04:13:36 +0000

The 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia is undoubtedly a superb car, and while it can hold its own on a closed circuit, the car is primarily intended for on-road use. For those seeking to leverage the 458′s performance prowess primarily as a track toy, Ferrari has a solution: the 2011 458 Challenge, which was unveiled this morning at the 2010 Bologna Motor Show.

As has previously been the case with previous Challenge-spec forms of its mid-engine sports cars (i.e. F355 Challenge, 360 Challenge, F430 Challenge, etc.), the race-spec 458 is built specifically for the one-make Ferrari Challenge race series. Although the car and its spec sheet echo that of the standard road-going 458, there are a few key differences that help prepare the Challenge for sustained track abuse.

The 458 Challenge continues to utilize the exact same 570-horsepower, 4.5-liter V-8 as its consumer-biased cousin, but engineers did tweak the gear ratios within the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, allowing torque to be delivered lower in the power band. We imagine acceleration times will also be lower than those of the stock car, seeing as Ferrari’s put the car on a crash diet. Along with stripping the cabin of all non-essential components, the automaker has increased the number of carbon fiber panels used in the body structure, along with fabricating all windows from Lexan composite.

Like its predecessors, the 458 Challenge receives a new suspension setup; engineers gifted the car with adjustable dampers and stiffer springs at all four corners, while simultaneously lowering the ride height by 1.9 inches. Brembo-sourced carbon ceramic brakes are fitted as standard equipment, along with new 19-inch, center-lug wheels wrapped in R-compound Pirelli rubber. According to Ferrari, the modifications allow the Challenge to pull an organ-smashing 1.6 lateral g on the company’s skidpad.

Previous Challenge cars were stripped of the advanced traction control and launch systems found in their street-legal counterparts, but that isn’t the case here. Instead, the 458 Italia receives a form of the automaker’s trick traction control system, which was derived from its F1 race cars. Three user-selectable settings can be triggered from the steering wheel; levels one and two offer varying levels of assistance, but those with considerable race experience (or sheer bravado) can completely defeat the system altogether.

Ferrari has yet to announce any additional performance metrics for the 458 Challenge, but did note the car can lap its Fiorano test track in 1:16.5, roughly two seconds quicker than a normal 458 Italia. Production of 458 Challenge models is expected to be quite limited, and each will likely command a significant premium over the 458 Italia’s $230,000 price tag.

The 458 Challenge is the star of the Bologna Motor Show while Ferrari burn up the track with Challenge and F1 carsThe 458 Challenge also makes its world debut at the Bolognese event. This mid-rear V8 berlinetta is derived from the 458 Italia and is the fifth model used by Ferrari in its single-series racing programme. The latter is currently split into Italian, European and North American championships which will be flanked next year by the new Asia-Pacific series. With the new 458 Challenge, Ferrari puts an exceptional combination of extreme performance, superb fun behind the wheel and unique driving emotions at the finger-tips of its sporting, professional and gentleman-driver clients.

Also on the stand is the F430 GTC owned by the AF Corse team, one of the cars with which the Maranello marque won the Constructors’ title in the GT2 class of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup 2010.

The Prancing Horse’s line-up of track models is completed by the FXX and 599XX laboratory cars, each of which has its own eponymous research and development programme involving in-depth collaboration between Ferrari technicians and our client test-drivers. At the very centre of the stand is the F60, the single-seater the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro fielded in the 2009 Formula 1 World Championship season.

A rich and varied programme is planned for the competition arena in Area 48 with the classic end-of-year battle between the drivers of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, now in its 18th season, dominating the action. No less than 16 cars from the Italian and European series will be taking each other on in a three-round competition on Wednesday, December 8th. However, the high point of the programme will be the Formula 1 exhibition with which Luca Badoer will bring his extraordinary 13-year career as the Scuderia Ferrari’s official test-driver to an end. He’ll put an F60 through its paces and a simulated pit-stop, as a farewell homage to the tifosi and enthusiasts present.

458 CHALLENGE

Compared to the 458 Italia, the direct injection 4499 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 steel uniball joints, stiffer springs, single-rate alloy dampers, centre-nut 19″ forged rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 50mm all round. It is also equipped with the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes integrated with the latest ABS system which debuted on the 599XX, Ferrari’s extreme experimental laboratory car.

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 have been developed for this application, with control logics 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 stability and acceleration both into and out of corners.

The ABS/EBD, 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 has a choice of three configurations: OFF position (traction control deactivated), position 1 and position 2. The latter two settings have progressively higher levels of control system intervention and are selected in accordance with grip conditions on the track.

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.

Maranello, 2nd December – Ferrari makes a different contribution to the 35th edition of the Bologna Motor Show with a stand devoted entirely to its racing activities plus an intense track programme.

What do you think about the Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge?

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Source: rumors.automobilemag.com and ferrari.com

Bologna Motor Show-Ferrari F1 F2009 Show No 1/2

Rick — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:18:56 +0000

Bologna Motor Show-Ferrari FXX on track No 1/3

Rick — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:58:03 +0000

2009 Ferrari 430 Scuderia Spider 16M Debut at Bologna Motor Show

Rick — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 02:41:42 +0000

At the last Bologna Motor Show in Italy, the first week of December, Ferrari publicly unveiled its limited edition Scuderia Spider 16M built in celebration of the brand’s newly won sixteenth Formula 1 World Constructor’s championship title. Although basically an open top version of the 430 Scuderia, the Scuderia Spider features its own lineup of personalized traits.

The Scuderia Spider 16M will be available in two new color schemes. The standard will be black and grey, but you can choose a tricolor livery available as part of the Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalization Program. In commemoration of Ferrari’s 16th Constructor’s World title the rear grill will sport a special badge.

Inside, a plaque reading “limited series” is mounted just above the air vents at the center of the dashboard. Other features specific to the limited edition include a carbon-fiber roll bar and the implementation of a next generation audio system that can be used together with a customized Ferrari 16GB iPod Touch that can be docked right in front of the dash.

It tips the scales at just 2,954lbs which is 132lbs lighter than a F430 Spider. Behind the cockpit sits the 4.3-liter V8 cranking out 510 horsepower and linked to the quick-shifting six-speed F1-style gearbox. That 5.7lb/hp ratio is good for a 0-62 time of only 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 195 mph.

Ferrari says the Scuderia Spider 16M is the fastest open-top road car around the Fiorano circuit yet, and from those numbers above, we’d believe it. There is only going to be 499 editions built by Maranello and expect to pay more than the $277,000 base price of the hardtop.

Source: rumors.automobilemag.com and printthis.clickability.com