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.”

What do you think about Ferrari plans to have a new model every year?

Join the discussion. Please leave a comment.

Share the article on Twitter by retweeting it by pressing the button below.

Source: motorcrave.com and topspeed.com

At last, we get to know what Ferrari has in plans for its future. At a private press gathering in central London, CEO Luca di Montezemolo discussed Ferrari past, present and future as well as confirmed that an ‘open-top 599′ would debut at the Pebble Beach Concours in California this August.

These images above and below show how the 599 could look. It’s likely to be fitted with some roof mechanisms but it’s believed that the technology developed for the 575 Superamerica in 2005 fits the bill. The limited-run car features an electric roof section that flips back over the rear windscreen.

To handle the added weight, the car gets a 25bhp power increase. Montezemolo also revealed that the roadster will have a “very romantic name.” However, he said that the Superamerica badge won’t be used.

Some valued customers requested that the open-top 599 be produced as part of an extremely limited production run. With regards to Ferrari’s hybrid plans, di Montezezmolo said that the future for Ferrari will be built on the hybrid for the 12-cylinder and new [turbocharged] technology for the eight-cylinder.

Montezemolo also said that three or four years from now, the company will be ready with a V12 hybrid based on the HY-KERS concept. What this comes down to is that the replacement for the Enzo, as well as the next 599 GTB Fiorano and 612 Scaglietti, will feature smaller-capacity V12s coupled to electric motors to raise efficiency. Meanwhile, future Ferrari V8s will be focusing on conventional turbo power to follow the performance and CO2 emissions targets.

What do you think about an open-top Ferrari 599 roadster and Ferrari’s plans for V12 hybrids & turbocharged V8s for the future? 

Join the discussion. Please leave a comment.

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

Source: 4wheelsnews.com

Novitec Rosso Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti may be the oldest horse in the Italian automaker’s Modenese stable, but Stetten, Germany-based tuner Novitec Rosso is determined to give the 2+2 a fresh touch-up.

Renowned for its subtle approach to modifying Ferraris, Novitec took the grand-touring coupe and added little more than a new stainless-steel exhaust system, recalibrated engine electronics, larger wheels, and interior upgrades. The reworked electronics and exhaust boosts extra power, pushing the front-mid-mounted 5.7-liter V12 to 558 hp and 449 pound-feet of torque. (Factory output is 533 hp and 434 pound-feet of torque.) Although power is only part of the total performance equation, the Novitec-tuned 612 jumps from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.9 seconds and carries a top speed of 202 mph (325 km/h).

The main feature of the exterior is the new set of wheels. These new three-piece NF3 alloy wheels which come in size 9Jx20-inch for the front and 12.5Jx21 for the rear with 275/30 ZR30 and 355/25 R21 Pirelli P Zero tires really match the unique style of the 612.

Inside, Novitec offers new, ergonomically shaped steering wheels available in any color. In addition to color, the steering wheel’s construction material and rim thickness may be altered to customer’s specifications. The rest of the interior is also customizable per individual request and Novitec finishes this Prancing Horse with a set of black tailights.

Pricing was not disclosed, but buyers can expect to pay a hefty premium over the 612 Scaglietti’s $300,000-plus base price.

Press Release:

Arrivederci 612 Scaglietti!
NOVITEC ROSSO Refines the Ferrari 2+2-Seater

2+2-seaters have a long and illustrious tradition at Ferrari. The 612 Scaglietti seamlessly continued this tremendous success story since its debut in the fall of 2003. To make this extraordinary automobile even more exclusive and to add an even higher level of customization NOVITEC ROSSO now offers new accessories such as a custom-tailored tire/wheel combination with diameters of 20 and 21 inches, a power increase to 565 hp / 416 kW, a stainless-steel sport exhaust system, new taillight design and upgrades for the interior.

Wheels make a car and for a Ferrari the best is just good enough. The NOVITEC ROSSO suspension specialists have developed custom versions of the three-piece NF3 alloy wheels for the Italian sports car.

The new wheels feature a striking design with five double spokes and polished outer flanges. Contrary to the 19-inch production wheels, the 612 Scaglietti in NOVITEC ROSSO trim sports a combination of size 9Jx20 wheels in front and size 12.5Jx21 rims on the rear axle.

This measure benefits not only the driving dynamics of the car but also and foremost the coupe’s appearance. The staggered wheels further emphasize the wedge-shaped design of the two-door car.

In the P Zero tire technology partner Pirelli offers the perfect ultra-high-performance tires for this tire/wheel combination that makes optimal use of the available space in the wheel wells Tires in size 275/30 ZR 20 on the front axle provide enormous grip during fast cornering and hard braking. Tires in size 355/25 R 21 on the rear axle allow even higher cornering speeds and provide maximum traction.

The exclusive look can be further upgraded with black NOVITEC ROSSO lamps. The complete package comprises the four round taillights, the reflectors and the side markers.

Further cornerstones of the NOVITEC ROSSO program for the 612 Scaglietti are a power increase and an even sportier exhaust note. The inner workings of the V12 engine with a displacement of 5,748 cm³ remain untouched. The power increase to 565 hp / 416 kW at 7,290 rpm is the product of a newly calibrated engine management system and the NOVITEC ROSSO stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system.

The tuning gives the V12 engine an even crisper response and lets it rev up even faster. Simultaneously peak torque grows to 609 Nm at 5,300 rpm. A top speed of more than 325 km/h and a sprint time for 0 – 100 km/h of just 3.9 seconds make the 2+2-seater an even more dominant sports car.

The NOVITEC ROSSO sport exhaust system is an integral part of the power increase and produces a truly delightful exhaust note. The NOVITEC ROSSO exhaust is easily distinguished by its four 90-mm tailpipes cut at an angle.

NOVITEC ROSSO upgrades the four-seat interior according to customers’ personal preferences. The ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel comes in any color imaginable. But that’s not all: Customers can also freely choose the steering wheel’s material as well as the thickness of the rim. The rim is flattened at the bottom for easier entering and exiting of the vehicle.

Every NOVITEC ROSSO interior is characterized by its masterful precision finish and its striking colors. But NOVITEC ROSSO realizes not only Ferrari owners’ personal material and color selections, it also custom-tailors the seat to each customer’s body measurements. Special requests such as for seats with even more lateral support or a lowered seat position for especially tall drivers round out the interior customization program.

What do you think about the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti tuned by Novitec Rosso?

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: Novitec Rosso via wot.motortrend.com and motorward.com

In the middle of a grand restructuring, reports have been announced by Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne at a investor meeting in Turin, Italy last Wednesday. First up was perhaps the most exciting, dealing with product development plans for Fiat’s most prized asset: Ferrari.

According to reports, Maranello currently has a total of six new models or model variants in the pipeline for debut over the next couple of years. The first new variant up for release is the 458 Spider, the convertible version of the 458 Italia that replaces the outgoing F430 Spider. But if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, plans are also underway on project F151, the replacement for the lackluster 612 Scaglietti, a four-seat grand tourer that is destined to feature the first road-going implementation of the company’s KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) hybrid drivetrain.

In 2012 we’ll get to see the most anticipated Ferrari, the next supercar that will build on the Enzo’s fame . Produced between 2002 and 2004 in just 399 units, the Enzo was powered by a V12 engine. No further details have been released about the Enzo successor. The company announced that it will not build more than four standard production models, so that the range will look like today, with the 458, the 599, the 612 and the California. The “new special series Enzo” is considered a distinct model and it is not part of the standard range. In the same year we’re expecting to see a completely new model to replace the 599 GTB Fiorano, code-named F152.

Finally in 2013, Ferrari is anticipated to overhaul the California with a comprehensive update tentatively called the California M, suggesting the difference between the current version and the new one will be similar in scope to the change from the 456 GT to the 456 M and from the 550 Maranello to the 575 MM. Also set for introduction in 2013 will be a hardcore , track-focused version of the 458 to follow in the footsteps of the 360 Challenge Stradale and the outgoing 430 Scuderia which most likely to be named the 458 Scuderia.

Look for both Ferrari and Maserati to make each of their models rather distinct, practically creating sub-brands within the two companies. Sister automaker Maserati is also expected to release two new models, slotted below the GranTurismo, before 2015.

What do you think about the new Ferraris coming out?

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: autoblog.com, autoevolution.com, worldcarfans.com and wot.motortrend.com

2012 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is due for a major overhaul and spies have caught new pictures of the next-generation model.

It was undergoing testing near the Arctic Circle which the development mule is showing a longer wheelbase, a new exhaust system, a redesigned front bumper, and a bulging hood. According to a report, the mule was being run alongside two other prototypes with similar modifications.

While details are limited, power will likely come from an Enzo-derived V12 engine with at least 397 kW (533 hp/540 PS) and 588 Nm (434 lb-ft) of torque. Backed up by a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission found in the 458 Italia and Ferrari 599 HY-KERS concept, the 612 should accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in less than four seconds, before topping at 200+mph (322+km/h). Unlike today’s model, the 612 replacement could offer an all-wheel drive system.

If you’re inclined to buy a Ferrari for status, you may be interested to learn the 612 could come as a hybrid. As previewed by the HY-KERS concept, which recently debuted at the Geneva International Motor Show, the hybrid would probably feature a three-phase electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack.

Since the car is expected to be launched in 2012, look for Ferrari to start testing a prototype of the production model later this year.

What do you think about the spy photos of the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti mule?

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: worldcarfans.com and autoblog.com

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?

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: moderntiredealer.com

Ferrari California

Twenty years ago, the tiny rear-engined Fiat 126 (more commonly known as the “Maluch”) was everywhere, and the probability of seeing a Ferrari on the streets of Krakow or Warsaw was about zero. But times have changed, and while the Italian luxury cars are still a fairly rare sight in the country, the first Ferrari dealership is set to open in Warsaw in early 2010.

The exact date has not been announced, as problems have come up with the showroom’s location, the former building of the Warsaw Party House on the Fifth Avenue of Warsaw. The building has just been declared a national monument, which means that any planned renovation works must first be approved by the city’s conservator of monuments.

However, a lack of a showroom has not stopped Polish clients from pre-ordering their Ferraris, and according to Puls Biznesu, several orders have already been placed, with the California model proving the most popular so far. The president of Ferrari Poland, Daniel Chwist said that the firm is “already in negotiations with potential clients, and we’re finalizing orders on the California and 612 Scaglietti models.” The dealership expects to sell just 10 to 15 cars per year.

Have you ever been to Poland?

Join the discussion. Please leave a comment.

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

Source: krakowpost.com

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

The green revolution in the automobile industry is making its impact on every manufacturer, every single one, including Ferrari. Possibly as a result of this, Ferrari’s first road-going hybrid is getting ready to be displayed next March at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The report comes from a magazine ‘Quattroruote’ which belongs to the automaker’s homeland itself. According to them, the hybrid will be based on the 599 GTB Fiorano.

The January issue of the Italian magazine reports that the Ferrari’s new hybrid concept will use a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS). It is a technology that was successfully implemented by the company in Formula One race cars this past season. The KERS set up will consist of a lithium ion battery pack and the power electronics which are mounted on either side of the rear transaxle. The electric motor will be incorporated into the transaxle itself.

The functions of the KERS system are various. It will enhance the 599 GTB with features such as automatic start-stop functionality, regenerative braking and also a feature to provide an electric boost of energy whenever possible. Overall the system is expected to boost the fuel economy and the city mpg by more than 30%. As a result, the fuel economy rises from the current 8.7 mpg to around 13.8 mpg. These features when combined with the V-12 engine of the 599 must make a superb hybrid.

So it looks like what has been a rumor for a while might finally be exposed. Autocar magazine from England said last month that Ferrari has a hybrid system in the pipeline for 2014, due to be seen in the successor to the 612 Scaglietti. The system that Autocar mentioned is different from the one described here. Autocar said that system would use an electric motor inboard of the front wheels as a way to improve handling, and that there was no consideration given to fuel economy.

Perhaps Ferrari chose to abandon this system or perhaps Autocar was just wrong.

We’ll find out soon enough though.

What do you think about the Ferrari hybrid concept based on the 599 GTB Fiorano?

Join the discussion. Please leave a comment.

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

Source: nitrobahn.com and automoblog.net

Ferrari Door Patent

Ferrari is working on a new hinge mechanism to improve entry and exit from its vehicles, according to a patent application the supercar company has submitted.

The patent’s diagrams reveal a door which extends into the front guards, creating a huge opening just behind the front wheel arches. To reduce the external space required when opening, the doors pivot upwards rather than swinging out.

The longer opening is designed to make getting in and out simpler for low-slung sports cars, Ferrari’s patent application states.

Occupants can place their feet right behind the front wheel, meaning less contortion and more leg ‘swing-out’ room.

The new design is adaptable to front, mid and rear-engined cars, with Ferrari’s hallmark long-bonneted styling well suited to the new system.

The patented applications states the hinges will be “easy and cost-effective to make” particularly when compared to gullwing doors, although in the world of supercars cost is less of a concern for customers.

A simpler build process would mean healthier profit margins for the Italian manufacturer.

Already spy shots of the 612 Scaglietti successor are starting to circulate with the shutlines of the proposed new door mechanism clearly absent.

Which new car, if any, will wear the new system in production remains to be seen.

What do you think about the new door opening system by Ferrari?

Join the discussion. Please leave a comment.

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

Source: themotorreport.com.au

Ferrari F40

Ferrari is hard at work trying to refine the turbocharging process so that future products will use the high-horsepower, low emissions (and low weight) technology. According to a report in the U.K.’s Autocar, Ferrari engine chief Jean-Jacques His confirmed that the company is preparing to use turbochargers, but that it will take time to develop a new version that will mitigate the efforts of turbo lag. This confirms the patent drawings that leaked out earlier this year revealing a developmental two-stage turbocharging system from Ferrari.

Conventionally, turbos take time to spool up to full power, but that doesn’t suit the Ferrari way of doing things. Instead, Ferrari has traditionally opted for naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged or supercharged) engines that deliver better throttle response and a more linear delivery of power. His told Autocar that a delay of any sort in the power delivery was simply unacceptable.

A few years ago Porsche introduced variable turbine geometry (VTG) turbos that helped reduce turbo lag significantly, but apparently even that impressive technology is not enough for Ferrari. The company has also dismissed using Fiat Group’s new MultiAir variable valve system, finding that it wouldn’t work at the kinds of revs and horsepower outputs at which Ferrari engines operate.

Ferrari has used turbos sparily across its model range over the years, including most recently-during the turbo era in F1, the iconic F40 supercar (pictured above), which was last made in 1992 (and the 288 GTO before it) which were powered by a twin-turbo V8s. The legendary F40 supercar has a 2.9L turbo V8 that produces 478 hp with 16 psi of boost and sends it to 60 mph (97 km/h) in the mid-three second range.

Another bit of info gleaned from the interview is that Ferrari’s new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which debuted in the Ferrari California, is suitable for V12 engines since they can operate up to 10,000 rpm, meaning that we’re likely to see this new technology arrive in the successor to the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and other future V12 models.

What do you think about a turbocharged Ferrari?

Join the discussion. Please leave a comment.

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

Source: autoguide.com, autoblog.com and wot.motortrend.com