We told you about the new top-of-the-line Ferrari expected to be unveiled in March; now a Ferrari enthusiast has snapped these photos of a heavily disguised model out testing near Maranello. Don’t worry-it’s not really a hatchback.

The photographer posted the shots to the FerrariChat forum, saying the hunchback rear-end raised and lowered at speed in an attempt to keep the car’s actual silhouette a mystery. The red is actually tape; the real body is apparently blue. And as for it’s engine, the only report is: “The sound of the car is unbelieveable, especially when downshifting.”

As we’ve said, the 612 replacement is expected to offer all-wheel-drive and a new 6.3-liter V12 good for 670 hp, turning a 7-speed gearbox.

The following link to the thread of more pictures of the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti mule is here: FerrariChat . Just to let you know is that you will have to log in to view the photos. Thank you to laatste man for the information on the release of the next Ferrari to debut at the Geneva International Motor Show.

If you would like to email me of recent Ferrari news that you think would appeal to the community on FerrariDreams, then send it to rickresch@att.net .

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Source: jalopnik.com

A FerrariChat member caught what looks to be Ferrari’s 599 GTB Fiorano update being flogged on, you guessed it, the Fiorano test track. Is it the next 599, or the first look at the upcoming 599 hybrid?

Word is Ferrari doesn’t plan on replacing the 599 before 2015, so whatever’s happening here is likely more focused mule-testing than a new vehicle in the hunt. The mule apparently has Ferrari’s DCT transmission attached, and a deeper, more bollocks-y exhaust note than a run-of-the-mill 599.

It’s not unlikely that this could be a test vehicle for Ferrari’s upcoming production KERS energy-recovery system, shown this past year at the Geneva International Motor Show as the HY-KERS hybrid concept. At the time, CEO Luca de Montezemolo said a hybrid version of the 599 was in play for future release.

FerrariChat member Marchettino, who took the video, also notes the test car sports a new extractor and raw rear and front air intakes, inside which, if you look closely, you can see inside some red LEDs or something.

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Source: FerrariChat.com via jalopnik.com

In a rebuilding job worthy of The Six Million Dollar Man, Richard Loosee’s T-Top Ferrari Enzo destroyed in a 200-mile-per-hour shunt has been reborn to take on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Gone are the T-Tops, replaced by something just as outrageous: a set of turbos that will boost the Enzo’s V12 to between 850 and 1,000 horsepower when gunning time comes. And they were able to repair and reuse the car’s original block.

The wrecked stallion required an enormous amount of work, including repairing the carbon fiber hoop of the original tub which was fractured in the crash. The car was running during Speed Week at Bonneville, but details are still scarce. However, according to insiders on the project at Ferrari Chat, the powerplant is aided by two MoTeC M600 Engine Management Systems and Injector Dynamics ID1000 injectors. It also has a nosecone to keep the front end stable above 225 mph, a fitting match for those exhaust trumpets.

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A rebuilt Ferrari Enzo at the Bonneville Salt Flats

 Source: Daily Derbi via ferrari-news.com

Ferrari’s finally decided to issue a recall on the Ferrari 458 Italia after at least four fires in three months, according to a letter allegedly received by an owner. Ferrari’s apparently blaming a design flaw instead of their owners.

The Italian automaker promised us the Ferrari 458 Italia would be a hot new ride, but the numerous fires made us wonder about how literal the Italians were being. 

After weeks of no response to our questions, we were treated to a quiet leak to European buff books earlier this week that Ferrari was investigating the fires. It turns out it may have been a quick investigation. 

We’ve heard from one owner last Saturday that they received a letter from Ferrari claiming a gas overflow tube and gas vapor system were placed too close to the engine, thus creating the possibility of a fire. The owner was told they can take their vehicle to their dealer to receive a fix. We’re currently trying to confirm this report and will update you as soon as we get it. 

UPDATE: The reliably in-the-know Ferrari obsessives at Ferrari Chat seem to confirm there’s a fix going on, with one poster even posting pics saying:

picked up my 458 today.
This was the part they changed immediately during the PDI.
The 1st photo is where the “breather pipe” is located.
The 2nd photo is the old part.
The 3rd photo is the new part that was installed.

 

In response to a question about whether this was related to the fire, the same person who shared photos of the repair said “I asked the same question… they gave a non-committal “probably”. I think they are under gag orders. ”

Stay tuned for more regarding the recall.

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Source: jalopnik.com

Ferrari 599 GTO

 You know what the advantage is of living next to Maranello? You get the chance to see lots of Ferraris. Like these guys from the FerrariChat forum, who caught the new 599 GTO in all its beauty… and in different exterior colors too.

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Source: topspeed.com

Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5 Competizione

The man behind the coachbuilt Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5, James Glickenhaus, has confirmed that he will build a race version of the car to compete in endurance racing.

The P4/5, which was unveiled at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, is a one-off rebodied Ferrari Enzo, built by the Pininfarina design house to look like the famous 1967 Ferrari P4 race car. It is reported to cost Glickenhaus $4 million.

The P4/5 Competizione would be a racing variant of that car and would likely cost even more.

Several months back when Glickenhaus first proposed the idea he admitted it was a long shot, saying that, “There are a LOT of stars that would have to align for this to happen but its not impossible.”

Glickenhaus recently mentioned on FerrariChat under his screen name of Napoli that, “Things are starting to come together. It will take time but there is excitement and real interest. Thanks to my Partners in this adventure! This will be some trip and it has begun. P4/5 took on a life of her own. May P4/5 Competizione follow her example.”

It is expected that the P4/5 Competizione will be entered at an upcoming Nurburgring 24 hour race.

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Source: autoguide.com

Buying a Ferrari is not cheap, but if you are dreaming of getting a hold of the new 458 Italia, you’d better know what you’re getting yourself into, and this is our first real indication. Thanks to a leaked document in Dutch has found its way on to a Ferrari fan forum ( http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260024 ), the new V8 supercar will start in Europe at 162,900 euros, before any taxes are taken into account. At today’s exchange rates, that figures to about $240,000 in U.S. dollars, around halfway between the price of the outgoing F430 and the 430 Scuderia.

Of course, that’s not an official figure-Ferrari North America has yet to confirm pricing for the U.S. market-and the long list of options sufficiently demostrates that the $240k starting price is exactly that: a starting price. On to that you can add leather everything, special paint finishes, upgraded wheels and more-most if not all of which you can already check out in the online configurator on the Ferrari website.

Considering the 458′s newer, more promising racing-derived performance technologies, and its splendor-dare we say passionate-classic Pininfarina design, it’ll likely all be worth it in the minds of prospective buyers.

What do you think about the price of the Ferrari 458 Italia? Is it too expensive and out of your price range?

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

We’re told the images above and below are a work-in-progress renderings of Jim Glickenhaus’s proposed Ferrari P4/5 Competizione.

While the Michiel Van Den Brink renderings-both of them-were great, we’ve been told-by Glickenhaus himself over at FerrariChat.com forum-these renderings are closer to Jim’s vision of a car that’s very similar to his P4/5.

One question still remains-what Ferrari will he base this race-ready car after? Top Gear seems to think it will be the Ferrari 458 Italia.

What do you think about the Ferrari P4/5 Competizione?

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Source: jalopnik.com

Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5 Competizione

It’s been almost four years since James Glickenhaus commissioned his custom Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5. He says now that he is looking into building a race version of the car to compete in endurance racing.

The P4/5, which was revealed for the first time at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, is a one-off rebodied Ferrari Enzo, built by the Pininfarina design house to look like the famous 1967 Ferrari P4 race car. It is reported to have cost Glickenhaus $4 million.

Now it looks as though Glickenhaus is planning a sibling for his custom creation. Posting under the screen name Napoli on FerrariChat in late September, the prolific poster writes “There may be an act 2 here. I am seriously investigating a proposal to make P4/5 Competizione and enter her in a major 24 hour race. There are a LOT of stars that would have to align for this to happen but it’s not impossible…”

That teaser was then followed up by a hint that the car could show up with a “serious effort at a major race” with a “chance to do well.”

The P4/5 Competizione would be based on an entirely new car and would not be a conversion of the P4/5 road car. Glickenhaus hasn’t given specifics about exactly which car would be used as the platform, but he did hint that it will “have a Ferrari chassis/vin#/engine and gearbox.”

If the project does go ahead, the 2010 Nurburgring 24 hr. race from May 13 – 16, is the most likely venue at which the car would race.

According to Glickenhaus, the leading factor preventing the proposal from coming to fruition is finding a major sponsor. Our guess is that time might become an issue as well, as eight months is a relatively short time to develop, build, and test a competitive racecar. Still, we wish Glickenhaus the best of luck, and hope to see another one of his dream cars on track in the near future.

Featured in the thread is a rendering of what a racing P4/5 might look like, also created by Michiel Van Den Brink, a small version of which is included here. The blue livery on the car in that image is a homage to the legendary North American Racing Team, or NART, used to promote Ferrari endurance racing in the U.S. between 1958 and 1982.

What do you think about the Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5 Competizione?

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Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5

Source: autoguide.com, autoblog.com and motorauthority.com