New Ferrari 599 GTO: Maranello's Fastest Ever Road-Going Model

Marking the return of the famous GTO badge, which stands for "Gran Turismo Omologata", Ferrari today unveiled the 599 GTO, a limited edition supercar that's inspired by the track-only 599XX prototype.
Set to make its public debut at the Beijing Auto Show in China at the end of April, only 599 examples of the GTO will be built.
Billed as the company's fastest ever road car, the 599 GTO makes use of the 599XX's (Enzo-derived) tweaked 6.0-liter V12 engine that punches out 670-horsepower at 8,250 rpm with maximum torque of 620Nm (457 lb-ft) at 6,500 rpm. For comparison, the V12 delivers 700HP in the 599XX and 620HP in the standard 599 GTB.
Despite the increase in power over the 599 GTB Fiorano, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are both improve slightly to 17.5 lt/100km (13.4mpg US) and 411 g/km respectively.
Power is sent to the rear-wheels through the same six-speed sequential gearbox with lower 60 ms shift times and the possibility to make multiple downshifts found on the 599XX.
Ferrari announces a 0-100km/h (62mph) acceleration time of just 3.35 seconds and a top speed over 335 km/h or 208mph.
More importantly, Maranello says that the 599 GTO lapped the Fiorano circuit in just 1min 24sec, or a second faster than the previous record set by the Enzo, making it the company's fastest ever road-car.
The 599 GTO inherits much of the weigh-saving measures employed in the 599XX track-racer including widespread use of composite materials, resulting in a dry weight of 1495 kg (3,295 lbs) or 84kg (185 lbs) less than the 599 GTB, and a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.23 kg/hp.
Ferrari sharpened the supercar's handling with the use of new springs and a stiffer rear antiroll bar as well as a second generation magnetorheological suspension control system (SCM2).
There's also a lighter , carbon ceramic braking system, again derived from the 599XX, that helps the GTO come to a halt from 100km/h (62mph) in just 32.5 meters.
Other changes include the improved aerodynamics with the addition of a new front spoiler that incorporates a separate lower wing, a new sill design with a more pronounced leading edge, a new double-curve rear diffuser and the tweaked underbody panels.
The 599 GTO also gets a new hood design with air-vents and a matte gray rooftop finish while it rides on new 20-inch alloy wheels shod in beefier tires size 285/30 up front and 315/35 at the rear.
As for the interior, Ferrari fitted the car with bespoke, longer carbon-fibre F1 paddles for easier use in high-speed driving, a pair of bucket sport sears and the so-called "Virtual Race Engineer", which is a system that monitors the status of the car and gives the driver immediate visibility of vehicle performance.
The Italian company did not release pricing on the 599 GTO, but a leaked document suggest that those interested will be looking at €267,136 (~$355,000) before taxes and options.

Ferrari California Rear-Ends BMW 5-Series

In other case, this fender-bender would be just another accident, but since it concerns a new Ferrari California it obviously caught our attention. The only thing we know about the incident is that the California rear-ended a BMW 5-Series and that its owner will definitely pay a hefty price to repair the Italian coupe-convertible. High-res pics after the jump.

Via: Autogespot

Ferrari to Present Six New Models Including Enzo Flagship by 2013

Along with Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Fiat and Lancia, Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne also revealed the product development plans for Ferrari during an investor meeting in Turin.
According to the plan, Ferrari will keep launching a new model every year to "sustain turnover and reinforce brand."
For 2010, Ferrari has already revealed the 599 GTO special - see photos and details here. It will be followed in the first half of 2011 by an all-new version of the 612 Scaglietti, codenamed F151. The new 2+2 seater is expected to debut the first implementation of the Italian firm's KERS hybrid drivetrain.
In the second half of 2011, Ferrari will launch a Spider version of its new 458 Italia supercar that will replace the F430 Spider. Expect to see the same mid-mounted 4.5-liter V8 engine with direct-injection that pushes out 570HP found on the tin top model.
2012 will also be a busy year for Ferrari as the Maranello firm will debut an all-new version of its 599 GTB coupe, codenamed F152, as well as a successor to its Enzo flagship supercar.
The following year, Ferrari will facelift its California hardtop-convertible and debut a hardcore Scuderia version of the 458 Italia.

New Ferrari 599 GTO Configurator Released

Ferrari wants to know how people want to personalize their 599 - as in, 599 are being built- GTOs (click here for details and high resolution photos). To help the common man get involved, they've released an internet configurator. Set to come out at the Beijing Auto Show, the car will pack 670 horsepower and 620 Nm (457 lb-ft) of torque. A good way to waste a Sunday afternoon? Indeed.

By Phil Alex

Link: Ferrari / Configurator

1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Sets New Record at RM's Sporting Classics of Monaco

RM Auctions just wrapped up its very first Sporting Classics of Monaco to the tune of €33,235,917 (~$45,101,139). Out of the 105 vehicles up for new homes, 88 of them (86%) swapped owners; of those 88, five scored €2,000,000+ sales and two of those set new world records.
Record-setter number one was a 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina SWB. With a sale price of €2,800,000 (~$3,799,600), it has become the priciest Superamerica ever.
Record-setter number two was a 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage, coming in at €2,464,000 (~$3,343,648), an all-time high for a Birdcage.
The remaining three €2,000,000 busters were: 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta (€2,632,000 / ~$3,571,624); 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France (€2,352,000 / ~$3,191,664); 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder (€2,072,000 / ~$2,811,704).
The Sporting Classics of Monaco auction, according to RM, was a huge success. With registered bidders from 33 countries and a swarm of first timers (28% of registrations), the sale was watched by more than 3,000 people online.
Max Girardo, Managing Director for RM Europe, says, "Our Monaco sales results underscore RM's undisputed leadership position in the investment-grade segment of the collector car market...[We have] set a new standard for collector car auctions not only for the high quality of cars, but also for its impeccable presentation and client experience."
Scroll down for some drool-worthy (video) pics.

By Phil Alex

6,000 Square Foot Malibu Home Offered with Ferrari F40 in its Garage

Since the housing market decided to collapse, people have been luring buyers into their properties with incentives. Vahe Hagopian, a listing agent in Malibu, even offered up his Ferrari to try to make a sale.
If someone were to buy his client's house (6,000 square feet, $4.4 million), he'd throw in a classic Ferrari F40 to sweeten the deal. Hagopian says, "Nothing is moving in this area. It's unprecedented."
Initially, the house had been sitting around at $3.9 million, but, as the New York Times puts it, Hagopian "borrowed a page from added-value marketing and bundled the two last month, while raising the house price."
The Italian supercar is a "high-mileage" model, with 734 miles on the odometer and "prior accident history". Whatever, it's an F40.
Even with the car thrown in, the house hasn't sold yet. Too bad, because Malibu, Pacific views, and an F40 sound like a pretty sweet package. If anyone's interested they'd better hurry. The F40 will only be part of the package until June (according to Hagopian).

By Phil Alex

Via: NYT

Ferrari 458 Italia, is that You Hiding Under the Camouflage?

According to the dictionary, "camouflage" is defined as "the disguising of people, equipment, and installations by painting or covering them to make them blend in with their surroundings". Clearly that's not the case with this vinyl wrapped Ferrari 458 Italia that stands out more than a obese man walking on the street with high heels, ankle bracelets and a Peggy Bundy wig.

But seriously now, the military-style 458 Italia was created by a German company called Cam Shaft that specializes in vinyl wraps offering buyers all sorts of choices in colors and patterns including a more discreet matte white finish (see pictures below).

And if you're wondering how it's done -the wrapping- click here to watch a video of a Ferrari F430 receiving a matte black vinyl treatment.

Via: Autogespot , Source: Cam Shaft