Ferrari

When we brought you our article on the Ferrari 599 GTB back in 2006, it was the fastest V12 production car on the market. Now, the company has released the 599 GTO, the fastest ever road-going Ferrari. Based on the 599XX - the advanced experimental track car – this extreme V12 berlinetta delivers a neck-snapping 0-100kmh acceleration time of just 3.35” as well as a top speed of more than 335kmh (208mph).  Read More

Let’s say you’re the proud parent of a budding Michael Schumacher – he rips up the track in his go-kart, leaving others in his wake, and you know it’s only a matter of time before he progresses through to the F1 circus and makes everyone in the family filthy rich. But what does he drive to school? Can't take the kart, and certainly not a Prius. No! The only vehicle junior would feel comfortable in is a Ferrari – and this F40 fits the bill perfectly … small size, small engine, small price tag (relatively).  Read More

When Ferrari World opens its doors in Abu Dhabi later this year, fans of the prancing horse will be treated to a monster roller coaster with a difference. Riding in a Ferrari (of course), the ride will take thrill-seekers on a two kilometer journey at up to 95 kmh and because there are two cars running side-by-side, the roller coaster becomes a racetrack with a different "winner" each time.  Read More

The excellence embodied by Duesenberg automobiles gave us the expression "It's a doozy"... and this one certainly is. The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline sold for a touch over US$1.7 million at the 12th annual RM Auctions Automobiles of Amelia Island auction in Florida last weekend. A second 1932 Convertible Coupe Model J fetched $825,000 in an auction that saw four cars break the million dollar barrier.  Read More

Ferrari has announced at the Geneva Motor Show that its California model is set to become the first supercar to offer the fuel and emissions-saving "Stop&Start" engine system. This cuts fuel consumption by six percent and reduces carbon dioxide emissions to 280g/km - a figure Ferrari says is less than some family cars currently on the road. The company has also unveiled a concept hybrid - the HY-KERS based on its 599 GTB Fiorano model.  Read More

Some of us might have done it tough financially over the last year or so, but you’ll be pleased to know that not everyone is struggling with the mortgage. U.K.’s Glasses Dealer Guide reports that the very pretty new Ferrari 458 Italia is in such demand that fashion-conscious aficionados are competing to bypass the three-year waiting list by paying more than GBP25,000 (US$39,000) above the GBP170,000 (US$265,000) list price.  Read More

Formula One will be quite different in 2010 thanks to a number of changes to the rules. The Kinetic Energy Recovery System is gone, front tires will be narrower (from 270mm to 245mm) and most significantly, there will be no refueling during races which will mean fuel tanks will need to be roughly three times larger than 2009. The changes have bred a different size and shape of car, as was evidenced over the last two days when we saw the first of the serious contender’s cars – the 2010 McLaren MP4-25 of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari F10 of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso. Demonstrating the drawing power of the Prancing Horse, Ferrari attracted an audience of three million unique visitors to its web site for the launch. The season gets underway tomorrow when …  Read More

It is interesting to note that the three biggest stories in Formula One right now concern a driver who competed in 2010 but not in 2009 (the Michael Schumacher comeback), a driver who competed in 2009 but not 2010 (Raikkonen loses his drive and goes WRC) and a driver who has never competed in F1 and quite possibly never will – Valentino Rossi. Indeed, Rossi has only ever driven an F1 car six times, but his status as one of motorcycling’s all-time greats and one of the most popular and media-savvy sportspeople of all time make the possibility an incredibly enticing prospect. For Ferrari, Rossi brings a global army of fans and the possibility of a rare Italian driver-car title combination that hasn’t happened since Alberto Ascari in 1953, despite 15 drivers titles and 16 constructors titles for the marque since then. This week Rossi tested in a Ferrari F1 car again, and was so fast that the possibility might now be approaching a probability.  Read More

Just two years ago, Finn Kimi Raikkonen was the reigning (2007) World Champion in the world’s most prominent television sport, and the number one driver for the world’s most famous racing marque, Ferrari. Forbes rated him the 26th highest paid celebrity in the world, the fifth highest paid sportsperson and the highest paid driver in the world with a weekly pay cheque of US$1,000,000. Late last year he lost his job in the cutthroat game of musical chairs played by the top half dozen drivers in the world and decided to sit out 2010 by driving rally cars. This weekend he starts his new job in a town made famous by none other than Father Christmas – could there be a belated Christmas Gift in the offing?  Read More