Is This The World's Fugliest Ferrari Enzo?

We know this Ferrari Enzo isn't really turquoise. But, despite being a photoshop fake, could there be a worse color? We highly doubt it — but what say you?

[Photoshop via Flickr]

Report: Insider reveals trouble brewing at Ferrari

An anonymous inside source has contradicted claims that Ferrari is holding up fine during the global financial crisis, claiming that things are not as rosy as the Maranello automaker would have us believe. According to the source, mainline production of the four-seater Ferrari 612 Scaglietti has been halted among other issues.

The insider also revealed to Edmunds that the newly launched entry-level California model has caused sales of the F430 supercar to drop significantly, although the 599's order books are still filled for the next couple of years. Rumors that Ferrari may have to lay off around 300 or so workers soon are still circulating, and analysts are predicting that Ferrari will have to cut back staff in 2009 in order to slash costs.

Additionally, the anonymous insider spoke of Ferrari's new sponsorship deal with Indian conglomerate Tata. Tata's involvement with Ferrari has been known for some time, and the company routinely sent a team of engineers to every F1 race this season. The ties between the two companies also stretch beyond motorsports, and the head of Tata, Ratan Tata, is also already heavily involved with Ferrari’s parent company Fiat, joining the Italian carmaker’s board back in 2006 after he was recommended by the Agnelli family. Tata and Fiat are already tied up over an engine supply deal, and Tata is contracted to build the Fiat Grande Punto and the Fiat Linea for the Indian market.

While there has also been talk of Tata taking over Marlboro's position as Ferrari's number one sponsor, other reports have countered those rumors, claiming that the Tata name will not appear anywhere on Ferrari F1 cars, racing uniforms or merchandise, but rather the company's corporate logo will be seen.

According to the insider, Ferrari’s new California has weakened sales of the F430 significantly

Innotech Corvette C6 taps Italian design themes

The pressures of modern aerodynamic design and vehicle layout have led to something of a convergence of appearance among many high-end performance cars. Chevrolet's Corvette and Ferrari's front-engine GTs like the 550 Maranello and 599 GTB Fiorano, or even the new California, have been compared as visually similar designs. Now a new custom Corvette design, built by the Czech Republic firm Innotech, develops that resemblance further.

The Innotech Corvette C6 adds several visual elements that evokes what the company calls an "Italian lineage". Starting at the grille and front fascia, Innotech adds chrome bars in place of stainless steel mesh and replaces the fog lights with new, broadened air intakes. Perhaps the most significant new feature is the rear window area treatment, which adds pseudo-structural louvre pieces that build a longer, rounder profile at the rear or the car.

Not all of the styling cues are Ferrari-inspired, however. The doors, for example, have been modified to open vertically, a classic Lamborghini trait. A choice of using the stock hood or adding a louvred model will be made available in 2009, while at the rear a completely redesigned bumper and diffuser area meshes with the classic four round Corvette tail lights to continue the fusion of Italian and American. All of the modified body panels are available in either fiberglass or carbon fiber. Also coming later in 2009 will be a widebody kit for both the coupe and convertible C6.

In addition to the visual changes, Innotech also offers some mild performance upgrades, including Upgraded LS2 or LS3 V8s offering 500-560hp (373-417kW) when naturally aspirated or 600-1,000hp (447-746kW) in supercharged or twin-turbocharged form. A choice of manual or automatic transmissions is also available. Upgraded exhausts give the cars a throatier, more aggressive sound and look while new wheels from HRE or Forgeline complete the image.

For truly lightweight hardware, carbon-magnesium wheels from Dymag are also optionally available. Getting the Italo-American special slowed down again is a choice of 14in (355mm) or 15in (380mm) BAER or Brembo brakes on vented, drilled and slotted rotors with 4 or 6 piston calipers.

Performance will therefore be suitably improved over the stock C6 Corvette, with the 560hp LS3-equipped version sporting a 3,080lb (1,400kg) curb weight, pushing its potential past that of even the Z06, while the forced induction models will rival or exceed the ZR-1's vaunted performance, though Innotech is already planning new customized versions of the Z06 and ZR-1 as well, due out in 2009. A speedster version of the C6 Corvette is also in the works, offering a total of five different body styles for the Innotech Corvette range.

Top ten most polluting vehicles list dominated by supercars

It's a truism that big power requires lots of fuel. There's simply no way around it. So it's not surprising that a newly compiled top 10 list of the world's most polluting passenger cars is composed primarily of supercars. Leading the way is the Bugatti Veyron, rated at a whopping 571g/km CO2.

That's 15% higher than number two on the list, the Lamborghini Murcielago, ticking over at 495g/km CO2 in coupe form, or 500g/km as a roadster. Third through sixth place are much more closely grouped, spanning two Ferraris and the Dodge Viper in addition to one of the only non-supercars on the list: the Bentley Arnage/Azure/Brooklands, rated at 465g/km.

Ferrari's 430 Scuderia and California are downright green by comparison, emitting just 360g/km and 310g/km respectively. Some cars that might make the list - such as SSC's Ultimate Aero - aren't included due to their very small volume production and somewhat lower profiles. Near misses to the list include the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG (392g/km) and Rolls-Royce Phantom (377g/km).

By way of comparison to some more 'normal' cars, the Nissan 350Z emits 280g/km, BMW's M3 Coupe puts out 285g/km and the Chevrolet Corvette is rated at 316g/km.

Top Ten Most Polluting Cars:

1. Bugatti Veyron: 571g/km
2. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640: 495g/km (500g/km in Roadster form)
3. Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano: 490g/km
4. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti: 475g/km
5. Bentley Arnage/Azure/Brooklands: 465g/km
6. Dodge Viper SRT-10: 463g/km
7. Ferrari F430 (Coupe & Spider): 420g/km
8. Hummer H2: 412g/km
9. Mercedes G500: 400g/km
10. Bentley Continental GT/GTC/Flying Spur: 396g/km

Via: Autoblog.nl

Ferrari Scaglietti In India

I’m not going to bore you with details as we have already covered the Scaglietti in a previous issue but for those who don’t have a copy at hand, suffice it to say that the Scaglietti 612 is named after Sergio Scaglietti, a famous car designer who specialised in Ferrari designs during Enzo’s early years. Scaglietti (and his brothers) used to repair damaged Ferraris but having caught Enzo’s eye with a rebodied Ferrari of his own design, he started designing for him. However, the 612 is a Pininfarina job done as a tribute to Scaglietti, and has been in production since 2004. Well, to get to the point, the fact is that autoXchange – yours truly in particular – got a taste of Scaglietti in Jaipur. Both cars were at the Rambagh Palace hotel in Jaipur, and I was hanging around them hoping to get a ride.

For the last half-hour Andrea Costantini had been giving me the dope on the car…like how Ferrari has used aluminium for the chassis and bodywork, just like in the 360 Modena. Also, thanks to the properties of aluminium and the sophisticated production technology employed, overall bodyweight has come down a full 40%, and the key to its handling proficiency is the optimised weight distribution, 46% at the front and 54% at the rear.

Also, one does need to be a little careful in traffic since, even though the Scaglietti is nicely proportioned, it’s actually 4.9m long and 1.9m wide – making it longer, wider and taller than a Lamborghini Gallardo, and longer than a BMW 5 Series as well.

Then Andrea starts the engine, telling me about the aluminium V12 unit, the Tipo F133E in Ferrari parlance. From 5.7litres (5748cc), the engine develops 540bhp of power at 7,250rpm and 588Nm of torque at 5,250rpm, which endows this family car (yes, it’s a four-seater) with a max speed of 320kph, 300kph with four occupants, and a 0-100kph time of 4 seconds. The quarter-mile comes up in 12 seconds. This car employs Ferrari’s 6-speed ‘F1A’ semi-automatic box with paddle shift operation.

Driver’s briefing over, Andrea walks me over to the driver’s side door and producing that scarlet key fob, unlocks the door for me. Settling into the seat I find a three-spoke steering wheel that seems to have been borrowed from one of Michael Schumacher’s earlier F1 cars staring me in the face, the yellow prancing horse badge dominating the centre of the hub. On the left spoke is a big red ‘Start’ button and the right spoke has a red, three-position selector switch – the Granturismo manettino its called, Andrea informs me from the passenger seat, which in the Scaglietti is on the right hand side.

Immediately behind the steering wheel, in the centre of the instrument binnacle is a large tachometer, unmistakable due to the yellow dial face. On the right is the speedometer, calibrated up to 340kph while to the left of the tach is a black display, which lights up on turning the key to first confirm that I’m indeed sitting behind the steering wheel of a Scaglietti 612, and then switches to display information – time, ambient temperature, mode, oil and water temperature, fuel, distance and speed.

Andrea points to the manettino (mah-net-TEE-no) and continues to brief me. The manettino allows the driver to choose the mode he or she wants to be in - Comfort, Sport or CST Off. Comfort is for relaxed travel while Sport firms up the suspension and also alters the engine map for a more spirited drive. Selecting the third option switches off the electronic driving aids i.e. stability and traction control, but that is ideally used on a racing circuit and not a public road, Andrea informs me.

Ferrari Dino mule spy photos re-emerge?

 A new Ferrari roadster is coming, it may be called the Dino, it may be called something else

Ferrari once tried to start a separate, lower cost brand and called it the Dino. The brand was named after Enzo Ferrari's son, Alfredino, who, sadly, passed away at the young age of 24 from muscular dystrophy. The Dino-badged sports car was a rear-engined V6 powered vehicle that was in production from 1968 to 1976.

Now, it seems Ferrari wants to bring the Dino badge back, but as a model name and not as its own brand.

Or not. It may just be that these spy shots are for another new Ferrari model since previous spy photos of various F430s and 599 GTB Fioranos were thought to be the Dino.  However when full bodied California prototypes started turning up on the roads, the F430 and 599 mules disappeared - until now (post Califronia debut). In any case, if it is the Dino after all, it will be a new lower-cost roadster which Ferrari can sell at higher volumes that could help the brand's bottom line in these difficult times.

This particular prototype using the 599 GTB Fiorano body looks quite normal except for the different front bumper, slightly unevenly shaped headlamp lenses, single pipe dual exhaust and a peculiar removeable hard top.

Pre California rumors said the Dino will likely come with a slightly less refined V8 spewing 400 horses of power and placed at the rear. It will be fairly priced, meaning rather reasonable for a Ferrari, between 100,000 and 115,000 euros. There will be both a coupe and cabriolet version. Volumes could be as high as 4,000 per year, and if Ferrari can keep its margins healthy enough on the Dino, it will be a real winner.

Ferrari Shipping on the Cheap

It seems that a member of the U.S. Air Force stationed at an international airport in Kyrgyzstan, caught a glimpse of some rather unsavory exotic car shipping practices that he felt compelled to share with the readers of the My350Z forums.

It seems that someone was looking to save a little coin by shipping their Ferrari F430 out of country via a small Russian aircraft called an AN12. The airman photographer tells us that the AN12s are the aircraft of choice for budget shipping—used primarily for hauling food and “small items”—as the plane doesn’t really have a sophisticated system of holding its cargo down. Not the way we’d want to move our Ferrari, to say the least. The photographs already paint a rather ugly picture of a few men trying to get the F430 onboard, including a shot showing the car taking a pretty serious digger into the makeshift ramp. Happy trails.

+ My350Z

TAXI! Ferrari Enzo cab spotted

You’re retired, with millions in the bank, but you’re bored. Whaddyado? You go and paint your Ferrari Enzo in taxi livery and start charging for rides, don’t you?

Well, in Oman, someone has done just that. We’re a bit worried about someone being picked up from the airport, though; where would you put the luggage? Still, it’d be one hell of a ride.

Just don’t call for this taxi when you’re blind drunk on a Saturday night. The 0-100km/h sprint may just be a little nauseating. Not to mention the paint work!

Luxury cars over 200 grand

There are luxury brands, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus come to mind, then there are luxury brands, cars with the leather from a herd of cows and wood from a whole forest. Spyker, Ferrari, and Bentley all showed off hand-crafted cars at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. These cars feature beautiful and unique styling, high-performance engines and driving gear, advanced cabin tech, and prestigious brand names. The prices they command put them in the realm of sheiks and movie stars.

Unique Toyota MR2 In Ferrari 360 Spyder Drag On eBay!

Ferrari replicas built from lesser mid-engined vehicles are certainly nothing new, but rarely have we seen one so comprehensively reworked as this 2003 MR2/Ferrari 360 Spyder knockoff.

Now, most any Ferrari fan worth his or her salt will take a glance at the above droptop and think that there’s something not quite right, but the car is attractive enough in its own way, with a nose that reminds us a bit of a Fiat Barchetta. While this 360 Spyder knockoff isn’t spot-on, we find it charming and cheeky in its own way… and that normally isn’t the case for us when the visual cues and proportions of one car are subjected to another vehicle’s chassis and hard points.

The car is now on eBay with just 23,000 miles and a boatload of extras. As of this writing, it’s been bid to $20,000, but with a Buy It Now price of $34k, this South Carolina salvage-title convertible appears to be well shy of its reserve.

+ eBay: 2003 Replica/Kit Makes

Stallion Take Wing: The Unbelievable Flying Ferrari ‘Autovolantor’ Concept by Moller

High on our list of concept cars that probably won’t see the light of day is this new, and rather bananas concept from Moller International, a flying version of Ferrari’s 599 GTB called the Autovolantor.

Designer Bruce Calkins has theoretically fitted the wacky supercar with a specially designed hybrid fuel and electric power system to run the eight thrusters that would give lift to the car/plane, a system that Calkins believes could be good for as many as 800 horsepower. That power translates to a top speed of 150 miles per hour in the air, with altitudes of up to 5000 feet attainable.

The fans propel the concept on both the ground and in the air, pushing the Ferrari body forward on its wheels with a “firm but not-too-powerful thrust of deflected air,” or skyward with a hovering effect.

The 599 was chosen as the base vehicle for this project because of its distinctive shape, with Calkins noting that testing with scale models, “allowed us to quickly verify that it could in fact be done.”

A production version of the Autovolantor, as unlikely as it may be to every come about, is estimated to ring up for something like $800,000 per vehicle, and could conceivably lead to the worst crash in the history of the Ferrari marquee. Happy flying.

+ Telegraph.co.uk

Ferrari 599 Barchetta

The Ferrari 599 has been spied out testing without ane camo. Only easy distinguish by its mock hard top, which doesn’t quite match the colour of the main bodywork.

The production top could well be a folding metal item, much like the coupe-cabriolet California due next year. The front engine layout of the 599 would certainly allow space for a trick mechanism at the rear, although the weight could blunt performance.

The 575 Superamerica, enjoyed a 25bhp hike to counter the 60kg weight increase, although it featured a unique rotating glass panel rather than a full length CC option.

It is likely the 599 Barchetta’s engine will remain unchanged, keeping the 6.0-litre 620bhp V12 from the GTB Fiorano coupe, though the top speed will drop from the GTB’s 205mph.

The open-top could appear at next spring’s Geneva Motor Show, with production to start in the summer. The tin-top model costs $400 000, so expect the convertible will cost around $430 000.

Honda NSX modified to Ferrari 360 Modena

Yes, the one you are seeing above is the Honda NSX. It has been modified to Ferrari, with custom body and interior, to make it look like the Modena 360. Current bid 30,250€. More pictures after the break.

[via Techeblog]

Ferrari station wagon is a crime against cars

Most of the time, if you're looking to buy a station wagon to tote the kids around to soccer practice in, you'll look at reasonable, sensible choices from regular old auto makers. If you're the Sultanate of Brunei, however, you'll look for something a bit more high-end. Like a Ferrari.

Yes, Ferrari created a custom, one-of-a-kind station wagon for the insanely rich family, putting a station wagon body on a Ferrari engine. It looks like some sort of cruel hybrid created in a lab, with the front end looking like a sports car and the back looking like a Subaru. Personally, I feel like if you've got the scratch you might as well just have a regular Ferrari for when you want to go tear it up and a sensible car for buying groceries, but that's why I'm not the Sultanate.

DoobyBrain, via New Launches

A1GP Powered by Ferrari car completes wind tunnel testing

Wind tunnel testing has been a key element in the development of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport Powered by Ferrari car for season four. The car that had its first public running at the Mugello circuit was the product of many hours spent by the A1GP technical team in wind tunnels at the University of Southampton’s School of Engineering Sciences.
John Travis, A1GP Technical Director: “To ensure we continue the A1GP tradition of strong racing, coupled with lots of overtaking, the effort of the design team has been to provide a chassis that has a good level of down force, but without the normal penalties. This will make for much closer racing particularly in the corners as cars will be able to run together. We have spent in excess of 300 hours in the wind tunnel and have tried hundreds of different aerodynamic variations to ensure the close, exciting racing the series is famous for not only continues but gets better.”

The University of Southampton’s School of Engineering Sciences has a variety of wind tunnels which have been used extensively by Formula One, Indy Racing League and CART racing teams over the years. A 40 per cent scale model of the A1GP Powered by Ferrari car was tested at the facility and performed just as expected giving the development team a good set of aerodynamic data to work with as they continue the on track testing programme in Europe.

The testing has been continuing in France with Andrea Bertolini in the car for three days at Paul Ricard near Marseille with 400-kilometres covered on one day alone. Testing then moved to Magny-Cours, with Patrick Friesacher at the wheel last week increasing the total distance covered by the new A1GP car to 5,667 kilometres.

The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport 2008-09 season will officially get underway later this year with A1GP Mugello, Italy, 19 – 21 September 2008.

Source: A1GP

Concept Ferrari Modulo: It is not Scarlet Red!

It is the car that is supposed to be a concept car that is shaped on the Ferrari Modulo of the 70’s and while I can totally see the resemblance and the inspiration after taking a look at the original Modulo, I just cannot bring myself to believe that this is even a concept design of a Ferrari just because of the color scheme the designer has chosen to adopt with this design. I mean, no matter what you are designing, if you are putting the Ferrari logo on it then it has to be racy Scarlet Red with some wonderful black lining to enhance the design in the perfect fashion.

The style is keeping in line with the legendary Ferrari cars of 1970 – 1980 like Lancia Stratos Zero or Ferrari Modulo. The aerodynamics and the design of the car look pretty good and since the designer says that it is intended for the use of young drivers, which pretty much fits the billing. The wedge-shaped body and the entire body work do remind you of racing in the late 70’s and early 80’s.

The most important aspect in all this is the safety features that the design incorporates and hopefully the designer has taken adequate care in that aspect. Without that it will never get on to the tracks these days. Moreover, I strongly suggest a change in the color pattern if you want to sell it as a Ferrari. Sometimes it is the little things that make a huge difference.

Via: popkov-works

Ferrari California GT

Michael Schumacher has left Formula One but never for Ferrari. The above is the Ferrari California, Schumacher says that “the Ferrari California is very much a Grand Tourer in terms of its usability and high level of interior comfort, it is still surprisingly sporty and fun to drive under any kind of conditions.”

[via Techeblog]

The 717 bhp 348 km/h NOVITEC ROSSO Ferrari 430 Scuderia

If your 510 hp Ferrari 430 Scuderia isn’t quite fast enough at its 320 km/h top speed, you can always add a bit more courtesy of a NOVITEC ROSSO Supersport Bi-Kompressor engine. The special twin-supercharger version of the Scuderia’s four-valve eight-cylinder engine bumps power output from the standard 510 bhp (375 kW) to 717 bhp (527 kW) and increases top speed from 320 to 348 km/h.

Each cylinder bank is equipped with its own toothed belt driven high-performance mechanical supercharger and a generously dimensioned water-cooled intercooler. Boost pressure of the superchargers is limited to 0.48 bar. A newly designed heat-insulated intake manifold with larger ports provides the engine with pre-compressed air. Two high-performance air filters and eight larger injectors complete the engine conversion on the intake side.

The perfect interaction of all NOVITEC ROSSO performance components is coordinated by a newly programmed engine management system. This benefits perfect running smoothness as well as maximum power output and unquestionable durability. The conversion further includes higher-capacity coolant systems for water and oil plus additional dedicated coolant cycles for both compressors and intercoolers.

The elaborate NOVITEC ROSSO Supersport Bi-Kompressor conversion is also available for all other Ferrari F430 Berlinetta models and costs 47,000 Euros. It delivers performance that sets it apart even from other super sports cars717 hp / 527 kW at 8,350 rpm represent an increase in maximum power output of 207 hp / 152.3 kW over the production car. Simultaneously peak torque grows from standard 470 Nm to 722 Nm at 6,250 rpm.

Performance of the Scuderia benefits accordingly: The tuned Scuderia sprints from rest to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds and reaches 200 km/h after just 10.1 seconds. Only 26.1 seconds pass before the two-seater reaches a speed of 300 km/h. But the NOVITEC ROSSO Bi-Kompressor also improves performance beyond those speeds: Equipped with optionally available longer gear ratios top speed increases to 348 km/h.

The custom-tailored NOVITEC ROSSO tire/wheel combination for the Ferrari offers more striking looks and further improved driving dynamics. The stock Scuderia comes with 19-inch wheels while the tuner offers three-piece 20-inch wheels for this car.

The NOVITEC ROSSO NF3 double-spoke wheels were designed to in effect widen the Ferrari’s track thus allowing even higher cornering speeds. They are mounted in size 8.5Jx20 in front and in size 12Jx20 on the rear axle.Technology partner PIRELLI provides custom-tailored high-performance tires in size 235/30 ZR 20 in front and in size 325/25 ZR 20 in the rear.

NOVITEC ROSSO sport springs further lower the center of gravity and also contribute to optimized handling characteristics. The tuner further offers a suspension feature for the Scuderia that optimizes its suitability for everyday use. The innovative hydraulic lift system for the front axle can be activated with a switch in the interior. With seconds the front is raised by 40 millimeters, making entering underground parking garages or driving over low curbs or speed bumps much easier. Upon a second push of the button or automatically when reaching a speed of 80 km/h, the front reverts to its original position.

NOVITEC ROSSO refines the exterior of the Ferrari 430 Scuderia with discrete components such as black tail lights, lateral turn signals and reflectors.

NOVITEC ROSSO also offers exclusive and functional details for the interior of the lightweight-design Ferrari. The NOVITEC ROSSO sport steering wheel with its leather/carbon-fiber material combination features a flattened bottom for easier entering and exiting of the vehicle while its ergonomically correct shape provides optimal grip. The carbon-fiber NOVITEC ROSSO shift paddles are longer than their production counterparts and make manual gearshifts of the F1-SuperFast2 transmission even easier.