If you think that the Scuderia is the ultimate form of Ferrari F430, well think again! Because Novitec Rosso is introducing the real deal with the Edizione 747. Let’s cut straight to the chase: it has 747 hp and 738 Nm of torque, does 0 to 100 in 3.4 seconds and has a to speed of 351 km/h, but is it as refined and poised as the original Scuderia in which everything is bang on?!

It’s always cool to have more power, but if it ruins the handling for the sake of half a second faster acceleration, then what’s the point?! So to make sure that the 747 still drives like a Ferrari, the tuner has readjusted the suspension with new sport springs which lower the ride height by 30mm and installed three-piece 20-inch NF3 double-spoke wheels in sizes 8.5Jx20 in front and 12Jx20 on the rear axle are fitted with Michelin Pilot Cup sport tires in sizes 245/30 ZR 20 in front and 315/25 ZR 20 in back. It also has a hydraulic lift system for the front axle which at the push of a button in the cockpit raises the front of the car by 40 millimeters.

Like the original Scuderia which has a distinguishing paintjob, the 747 too comes with a unique two-tone special matte yellow and grey paintjob. The wheels also have the same theme. Inside the cabin, along with new carbon components, you will find a supersport steering wheel with flattened bottom covered with leather and carbon. Also for the ultimate sporty look, all carbon-fiber engine components come with a matte finish.

Ferrari has finally dropped the curtain on the F430′s successor, called Ferrari 458 Italia. And our first impression is anything but wow! 458′s body is a creation of PinninFarina, and as far as aerodynamics matter, it is a masterpiece generating tons of downforce with out wings and splitters. But as something eye-catching and beautiful, I’m not so sure.

Jeremy Clarkson once said that after F355, Ferrari has never made a beautiful car. We only think they are beautiful because they are Ferraris! 458 is a form-following-function sort of car. You notice those holes beside headlights, they provide air for the cooling system and that big mouth of it also plays a Major part to keep it on the ground at high speed. The whole car has a compact form for better aerodynamic efficiency.

At the front, it’s all macho and angry and industrial. But at the back, it looks like a toy car! You get California style tail lights, an artistic diffuser and three big exhaust pipes right in the middle! It is quit supercar-ish but not so elegant.

Ferrari 458 Italia is powered by a new 4.5 liter V8 engine 570 hp and 540 nm of torque which which uses about 13.7 liters of fuel per 100 KM. Thanks to extensive use of aluminum it weights 1380 kg, not exactly featherlight but with that much power at your disposal, it promises blistering performance. Like the 430, the new car is also full of electronic systems such as a new E-diff drivetrain and direct steering system. company claimed numbers for 0 to 100km/h and top speed are 3.4 seconds and 324 km/h.

So as for the technicalities, 458 Italia is what you expect a Ferrari to be: Brilliant!

Based on what we see from the picture of the cabin Ferrari has released, it seems to be inspired by the California. Like that car the dashboard is quit funky and modern and every single part of it is new.

2010 Ferrari 458 Italia will make its public debut at this year’s Frankfurt Motorshow in September.

Here you can watch a video of the Ferrari 458 Italia:

Press Release

The 458 Italia is the latest incarnation of the mid-rear engined berlinetta and will be unveiled at the next Frankfurt Motor Show

Maranello, July 28th 2009 – While it’s true that every Ferrari is innovative by definition, it’s equally true that in the course of the Prancing Horse’s history, certain cars have marked a genuine departure from the current range. This is very much the case with the Ferrari 458 Italia, which is a massive leap forward from the company’s previous mid-rear engined sports cars.

The new model is a synthesis of style, creative flair, passion and cutting-edge technology, characteristics for which Italy as a nation is well-known. For this reason Ferrari chose to add the name of its homeland to the traditional figure representing the displacement and number of cylinders.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a completely new car from every point of view: engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics, just to name a few.

A two-seater berlinetta, the Ferrari 458 Italia, as is now traditional for all Ferrari’s road-going cars, benefits hugely from the company’s Formula 1 experience. This is particularly evident in the speed and precision with which the car responds to driver inputs and in the attention focused on reducing internal friction in the engine for lower fuel consumption than the F430, despite the fact that both overall displacement and power have increased. However, Ferrari’s track experience makes its presence felt in the 458 Italia not only in terms of pure technological transfer but also on a more emotional level, because of the strong emphasis on creating an almost symbiotic relationship between driver and car. The 458 Italia features an innovative driving environment with a new kind of steering wheel and dashboard that is the direct result of racing practice. Once again input from Michael Schumacher – who was involved from the very start of the 458 Italia project – played an invaluable part.

The Ferrari 458 Italia’s Pininfarina design provides further evidence of the complete departure from the past that this new car hails. The Ferrari 458 Italia has a compact, aerodynamic shape, underscoring the concepts of simplicity, efficiency and lightness that inspired the project. As with every Ferrari, the car’s styling has been very heavily influenced by the requirements for aerodynamic efficiency, as can be seen from the downforce of 140 kg at 200km/h generated by the new model. The front features a single opening for the front grille and side air intakes, with aerodynamic sections and profiles designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody. The nose also sports small aeroelastic winglets which generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator inlets and cut drag.

The new 4499 cc V8 is the first Ferrari direct injection engine to be mid-rear mounted. It has a very low piston compression height typical of racing engines which contributed to achieving its compression ratio of 12.5:1. Equipped with the traditional flat-plane crankshaft, the engine delivers 570 CV at 9000 rpm and, with an outstanding power output of 127 CV/litre, sets a new benchmark not only for the whole Ferrari range and the history of company, but also for the entire market segment. Maximum torque is 540 Nm at 6000 rpm, over 80 per cent of which is available from 3250 rpm. Specific torque is a record 120 Nm/litre. However, what is truly extraordinary is the amount of torque available while still maintaining high levels of power at low revs.

The car’s soundtrack is also typical Ferrari, with an exciting, powerful growl emerging from the engine before it channels through to the exhaust’s three rear tailpipes.

The 458 Italia is equipped with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which increases performance whilst providing very smooth shifts even at full throttle. The engineers have developed specific, sportier gear ratios to match the power and torque curves of the new V8, guaranteeing high torque even at lower engine speeds and allowing the car to reach its maximum speed in top gear.

This new Ferrari is also a major leap forward when it comes to cutting emissions. Despite the fact that the new engine is significantly more powerful than the V8s that preceded it, the Ferrari 458 Italia produces just 320 g/km of CO2 and fuel consumption is 13.7 l/100 km (combined cycle), the best in the entire segment.

The engineers also focused on weight reduction during the design phase for similar reasons. Consequently, the Ferrari 458 Italia has a dry weight of 1380 kg with a power-to-weight ratio of 2.42 kg/CV. Weight distribution is also optimal with 58 per cent over the rear axle. The result of the engineers’ endeavours can be summed up in to two simple statistics which together perfectly encapsulate the Ferrari 458 Italia’s exceptional performance: 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 3.4 seconds and a maximum speed in excess of 325 km/h.

For the new chassis, once more in aluminium, Maranello’s engineers incorporated various types of advanced alloys along with aerospace industry-derived manufacturing and bonding techniques.

With regard to vehicle dynamics, the Ferrari 458 Italia’s suspension features twin wishbones at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear tuned for maximum roadholding and superlative handling. Along with a more direct steering ratio, the 458 Italia thus offers extremely rapid turn-in and body control whilst maintaining superior ride comfort.

The integration of the E-Diff and F1-Trac (now controlled by the same ECU) and their respective mappings is even greater, resulting in a 32 per cent increase in longitudinal acceleration out of corners compared to previous models. The evolution of the control logic, with even faster and more accurate calculation of levels of grip, ensures even greater roadholding, better handling and ease of control on the limit.

The same ECU also governs the high-performance ABS, providing even more precise control over the logic threshold and greater efficiency. The brakes also feature a prefill function whereby the pistons in the callipers move the pads into contact with the discs on lift off to minimise delay in the brakes being applied. This combined with the ABS has cut the 100-0 km/h braking distance to a mere 32.5 metres.

The Ferrari 458 Italia’s interior is another area of the car that exalts its sporty personality. The driver is welcomed by a new layout and a revolutionary ergonomic interface where the main controls are all clustered on the steering wheel.

With the Ferrari 458 Italia, Maranello has brought a highly distinctive new car to its 8-cylinder range. The company now offers two models that share a common, race-derived DNA, both exceptionally sporty and fun to drive in true Ferrari tradition, but aimed at two very different kinds of client. While the Ferrari California was created for owners requiring a more versatile sports car with a practical edge, the 458 Italia is designed for owners for whom the priority is uncompromising on-road performance with occasional track day capability, but who still demand a car that is useable in day-to-day driving like all Ferrari’s recent models.

Driving a Ferrari is usually a sign that you have an exquisite taste and that you are a man of great abilities. However, it’s not the case with this fat old man who attended a Ferrari meeting in southern France with his brand spanking new Ferrari 430 Scuderia! All he manages to do is to embarrass himself in front of a big crowd every single one of them carrying a camera! The guy doesn’t know how to start and put it in gear! He doesn’t know how to put the seat belts on! I wonder how he could get the car to the meeting in the first place:)

As we get close to the Frankfurt Motor Show where  the new Ferrari F450 or F500 or whatever it’s called will be introduced, we have to wave goodbye to an incredible machine, the Ferrari F430. But Ferrari planned a nice retirement party for it. It’ll be auctioned for the benefit of Abruzzo earthquake victims.

The last 430 features a special two-tone livery and a personalized dedication plate. It also comes with a certificate signed by Ferrari’s president Luca Di Montezemelo. Of course the winner of the auction will have the chance to spec up his car.

It’s sad to see the 430 going out of production because it was a fabulous car. Honestly there is no better word to describe it. And whoever buys this last special edition model not only gets a great car, he also does a noble thing helping victims of the devastating Abruzzo earthquake by which 296 people were killed and thousands of others are still suffering.

Press Release:

Ferrari contributes to rebuilding the Abruzzo region after the devastating earthquake

Ferrari has announced that it will offering a very special car at the RM Auction due to be held this coming Sunday. The car, the very last F430 to leave the production line towards the end of this year, will be auctioned to raise funds for rebuilding in Abruzzo, central Italy, which was devastated by the earthquake on the 6th of April. Ferrari will liaise with the local authorities to ensure that the funds will go towards the most needy.

The F430 will feature a special two-tone livery which recalls the traditional colours of Aquila, the city most hit, and will be consigned with a certificate signed by Ferrari Chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, with a personalised dedication plate to commemorate the generous donation.

The client adjudicating the car will be invited to Maranello to choose the final specifications and Ferrari has also offered to equip the car with a number of options from its extensive Carrozzeria Scaglietti catalogue.

The F430

First launched in 2004, the F430 represents the peak of Ferrari’s development of the mid-engined V8 berlinetta. Every inch of the car was inspired by the engineering research carried out at Ferrari’s Gestione Sportiva F1 racing division. The result is a highly innovative car that offers outstanding performance thanks to cutting-edge technology, such as the electronic differential (E-Diff ), initially developed by Ferrari for its F1 single-seaters, and the manettino switch on the steering wheel which directly governs the vehicle’s dynamic set-up.

Technical specifications

Engine type 90° V8

Total displacement 4308 cc

Compression ratio 11.3:1

Maximum power 360.3 kW** (490 CV) at 8500 rpm

Maximum torque 465 Nm (343 lb/ft) at 5250 rpm

Gearbox F1 paddle shift

Kerb weight 1450 kg (3196 lbs)*

Length 4512 mm (177.6 in)

Width 1923 mm (75.7 in)

Height 1214 mm (47.8 in)

Wheelbase 2600 mm (102.4 in)

Maximum speed over 315 km/h (196 mph)

0-100 km/h (62 mph) 4.0 s

Fuel consumption 15.2 l/100 km* (combined cycle)

CO2 emissions 345 g/km* (combined cycle)

* European market version

** For reasons of homogeneity, engine power is expressed in kW, in accordance with the International System of Units (SI). The brake horse power (bhp) can be calculated as follows: 1 kW = 1.34 bhp

What’s the easiest way to make a desirable car even cooler?! Drop its top! As we learned from the spyshots that is exactly what Maserati has done to their brilliant Gran Turismo. Masser GT is an exquisite Italian mix of great looks, powerful engine and very fine luxury.

To get a better idea of how the convertible version of the GT would look like, take a glance at this rendering by Caranddriver:

You look at it and instantly cars like Mercedes SL and Jaguar XK pops into your mind. So if you are out shopping for a V8 drop-top you are advised to hold on a bit till this Italian diva arrives in early 2010.

Rumor had it that the Maserati Gran Turismo Spider will feature a folding metal roof, but apparently the production version will come with a fabric top instead. And that’s good news because a metal roof might sound great as an option but it is noticeably heavy and the weight would ruin the cars handling and performance, specially for this car since the GT is not particulary fast. It is powered by a 405hp V8 which does its best when mated to an automatic gearbox. That makes the GT a perfect cruiser in which you can cover great distances with a smile on your face all the way. It is not by any mean a growling V8 like the one you get in a Ferrari 430.

The new Maserati Gran Turismo Spider will be priced to match the competition out there so expect it for 120-30 grand.

This is the latest speculation about McLaren’s upcoming so-called baby supercar which is a small mid-engine sporty, and yes it brings the Audi R8 to mind because it’s supposed to be its main rival. More than that they think they can take on Porsche with this car, and they being McLaren, They can! and some!

It’ll probably use the forthcoming P11 platform but comes in a more compact size and based on these renderings it looks like the P11 too. However if you don’t like it do not rush to diss it because the final product will certainly be good since it’s a job given to Frank Stephenson, ex-Ferrari designer and creator of 599 GTB. Like the P11 the baby Mc will be powered by an AMG engine, so no shortage in terms of performance. Being a compact car means that it is light as well, so a full carbon fiber structure is for sure. As for acceleration and top speed figures, you can expect it to match the competition, numbers like 4.5 seconds and 300+ kph.

So to challenge the Audi R8, Porsche 911 and Ferrari 430 (450 for the time it comes!), the baby McLaren should be priced accordingly. A price tag of around £80,000 sounds reasonable and since the world already awaits the P11, it’s too soon to expect this baby. Fingers crossed for 2012!

source: Autoexpress