In the end, time has passed quickly for the new Ferrari and knowing that it’s already come around we were a little so-so about the news, waiting for October and Paris. But we reported the news that in May we would know something about the highly-expected Maranello, and now we’re enthusiastically indulging in the sound of the V8 presented on the mini-site.

What else can we say? There are only several days left until May 20 when at 7pm the nervous wait will be over and we can show you pics of the new Ferrari but the countdown still shows more than 70 days - we’re not sure we can handle the wait.

Coming up to the final stages before the Paris show, occasion in which this car will probably be revealed, the defensive camouflage of the Ferrari F149 are slowing coming off: after much talk we can finally hazard some guesses.

Or better, we can breathe a sigh of relief. The proportions, a real achilles heel for the aesthetics of all coupé-cabriolet, aren’t damaged by the presence of full-bodied doors necessary to house the folding roof. The rear look seems to have been maintained and the general body shape gives a nice sense of a linear style.

The front seems to have similar aspects to the 599 Fiorano, complete with a distinctive grill necessary to cool the V8 4.7 placed at the front and equipped with direction injection.

Thanks to Abab

Via | Autoblog.com

News from Reuters is that Jean Todt has resigned his role of managing director and will be substituted by Amedeo Felisa, who has been working as general manager at Maranello.

Todt was the catalyst for much of Ferrari’s long season of success, including six consecutive manufacturers titles from 1999 to 2004, and five driver titles from 2000 to 2004 thanks to Michael Schumacher. In 2006 he became MD of the company but with the re-entry of Montezemolo to Ferrari (leaving the presidency of the industrial association to Emma Marcegaglia), the French manager declared that he would have more time for himself and his interests.

The announcement was made in the course of the shareholders general assembly. Todt will remain head of Asia-Pacific and Western Europe, a board of directors member and Ferrari representative at the FIA World Congress. He will also e trusted with special projects in sporting management. Felisa, 62 years old, from Milan, and with Ferrari since 1990, will take his place after two years as general manager.

Ferrari has recently presented a special 612 Scaglietti, with the aim of revealing a new personalisation program, One to One, announced in Geneva. The news was released at the showroom on Park Avenue, New York, and will allow customers of the Cavallino gt to create, down to the last detail, their own tailored Ferrari.

New options include what was already available with the “Programma Carrozzeria Scaglietti” (Scaglietti body-work program), launched in 2006, increasing the possible combinations. At Maranello there will even be a dedicated area where customers can tinker with their choices, almost as in a dream fun park.

The 612 that was shown off for this interesting program was equipped with many pearls, from the electro-chromatic roof (like that of the 575M Superamerica), down to a series of mechanical updates such as the Superfast shift, lighter clutch and the Manettino, inherited from the more sporty Maranello models.

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti One to One

Via | Autoblog.com

For what we can remember there are few models in recent years that made people wait (and spy) for so long before even a veiled official confermation arrived. We’re obviously referring to the baby Ferrari that will be revealed at the Paris show (as we anticipated in February) that for a while has been sighted, denied and hypothesized.

This time the photographs from TheCarConnection have hit on two prototypes that were being tested on the Fiorano track on Saturday. Unfortunately the disguises are more closely guarded than ever and apart from the long nose they leave little to hint at the car’s style.

There is some news however about the name: it looks as though the choice of “Dino” has been positively abandoned in favour of GT420 or GT470. The new smaller version will have a rear engine based on the Maserati GranTurismo trimmed down to one of two V8 Maserati’s, the 4.2 and the 4.7 that will equip the 8C Competizione and the GranTurismo S.

It’s perhaps a little too riskee to be a Ferrari, but in any case good looking and very aggressive even though it’s not a race car: the European Institute of Design continues to provide new talent as shown by Emre Husmen’s 699GTO.

Based on the Ferrari 599 Fiorano, with obvious style calling to mind the glorious 250 GTO, the car will have a carbon-fibre body, 200kg lighter than the model it derives from. The engine will not have the classic V12 but will be a V8 combined with two compressors: underlining its use of alternative fuel. The designer has not ignored the problem of visibility either, giving his piece a rear camera combined with rubber suspension.

Husmen comunica di essere vicino alla stipula di un accordo con un carrozziere italiano, rimasto folgorato dai suoi disegni.

Via | Motorauthority

Montezemolo certainly sounded pleased with himself as he outlined the balance sheets for an historic 2007. The 60th anniversary of the birth of the brand was celebrated in style with splendid victories in the F1 World drivers Champions and Constructor Champions: All thanks mainly to outstanding designs such as the F430 Scuderia.

World sales have surpassed the 5,671 units of 2006 to 6,464 in 2007, with a growth in all the major world markets: Asia-Pacific sales grew 47.2%, whilst Middle East sales grew by 32.3%. Even the classic European market contributed (for instance Great Britain was up 8.2%) and the States saw some
growth (+7.7%).

Allocation of funds for Research and Development and Investments (excluding F1) rose 29% to 299 million euro, equal to 18% of the turnover. Investments concerned the building of a new company restaurant and the new productions lines facility, designed by Jean Nouvel.

“These excellent results - states Montezemolo - are all down to the men and women who work for Ferrari, whose hard work and diligence has allowed us to reach such a historic level.”

Via | Repubblica.it

Spring is drawing near, and Novitec are preparing for the arrival of a new sister for the F430 Coupé: enter the Novitec F430 Spider powered by the same twin supercharged V8 as the Novitec Bi-Compressor Evoluzione. Thanks to the two superchargers which work at 0.38 Bar, the power output will increase the original 490 hp to a whopping 656 hp, achieved at 8200 rpm, however it is not simply the mechanics that have undergone changes. Following tests in the wind tunnels of the Research Institute for Motor Vehicles in Stuttgart, Novitec has developed new aerodynamic additions to the body comprising front and rear wings, skirts for the side panels and a rear extractor. Other changes include grey tinted lights and a body that sits on 20” rims adopted for this version, both of which are relatively small modifications to a creature from the Maranello dream factory, already magnificent in its original state.

Via | auto, motor und sport

The project for a Ferrari Park is finally coming true. It will be inaugurated in 2009, and will include a whole new circuit, which will be the home of the first Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix in the same year.

A Foundation Stone Ceremony was held today to celebrate the start of construction of one of the most anticipated amusement parks in the world. Special guests in attendance for today’s event included Ferrari’s President Luca di Montezemolo and Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of ALDAR Properties.

During the ceremony a capsule containing a piston and a conrod from the F2007 engine, have been buried underground and will be disinterred in 2047, in occasion of Ferrari’s 100th anniversary. The park will offer a number of different attractions displaced on a 250.000 sqm area, 80.000 of which will be covered.

Press Release
Foundation Stone Ceremony celebrates construction start for world’s first Ferrari Theme Park in Abu Dhabi

Yas Island - Abu Dhabi, November 3rd, 2007 - A Foundation Stone Ceremony was held today in Abu Dhabi to officially signify the start of construction of one of the most multi-dimensional and highly anticipated themed entertainment attractions in the world, the Ferrari Theme Park.

Officials and special guests in attendance for today’s event included Ferrari’s President Luca di Montezemolo and Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman, ALDAR Properties, as well as invited guests representing media, government and business organizations from around the world.

During the Foundation Stone Ceremony a special time capsule was buried, containing a Conrod and Piston of the F2007, the F1 World Champion Ferrari car, together with the first artist’s impression of the Ferrari Theme Park on Yas Island. The capsule will be then opened again at Ferrari’s 100th anniversary, in 2047.

“This is a very special year for Ferrari” - Mr. Montezemolo said. “Together with the extraordinary commercial success of our GT cars, it brought to Maranello the F1 Constructors World Championship and the F1 Drivers World Championship with Kimi Raikkonen, and I am particularly proud to be present to mark the symbolic start of this great project. Moreover, 2007 is the year of Ferrari’s 60th anniversary, and this Ceremony has therefore a further, important meaning”.

Part of a joint project between Italian automotive manufacturer Ferrari and ALDAR properties PJSC, the 250,000 sqm park (80,000 of them covered) will be a unique oasis of discovery, hospitality and beauty that captures culture, flavour and the true spirit of Italian country, as well as the legendary automotive history, feeling and heritage of Ferrari cars and racing. “Today is a celebration of the first step along the way to making the world’s first Ferrari theme park a reality, with the laying of the foundation stone” - commented Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman, ALDAR Properties. “An incredible amount of real estate growth is taking place in Abu Dhabi, and it is our responsibility to deliver projects of the highest quality, while protecting the natural, social and cultural assets of the Emirate. I am confident that the blend between the power and beauty of one of the world’s leading brands, Ferrari, with ALDAR’s expertise in development and regional knowledge, will combine to create a destination that resonates with sports lovers around the world.”

When completed in 2009, the attraction will provide amusement for the whole family, featuring multi-format high tech theatres, a variety of sophisticated driving schools (for both children and adults), Ferrari automotive displays and participatory learning centres as well as food and entertainment. Among the 24 attractions, the Park will offer a mix of high-octane and family rides with roller coasters jetting into the sky and dipping through the covered areas. At the heart of the park will be an advanced and sophisticated circuit offering driving courses, which will be the home of the first Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix in 2009.

After the Foundation Stone event at Yas Island, a brand new Ferrari Store will have its official grand opening in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall. Ferrari’s President Luca di Montezemolo, Commercial and Brand Director Dany Bahar, Abdullah Abdel Rahim Al Fahim, Chairman of Al Fahim Enterprises and Ahmed Al Sayegh, Chairman of ALDAR Properties will take part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

After a long wait we can finally show you the new Ferrari F430 Scuderia.

The F430 Scuderia is an addition to the Ferrari range and it will be sold alongside the F430 Coupé and the F430 Spider. All thre F430s will share the same mechanical underpinnings, but the Scuderia will be lighter and more powerful, much nearer a race-car.

The Ferrari F430 Scuderia showcasees, once again, Ferrari’s expertise in competition and its willingness to transfer know-how from the racetrack to the road.

The F430 Scuderia has an incredbile 2,45 kg/hp power to weight ratio, the result of its 510 hp engine (at 8,500 rpm) and of a weight of only 1.250 kg. For a comparison, the new Porsche 997 GT2 has 530 hp with a weight of 1,430 kg, the same as the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera (530 Cv e 1.430 kg).

The F430 Scuderia will also have a newer version of the software that manages the semi-automatic gearbox, capable of reducing change times to 60 ms. There’s also a new traction control system that integrates the electronic differential E-Diff with the stability control system F1-Trac.

The F430 Scuderia will be presented by Michael Schumacher at the next Frankfurt auto show.

Externally, it’ll be distinguishable by the higher position of the exhaust tubes, the bigger air extractor and the engine-cooling grilles in the back.

Spartan, , ferocious, tempting and probably very costly. We eagerly await the next Paris auto show, to be able to tell you all about it.

[From Autotelegraaf.nl via Motorsportblog]

The new development plan includes new models (the first being the 599 GTB) and an enlargement of the model range that up to now was considered anathema. The article talks about a model that is unprecedented in Ferrari’s range, a 2+2 coupè with a V8 front engine and RWD.

If it’ll be anything like a baby-Scaglietti, I can already imagine the queue outside Ferrari showrooms, especially it it’ll be positioned well under the F430 (150.000 €) and near the Aston Martin Vantage (110.000 €).

Sales growht could be achieved without damaging too much Ferrari’s exclusivity, recovering part of the production volume lost with the passage of Maserati to Alfa Romeo. That’s important in case of a Ferrari IPO, which would bring much needed cash to Fiat Group but will surely not be in 2006.