French artist Philippe Pasqua has unveiled a new work of art meant to represent the strong bond between man and car. The piece is a Ferrari F430 whose bodywork was completely coated in leather, and then properly tattooed. The tattoo job performed on the car is of the highest level, but equally impressive is the way the leather was overlaid on Ferrari F430’s body-shell: it is, in fact, perfect. The job was carried out with maximum care in every detail, and certain ‘nasty’ bits such as head and tail lights’ outlines and wing mirror shells were not left behind.

It is not the first time a Ferrari gets covered in leather, but the artist’s idea to have it tattooed is definitely original, to say the least. Philippe Pasqua’s latest opus will be on display at the Galerie Laurent Strouk in Paris starting this January, we hope to see some interesting close-up of this piece as soon as possible.

....

0 comments

There’s nothing like a little bingle out the front of the Monte Carlo casino in your Bentley Azure to really piss you off on your posh summer shopping trip. In these pics of a supercar pile-up in Monte Carlo a smattering of the world’s rich got their cars scratched by one woman driving said Bentley Azure.

The open-top Bentley managed to plough into a Mercedes S-Class in a prang which created a chain reaction involving a few other expensive vehicles - namely an Aston Martin Rapide, Porsche 911 and a Ferrari F430. That makes for quite an expensive insurance claim. Check out the fun the tourists had taking the pictures below.

Source | Daily Mail

....

1 comment

Tired of your old Ferrari F430 Spider? Try upgrading to a Ferrari 430 Scuderia Spider 16M without spending a bucketload of cash to get your hands on one of the only 499 units being made. Pop into to Anderson Germany tuners for your specially tuned 430 Scuderia Spider 16M.

On a serious note, this tuned F430 Spider has a kit that gives you all that 16M goodness in one package. The V8 has been updated from 490 hp to a whopping 569 hp thanks to a new exhaust unit and Renn-Kats catalytic converter. The engine has a new electronics mapping system and an updated suspension kit has been installed.

The tuned suspension has three different settings and saves 29 kg on weight. The 20-inch blacked-out wheels with coloured trim give the F430 Spider tuning an intriguing look and they house 235 wheels at the front and 325 at the rear. The interior features black leather upholstery and trim with contrasting stitching. Plenty of carbonfibre abounds, too.

Continue reading: Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M Conversion Edition by Anderson Germany

....

0 comments

Our colleagues at Autoblog.it are asking themselves just how heavy the Ferrari 458 Italia is. It’s performance stats were impressive from the start, but it looks like they’re hauling around more kilos than Ferrari likes to declare. The official dry weight of the Ferrari 458 Italia is 1,380 kg as declared by the company.

But tests would indicate that this is not the case. Recently, the guys at Asphalte.ch tested the 458 Italia and it weighed in at 1,598 kg on a full tank. That’s a difference of 218 kg compared to the official figure. The May issue of Italy’s Quattroruote magazine also provided a very different figure. In a comparison test with the Mercedes SLS AMG, the Ferrari weighed 1,633 kg in testing conditions.

That takes the difference to 253 kg. To put things into perspective, the Ferrari F430 in testing conditions has previously weighed in at 1,474 kg and the Scuderia at 1,421. With similar dimensions, it looks like you get more performance but more kilos into the bargain. It seems Ferrari’s figures are more optimistic than testing has proved, on a full tank of fuel or not. We could also guess that the new dual clutch transmission would affect weight but 250 kg or more of difference is a lot of explaining to do.

....

0 comments

I’m not a fan of the number plate, and that’s about the only criticism I have of this very lovely, and very red, tuning of the Ferrari F430 Spider by Inden Design. Style changes such as a new carbon fibre diffuser, side flaps and front and rear spoilers improve aerodynamics, giving the F430 a new top speed of about 300 km/hr.

That’s a lot of wind in your hair from the spider. Power has been increased by an additional 35 hp to 518hp, thanks to a new stainless steel exhaust system. The F430 has been lowered with new sports suspension and new 20-inch alloy wheels are part of the package.

Interior changes are minimal, with some extra leather and carbon trim. No word is available as to how much this tuning will cost, though.

Source | Autocar

Continue reading: Ferrari F430 tuning by Inden Design

....

0 comments

The Ferrari F430 has entered its decline and the prototypes of its heir, temporarily called the F450, have already been driving around for a while testing the new aspects that Maranello’s next supercar will possess. Among other things, a new diffuser, immortalized for the first time by these spy shots, will make its debut on the F450.

The new central engine model will also have a wider track and a whole series of adjustments to the chassis, which - let’s remember - is derived from that of the F430.

The F142 project will be presented at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September and the power of its 4.5-liter V8 engine could reach up to 580 hp. All this power will be sent to the rear wheels using a double-clutch gearbox seen for the first time on the California, and reinterpreted here in a version that is adapted to the more extreme use.

Ferrari F450:

From FastestCar

....

1 comment

For Auto magazine from Italy, the new Ferrari F430 (project code F142 with debut at Frankfurt), will look like this, with a 4.6 litre engine and single-clutch, seven-speed transmission. In the future, a spider F430 version will also appear, with a hard-top folding roof.

In addition, turbo charged technology will be used, interrupting the development of a V8, 3.5 twin turbo and instead using an aspirated engine. The current 4.3 litres have been increased to 4.6, with 520 hp. The main novelty would be the open-top version, though nothing is likely to happen until 2010.

Source | Auto

....

0 comments

The collaboration between Unique Sportscars and Novitec will give life to a special series of 11 vehicles, based on the Ferrari F430 and called Calavera. The name comes from Spanish, meaning skull, and we’ll be seeing that decoration on the bodywork and in the interior of this Ferrari 430 tuning.

Gaudy and tacky? Quite possibly, but the work comes from artist Knud Tiroch, while Novitec has occupied itself with the mechanics. New 20-inch wheels and an aerodynamic kit is available, along with revised front spoiler, LED lights and a touch-up to the twin turbo V8 that takes power up to 707 hp.

Novitec has also recently presented its TuLesto in house car, also based on the Ferrari 430 that will soon leave the car market scene. The TuLesto Novitec Ferrari was donated to earthquake relief in Abruzzo, and it will be the last one built before the new F450 emerges.

Continue reading: Unique Sportscars and Novitec to produce 430 Calavera

....

0 comments

In these spy shots we see the heir to the Ferrari F430, for the first time without camouflage. The Ferrari F124 has brand new bodywork, though it isn’t fully complete as the rear bumper is currently missing.

While we need more pics in the future to judge the look of the new Ferrari, so far it is set to sport a 4.3 litre V8 engine, with 510 hp that is currently used on the Scuderia. A twin clutch system similar to that on the Ferrari California will be used, along with F1 technology.

The debut is set for the Frankfurt motor show in autumn, with sales starting in 2010.

Source | LeftLane (thanks to “Demonracing” for the tip)

....

0 comments

Ferrari’s substitute to the F430 (presented at the Paris motor show back in 2004) has arrived and is set to debut at the Frankfurt show in autumn. Known as the F142 or F450 project, the new Ferrari mid-engine is finally on its way.

In October, English magazine Autocar revealed that we should see a 4.5 litre V8 with direct injection at more than 500hp. The chassis will also undergo a complete overhaul from the F430, which is based on the 360 Modena.

The Millechili concept will be on full show, with lighter materials used to reduce the overall weight. Transmission should adopt the twin-clutch system of the California, and the new Ferrari, according to the company, is already as fast as the 430 Scuderia.

Production of the F430 has gone against the grain of the foreseen slow-down in sales for the series end, and the new F450 is set to build that success, apparently being reported as one of the most beautiful Ferraris in recent years. Sales should start sometime between 2009 and 2010.

....

0 comments

After the presentation of the lovely Ferrari California, Ferrari fans will be eager to know developments on the heir to the F430, the little sedan with central V8 engine which is perhaps more emblematic of the brand. The name is likely to be F470 but not necessarily the V8 4.7L.

Continue reading: Ferrari F142: future F470

....

0 comments

If you had any doubts that the guys from Top Gear had a few loose marbles rolling around upstairs, you should now be totally convinced that they are a little crazy. Top Gear is going live and to promote the tour the BBC has put at their disposition an army tank, which will be cruising the streets of London escorted by a Ferrari F430 and an Aston Martin DBS.

Clarkson, Hammond and May will be touring the country from October 20 to November 2 with 20 live shoes including the classic challenges and comedy from the presenters. Tickets are divided into three tiers according to seats, with silver at 38 pounds, gold at 56 pounds, and platinum costing 105 pounds.

The possibility of another tour outside Britain is remote, and time taken to organise any possible European show would be likely a long way in the future.

Source | Autoblog.com

....

0 comments