The official Ferrari FF presentation will be streamed online live from 6pm this evening (local Italy time). For this highly anticipated new Ferrari shooting brake you can at least be present virtually and if you’re a detractor of the FF style you’ll be thinking that Ferrari has got some explaining to do tonight. It will be the usual Ferrari VIP event with Luca di Montezemolo leading the field of Ferrari execs, and of course Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will do their PR part for the new FF.

The FF online streaming presentation will be in eight languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish), and English and Italian is available on iPhone and iPad. After tonight’s presentation, we can see the Ferrari FF live at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show and it is definitely one of the main attractions of the event. See: Ferrari FF live streaming.

Source | Autoblog.it

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After declarations that a new Ferrari to appear at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show will be a next generation model showing off some modern, ecological technology to keep in step with the times, reports are that the new model could be the next Ferrari 612 Scaglietti but that it might not have the hybrid technology planned. With interest growing in the “new Ferrari” as promised by Luca di Montezemolo, we can’t be sure that it will be labelled the new 612 Scaglietti, but that it will mark a technological evolution seems likely with rumours of a new shooting brake body style denied.

Reports from fan forums and Autoblog.nl indicate that the new Ferrari is codenamed F151 and that it should adopt electronically-controlled all-wheel drive technology. Apparently this system works only at higher speeds to guarantee the best stability and traction control, contrary to current logic which adopts more traditional modes of power and torque distribution in acceleration.

We could see a 6.3-litre V12 installed, with 670 hp and a dual-clutch, seven-speed transmission. This could result in performance figures of acceleration to 100 km/hr of just 3.7 seconds and about 330 km/hr of top speed. That makes this F151 superior to the current 612 Scaglietti model. The mystery still remains as to whether we will see the first production Ferrari hybrid model, where original rumours had combined power from both the engine and electric motor of about 650 hp. The all-wheel drive technology makes sense in this contest but we’ll have to wait for the Geneva show for more details.

Source | Autoblog.it

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Built by Pininfarina and housing a V8 Ferrari engine, the one-off Lancia Stratos that was built to revive the original model managed to impress even Luca de Montezemolo - and we imagine that doesn’t happen very often to the Ferrari boss with cars that aren’t built by his company. Both Montezemolo and old-school Ferrari test driver Dario Benuzzi got to test the Stratos at the Fiorano track in Italy, with the Ferrari president signing the unique model belonging to German entrepreneur Michael Stoschek.

Continue reading: Ferrari boss drives new Lancia Stratos: Luca de Montezemolo for Pininfarina

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Ferrari will officially be present in the Indian auto market by the end of 2010, according to reports from the British press after interviews with Ferrari president Montezemolo. Emerging markets are continually more important to Ferrari, although Montezemolo has confirmed that the company will continue to make less cars than will meet demand, and will not pursue a strategy of increased production.

It’s good news for the rich and famous in India, and couldn’t provide any better contrast to the Tata Nano - a car seen as the real future of the Indian car market. It’s not good news for environmentalists and social analysts in terms of encouraging more investment in renewable energy and closing the gap between rich and poor in emerging markets (although India has a healthy middle class).

Other news from the interviews include Ferrari’s need to focus on fuel consumption and emission reductions, which will continue to be the biggest challenge for supercar manufacturers in the years ahead. The Ferrari 599 spider version has been confirmed, although it will be made strictly in limited numbers to meet the needs of some customers who have been wanting a 12-cylinder open-top for some time.

Continue reading: Ferrari to enter India in 2010: 599 Spider strictly limited production

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Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has revealed that the next Ferrari to be designed will be in honour of Pininfarina and dedicated to Sergio and Andrea, the latter who died in a scooter accident two years ago. In 2010, Pininfarina celebrates its 80th anniversary and Montezemolo was at the inauguration of the new Pininfarina Collection.

He remembered his friend as “a clear person, indefatigable and with pure ethical principles”, paying tribute to the long standing relationship between Ferrari and Pininfarina, which will be expressed in a new model. It will be called the Ferrari S.A and will be presented by the end of 2011 or early 2012. It should be the heir to the 612 Scaglietti, which is itself a homage to another historic Italian coach-building enterprise.

Source | Autoblog.it

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After seven years at the helm of Fiat, Luca di Montezemolo has decided to resign from his position as Fiat president, although he will remain as the president of Ferrari. The young John Elkann, grandson of Gianni Agnelli, will take over as Fiat president, while Montezemolo will also remain on the company’s board of directors.

The snap press conference took most by surprise, as the 2010-2014 company plan is expected to be announced tomorrow. The 34-year-old Elkann already has plenty of Fiat experience behind him, and marks a new year of the globalisation of the brand and the new Fiat-Chrysler deal. More details to emerge tomorrow.

Source | Autoblog.it

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This video probably won’t last very long so get it while it’s hot. Ferrari president Luca Cordero de Montezemolo drove a Ferrari California, with Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso on board, into the gravel at the end of the world championships in Valencia. In hilarious scenes, Montezemolo gets himself deeper with the sand making a nice little mountain around the rear wheels.

With Massa and Alonso getting out of the car, a few technicians turn up to try and push it out, but in the end Montezemolo and the guys had to complete the round with a different vehicle. If you’re a bit anti-supercar, this is an example of the total impracticality of buying one. I love the fact the two Formula One drivers get the hell out of there and leave Montezemolo in his Ferrari, all at sea.

Source | Motorsportblog via Autoblog.it

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Joy for Ferrari fans as president Montezemolo confirms that the Ferrari 458 Spider will be produced. He also revealed more news on the 458 Italia, saying it follows the 430 Scuderia in having full steering wheel commands. 458 pricing is 197,000 euros with deliveries commencing January. The 458 Spider version won’t appear before a couple of years.

Ferrari is looking to expand its offerings, making a greater range for fans. The California follows a GT model, while the 458 is intended as the supersports model. The spider should prove to be a popular development.

Source | Quattroruote via Autoblog.it

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Ferrari has confirmed that the Ferrari California is one of the biggest successes of the brand recently. Luca di Montezemolo has said: “In 2008 there has been the success of the Scuderia, 2009 will be characterised by the California. It has an incredible success. We have already sold all of the 2008 and 2009 production. You have to now wait until 2011 for one.”

Ferrari’s first coupé-cabriolet couldn’t have been anymore than the Italian masterpiece it is. “There were two aims: to find an eight cylinder car with complementary characteristics to the F430 and to have a car with maximum flexibility.” It would appear that the mission is accomplished. Annual production of the California is estimated at 2,000 units, at a base price of 179,000 euros.

Source | Repubblica

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While you might not think so, the Ferrari California is a real Ferrari, and we’re convinced after having seen the Californa debut at the Paris motor show and hearing Amedeo Felisa present details on the specs and performance of this Italian sports car.

The new Ferrari coupé-cabriolet can accelerate to 100km/hr in just 3.9 seconds, which is an improvement on recent 12 cylinder efforts from the company. This figure indicates the work undertaken by Schumacher, Felisa&Co: the V8 central engine is truly a development, with plenty of versatility and uncomprising sports style.

The presentation has also brought to the stage the Pininfarina family, to whom Montezemolo wanted to give a personal thanks, in memory of Andrea Pininfarina and recognising the strong links with the California’s style today.

Continue reading: Ferrari California debuts at Paris motor show

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After Bugatti, Ferrari has fallen victim to the online world and its intricate system of knowledge sharing and leaking, with details released about a new model, which has provided us with some juicy news on the FX70.

If this isn’t a sophisticated attempt at viral marketing, a document leaked from the company reveals some details of the Enzo. Take a deep breath because it goes like this: an alluminium V8 engine, carbon fibre body, twin-clutch, seven-speed shift with gear change time at only 50 milliseconds.

Continue reading: Ferrari FX70: new Enzo leaked online through secret document

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After the first official shots, with the open roof, we finally see the coupè version of the Ferrari California, with a closed roof. That the California is a different Ferrari is shown by the blu colour chosen for the photos, rare for this brand but linked to an important event: it was with a similar blue that the original California was revealed in New York in 1962.

The impression that the California gives with the roof closed is one of some grunt, thanks to the inclined nose. In an interview, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo spoke about the car after having tested it at Fiorano: in addition to praising the new transmission with double clutch, he revealed a 14-second time frame to open the roof. The boot is ample, with 360 litres with the roof closed and 260 when it’s open and folded back.

For the occasion other technical data has been revealed. Aerodynamics guarantee a push of 70kg at 200km/hr, and it has similar dimensions to the F430 at 4.56 metres long and 1.9 metres wide. No new performance details have been released, so the V8 4.7 is being talked about for its ecological qualifications: despite the 460 hp, the car has an average consumption of 13.3 l/100km and emissions of 310 g/km.

Continue reading: Ferrari California: the closed top version

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