David Booth behind the wheel of the 2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast. A convertible version of the Ferrari 812 Superfast could arrive as early as September.Reportedly, some Ferrari owners are already receiving invitations to go and see the drop-top.According to FerrariChat forum users, there will be two events to see the vehicle, on September 2 and 8.Nobody from the United States has been invited to go see the grand touring convertible yet, possibly suggesting the North American release will come later in the year. Ferrari has not officially released any details yet, and one member of the FerrariChat forums says when he tried to contact a dealer to put a deposit on one, he was turned down because the dealer had no idea what he was talking about.The closest the Superfast has ever got to being a convertible was the F60 America, an F12 Berlinetta-based custom built in a limited run of just 10 cars. Buyers had the choice of either a removable carbon-fibre hard top; or a fabric top. A rumour started back in November suggested the so-called Spider would feature a folding metal hardtop.The 812 Superfast is powered by a 6.5-litre V12 that makes 789 horsepower and 530 lb.-ft. of torque. A brisk 100km/h can happen from zero in just 2.9 seconds, before the Fezza presses on to a top speed of 340 km/h. Those numbers are likely to change slightly when the convertible top gets slapped
Origin: A roof-less Ferrari 812 Spider could be coming in September
Ferrari
Ferrari invites public to its factory for the first time
If you, like many of us, cannot afford to don a pair of Italian leather driving gloves and slip into your Ferrari to go for a Sunday drive, chances are you havent been to the Maranello factory where these masterpieces are built.But now, the Prancing Horse is letting John Q. Fezza-fan into its stable for the first time ever, for a special event that showcases many highlights from the storied brands past.The event is called Universo Ferrari, and it will have exhibits cover everything Ferrari, including but not limited to classic cars; racing; and its latest vehicles. Universo Ferrari will be open to the general public, which for fans of the brand will be a very special thing, and something Ferraris never done before.The highlight of the event will be the brands new flagship, the SF90 Stradale, shown there for the first time outside of an auto show. The SF90 Stradale is more powerful than the LaFerrari but will have a regular production cycle like the other vehicles in the lineup, which means no production cap. Universo Ferrari will take place in a standalone structure that has been built especially for the event, which means it may become part of the regular Ferrari calendar of events if its popular (which it will be). Currently, Ferrari Racing Days commemorates the brands racing efforts and history annually.Ferrari will make more information over the next few weeks typical
Origin: Ferrari invites public to its factory for the first time
Ferrari one-off models have five-year waiting list
The growing trend for one-off Ferraris is in response to clients’ increasing demands for extreme personalisation, says Ferrari commercial and marketing boss Enrico Galliera. Such is demand, Galliera says unique models “have the longest waiting list of all our product lines” at four to five years. “The client has not only a unique car but a unique experience working with the designer in the process. It’s the pinnacle of Ferrari,” he commented. The Italian supercar maker has recently revealed two one-offs, the P80/C and SP3JC. Unique Ferrari models are not available to anyone, explains Galliera: “It is offered to top clients only. We receive requests from clients, and it won’t be considered unless they are in a pool of our top 250 clients or so.” Despite growing demand, Ferrari will only produce two to three one-offs a year, to ensure the access to such models remains exclusive and because production capacity won’t allow more. The P80/C, based on the 488 GT3 race car, has the longest development time of any Ferrari one-off made to date. Galliera said a typical one-off takes 18 to 24 months to complete, but this took between two and a half and three years. “This car was never going to be a road-legal car, so there were no limitations on what we could do,” he explained. A number of top-end car makers, including McLaren, Rolls-Royce and Bentley, have shown interest in producing unique models in recent years, no doubt largely motivated by strong profit margins and brand
Origin: Ferrari one-off models have five-year waiting list
Ferrari P80/C makes UK debut at Festival of Speed
The Ferrari P80/C, a one-off track car based on the 488 GT3, has been displayed and demonstrated at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The new supercar was developed at Ferrari’s styling centre to a brief set by a “connoisseur of the Ferrari world” who wanted a modern sports prototype inspired by the likes of the 1966 Dino 206 S and 330 P3/P4. Those machines started as track cars but spawned roadgoing variants. The P80/C is based on the 488 GT3 racing car, chosen over the 488 GTB road car because the extra 50mm of wheelbase offered more “creative freedom”. It has been extensively reworked with a pure performance focus. The aerodynamics are based on the 488 GT3’s, but without the need to meet sporting regulations, there’s a new front splitter and a reworked rear diffuser. Ferrari claims the car is 5% more efficient, which is required to make use of the unrestricted engine. There’s also extensive use of underbody aerodynamics, with rear bodywork styled after the T-wings that have been seen in Formula 1 in recent years. The P80/C’s bodywork is made entirely from carbonfibre. Because the P80/C is a track-only car, Ferrari has been able to greatly reduce the size of its headlights, while its rear features a concave rear windscreen and aluminium louvres on the engine cover. The car has been designed for a carbonfibre wing and 18in wheels to be fitted when in ‘racing set-up’. It can be converted to an ‘exhibition package’, with the aerodynamic appendages removed and 21in wheels fitted. Ferrari says the car is sculpted to create a cab forward-effect with a more aggressive stance, including a wrap-around windscreen. There are also flying buttresses that converge near the roof line, paying homage to both the Dino and 250 LM. The car’s bodywork is widest over the front axle, then narrows sharply before broadening again near the rear. The interior is similar to the 488 GT3 donor car’s, including an integrated roll cage. Elements of the dashboard have been redesigned and there are new carbonfibre shell door panels. Performance figures for the car haven’t been given, but it’s likely to use an unrestricted version of the 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 in the 488 GT3. In the 488 GTB, that unit produces 661bhp. Ferrari says work on the P80/C began in 2015, giving it the longest development time of any one-off Ferrari produced to date. The name was chosen by the anonymous collector who commissioned it. Ferrari hasn’t revealed any details on its cost. The standard 488 GT3 costs around
Origin: Ferrari P80/C makes UK debut at Festival of Speed
Ferrari showcases Monza SP2 speedsters at Goodwood
Fewer than 500 of the two models – one a fixed single-seater, the other a two-seater – will be produced, with the production split according to demand from the select band of Ferrari collectors invited to buy them. There’s no official news of the pricing, but it is thought to be in the region of $3 million (£2.3m). Inspired by the original Ferrari Barchetta models, particularly the 1948 166 MM and the 750 Monza of the 1950s, the SP1 and SP2 also feature the most powerful engine Ferrari has ever produced. The 6.5-litre V12 delivers 809bhp at 8500rpm and 530lb ft of torque at 7000rpm. The engine has also gained variable inlet tracts – something taken from F1 engines – and another first for a road-going Ferrari. The company is claiming a 0-62mph time of just 2.9sec and a 0-124mph time of 7.9sec. The maximum speed is set at 186mph. Loosely based on the 812 Superfast’s underpinnings, the SP1 and 2 are clothed in carbonfibre composite panels. Design boss Flavio Manzoni said that the composite exterior and interior are made in exactly the same way as the structure of Ferrari’s Formula 1 cars. Using composites also allowed the SP models to be fitted with a huge clamshell bonnet that could not have otherwise been manufactured. The doors open upwards and forwards to aid access into the cockpit. The exterior gets bespoke LED headlights and a unique ‘signature’ LED rear strip. The simple form language not only echoes the classic Barchetta models but is a deliberate move away from “visually complex solutions”, Manzoni said at the Maranello unveiling. It’s an interesting move that suggests there has been some customer backlash against the extreme modernity of recent Ferrari models. Ferrari is also promising to move back to more classically elegant design for its upcoming GT models. Both SP models have minimalist cockpits, with a simple carbonfibre control panel to the right of the driver. Ferrari has also managed to dispense with the windscreen thanks to a patented ‘Virtual Wind Shield’, which is mounted in the bonnet fairing ahead of the driver. It’s designed to divert some of the airflow over the driver’s head, though these Monza models will offer raw driving experiences similar to piloting an F1 car, the company says. No more information was given about future Icona models, other than that they will account for well below 5% of Ferrari’s sales.
Origin: Ferrari showcases Monza SP2 speedsters at Goodwood
Ferrari 250 GTO recognized as art by Italian court to block imitators
Simon Kidston, of Bonham and Brooks auction house, peers inside a vintage 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO which won the 1963 Le Mans GT race, in London, 30 October 2000.Adrian Dennis / Getty An Italian court has officially recognized the Ferrari 250 GTO as a work of art, thus protecting the design from companies building replicas or fakes.The Ferrari 250 GTO is regarded as the Holy Grail of classic cars, a claim supported by the people who drive and buy them, and backed up by its status as one of the most expensive cars in the world.The last 250 GTO to hit the auction block, a 1962 model with upgraded Series II bodywork, sold for a staggering US$48,405,000.Its the first time in Italy that a car has been recognized as a work of art, a Ferrari spokesperson told the Daily Telegraph. Its not just its beauty that makes it special it also has a long racing history.Ferrari started a petition to have the design and intellectual property rights of the GTO recognized after a company claimed it was going to start building 250 GTO replicas in Modena, Italy, Ferraris hometown.Only 36 original GTOs were built, and all of them survive today. Under the hood of a Ferrari 250 GTO is a 3.0-litre Colombo V12, which produced somewhere around 300 horsepower; that doesnt sound like a lot, but keep in mind the body only weighed 850 kg. The low weight and high power for the time allowed the GTO to take numerous victories in almost every aspect of European road racing, earning it much praise.Ferrari has always been a stickler for blocking imitators and recreations, famously destroying a Ferrari replica used in Miami Vice in order to give the main character a real Ferrari. More recently, the automaker asked the owner of a Ferrari F40 that had been transformed into an open-top race car to remove all Ferrari badges from the body, because of its
Origin: Ferrari 250 GTO recognized as art by Italian court to block imitators
This Ferrari 612 Scaglietti shooting brake is a coachbuilt beauty
A Dutch company has built a completely stunning reimagination of a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti as a shooting brake, a design the Modena brand never produced in-house. The project was dreamt up by Robert Koumans of Vandenbrink Design, a Dutch company consisting of just a few coachbuilding masters, as well as Maurik van den Heuvel of Classic Youngtimers Consultancy. The design was first drawn up in 2008, but now they’re ready to build some for customers. The shooting brake style goes back to the golden age of street cars, with designers like Bertone, Drogo, Pininfarina, Touring Superleggera, Vignale and Zagato taking liberties with the original style of a vehicle to make it more usable for the rich folks that bought them to go fox hunting. Hence the name shooting brake—it was designed to hold your gun cases. A lot of shooting brake conversions end up going wrong, but this one seems to be quite nice. The subtle curve on the rear roof gives it a much more sporty look, as do the glass roof inserts above the rear passenger compartment. The interior is beautifully finished, as well as the exterior, and we assume that Vanderbrink will make it any colour you like. The 612 Scaglietti doesn’t receive much love, mostly due to its wonky face. However, turning something into a shooting brake immediately makes it look better. If you want one, you can actually buy one, if you have the cash. Vandenbrink Design is taking orders for the shooting brake, and they’ll be built on a purely custom-order
Origin: This Ferrari 612 Scaglietti shooting brake is a coachbuilt beauty
Texas shop plans to swap manuals into Ferrari 458 Italias
The Ferrari 458 Italia may have been born and bred in Maranello, Italy, but a select few are going to be spending some time being retrained at a small stable in San Antonio, Texas. European Auto Group (EAG) has announced its plans to be the first tuner to fit the Ferrari 458 Italia with a gated six-speed manual transmission. The 458’s naturally aspirated 4.5-litre V8 making 562 horsepower and just shy of 400 lb.-ft. of torque has always been commanded by the brand’s dual-clutch F1 tranny—until now. Carbuzz spoke with the shop’s owner, Art Bartosik, about the project. People are screaming for a manual 458 and 488. If the demand wasn’t there, we wouldn’t do it” he said. It won’t be easy, even if EAG’s portfolio includes a Ferrari F430 it converted into a manual, because the F430 already had a factory manual option available to work with. The 458 does not. This time around, Bartosik says, the “transmission in the 458 needs to be swapped out for a six-speed because it came with a dual-clutch.” The video above features the prototype, which is still in development. Bartosik says the company plans to convert “around 10 or 11 of them.” We’ve already got a list but people should start lining up out the door, he said. It’s going to be exclusive.” Deposits are being collected now, and these purist machines surely won’t be long on the market. Bartosik says that there are more swaps to come once they’re done with the 458s. The Lamborghini Huracan is definitely on the list.”
Origin: Texas shop plans to swap manuals into Ferrari 458 Italias
‘Ford v Ferrari’ trailer promises some fantastic speed and action
There’s no shortage of Hollywood movies related to the automotive world. What there is a shortage of, however, are good movies related to the automotive world. If the trailer for Ford v Ferrari, coming this November, is any indication, the list of the latter type of film is about to grow by one. Christian Bale stars as Ken Miles, the British-born engineer and motorsport driver deployed by the Ford Motor Company as part of a plan to kick Ferrari’s ass at Le Mans. Matt Damon also stars, showing up as brash Texan Carroll Shelby and looking exactly like Matt Damon in a black cowboy hat. Jon Bernthal plays the role of Lee Iacocca, meaning this film essentially has Batman, Jason Bourne and the Punisher all in one place. Add in a dash of swagger from all hands and the opening strains of Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones and the film has enough testosterone to make itself pregnant. Anyone reading this site knows the story, of course, so we’re not exactly giving away anything by spelling out a few spoilers. Legend has it that following three weeks of intense negotiation with old man Ferrari himself, the Blue Oval was on the verge of teaming up with the Prancing Horse. Their combined engineering might and deep pockets would likely have created the fastest cars of the day. Until, that is, il Commendatore discovered a clause in the contract to which he turned up his Italian nose. Allegedly, it would have required Ferrari to submit to Ford any motorsport plans costing in excess of 450 million lira. At the time, that was about a quarter million bucks and the approximate budget of Maranello’s entire race season. Enzo Ferrari didn’t like the thought of having anything less than full control over decision-making, so the plug was pulled. Angered, Ford vowed to beat Ferrari on its home turf. The rest, as they say, is history. Your author will be buying a ticket on November 15. Until then, check out the trailer
Origin: ‘Ford v Ferrari’ trailer promises some fantastic speed and action
Even Ferrari has gone electric
Even Ferrari has gone electric The Ferrari SF90 Stradale is the first PHEV from Maranello The Italian manufacturer has launched the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, its new series-production supercar, which features a 7.9 kWh battery and three electric motors – two on the front axle and one on the rear for all-wheel drive. Combined this electric powertrain produces 162 kW (220hp), and gives the SF90 Stradale an electric driving range of a little over 15 miles on a single charge. Formula 1 technology is used for the rear motor, and the car can be set into eDrive mode to ensure electric-only running. To extend range, Ferrari has added a somewhat less green 4.0 litre turbo-charged V8, giving the SF90 Stradale PHEV an overall power output of 1,000hp, a 0-62mph time of just 2.5 seconds, and the ability to lap Ferrari’s Fiorano test track faster than any other road car the company has produced in history. Emissions and fuel economy figures are yet to be homologated, so we are yet to see how green the Ferrari SF90 Stradale is in terms of NGC Rating. We’re presuming the scores won’t be challenging the best PHEVs on the market, but it is at least good to see that names such as Ferrari, which until recently would never have been associated with a plug-in vehicle, are getting on-board with electrification.
Origin: Even Ferrari has gone electric
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