Tag Archives: Ferrari

Ferrari Reveals One-off P540 Superfast Aperta

After giving us the gorgeous P4/5 one-off a few years ago, Ferrari’s special programme (The kind of thing that sucks up your wallet but builds a car just for you) has now spawned this thing. It’s called the P540 Superfast Aperta and it makes no sense to me. I just know the ‘Superfast’ bit sounds really good. This car has been built for an American client and it took Ferrari 14 months to get it finished. It’s based on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano only that it has been strengthened as the roof has been chopped off. The so-called American client is Edward Walson who thought that a one-off Ferrari is a sensible gift for Christmas, for himself. The performance is still there mainly due to the Enzo engine present in the 599 as well.  It has 620 hp and 608 nm of torque but the most important thing is the new body style the car has received.

Source: Autoblog

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Ferrari is working on an Enzo successor

Well, about time we say because it’s been quite a large gap between the Enzo and this. Of course, that may be explained by the fact that they did the 458 as well, or that they haven’t been going bonkers in such a long time.

It will presumably be called the F70 (the Enzo was actually called the F60 but in order to celebrate Ferrari’s 60 years anniversary, it received the founder’s name). You might remember my last article about the rumours of Ferrari developing turbocharging and it seems I guessed right, the new limited edition model might just receive a twin-turbo V8, or a natural aspirated V10, or anything in fact. We don’t know, it’s all a guess at best.

As Ferrari usually do, they take their last edition limited edition model (Enzo here), and make a mad, ready for the track version of it (FXX here) and then they make better what they could make better, throw in a bit of F1 technology and there you are – the new model arrives. So normally the new F70 should get FXX bits and F1 technology and the new turbo system perhaps.

But what Ferrari are trying to do now is keep the weight down, they don’t want to have a million horsepower engine with 2 tons of car. The new engine is expected to produce as much power as the Enzo but with a new body weighing only 1000kg. That means a power to weight ratio of more than 600hp/tonne. That’s more than a Bugatti Veyron. Another reason for concentration on reducing weight is CO2, as the Italian car company wants to reduce the CO2 output on its vehicles.

Now that is great news, so climb out of your Priuses eco-mentalists and get the new limited edition rampaging stallion. Well, probably not, as they will only make 399 and you can’t just go to the factory and say “I want one”, you have to be invited by Ferrari.

Source: Autoblog

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Bufori BMS R1 Makes Debut

Some time ago, I talked about the Bufori CS, a car being worked on by Malaysian manufacturer Bufori. The racing version, called the BMS R1, made it’s world debut at the Macau GT Cup earlier this week.

It did fairly well, advancing from 28th place to 23rd place in a matter of 3 laps. The driver was Alex Yoong. Best lap time was 3:00.388. It looked like it could place up high, but later in the race, a piece of debris flew into the car and jammed the throttle, ending the race for Bufori. They plan to further improve performance.  They will be working on improving aerodynamics, reducing oversteer and increasing power.

As for looks, the front looks quite nice, much better than the pictures of the road version released a while back, and the rear end isn’t too bad, though it looks like a bit of a Ferrari 550 Maranello rip-off.

So they’ve done a good job on the race car by the looks of things, but if those previous pictures are anything to go by, the road car won’t be a looker, though the underpinnings might compensate. I’ll make a final judgment when the car is unveiled at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show. The BMS R1 will also be there, presumably some of the updates they want to do will be done by then and it’ll look a bit different.

Source: WorldCarFans

 

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Ferrari Developing Strange New Door Opening

Pictured above are drawings from a patent recently filed by Ferrari for a new door opening. Ferrari claims it is both radical and practical. What makes it unique is that the door includes part of the front fender. According to Autoblog, it also “hinges upward like the butterfly door from a LeMans racer.” I can’t understand the patent drawings even slightly though.

The opening is designed so that “occupants can place their foot directly behind the front wheel.” It works just as well with front-engined cars as it does with mid and rear-engined cars. The design is reportedly “easy and cost-effective to make.”

Autoblog noticed an issue with the A-pillar and windscreen, and I think I see what they mean, but I still can’t make much sense of the patent drawings. Anyone mind helping out?

Source: Autoblog

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Michael Schumacher may return to Formula 1

Michael Schumacher, holder of an insane amount of Formula 1 records, including the most drivers championships won, may be returning to Formula 1 to race with Mercedes-Benz GP, previously known as Brawn GP, but now taken over by Mercedes, hence the new name.

Mercedes has done a lot for Schumacher. He begun his career racing sportscars there, and they helped him get into Formula 1. Now, Mercedes is giving him a chance to return the sport. They want him as their lead driver. Currently, Schumacher is under a contract with Ferrari, but BCC F1 pundit Eddie Jordan says “…I understand he was due to meet Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo with a view to him being released – and that it will be approved because it is in the interests of F1.” Strangely enough, I saw another article which seems to contradict Autocar’s, saying that he has been sacked from the Formula 1 team as advisor. Mind you, it also mentions that he’s still working with them in the road car department, so perhaps that’s the contract they are talking about.

Jordan told the BBC “I also believe Ross and Michael have spoken in recent times and that Michael likes the idea of driving a Mercedes run by Ross. It’s a mouth-watering idea,” and “Schumacher was bitterly disappointed he didn’t get to come back to replace Massa – he’s keen to race again. And this is a dream for both parties.” That, along with his past relationship with Mercedes, may mean that he’ll end up racing for them. I’d really like to see that. Alex had his doubts about Mercedes-Benz GP doing well next season, but if they get Schumacher on, perhaps that disadvantage will be evened out to create some close competition.

Source: Autocar and Mibz

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Range Topping Lamborghini Urus Rumoured

With the Lamborghini Murcielago now dead, Lamborghini is working on a successor, known as the Jota. Rumours indicate that they’re also working on a range topping model known as the Urus.

The Urus will be built to compete with Ferrari’s upcoming Enzo successor, called the FX70. It will use a modified version of the Jota’s chassis, which is made of carbon-fibre. The body will be made completely out of carbon fibre and will have active aerodynamics. The engine will be the same one to be used in the Jota, a 6.0L V12, but while the Jota’s will have around 700hp, the Urus’ will be pumped up to an impressive 800hp. These kind of specs mean that the Urus may be able to finish the 0-100kph sprint in under 3 seconds. That’s a figure very few cars out there are capable of.

These specs probably mean an enormous price tag as well. Carbon fibre body, carbon fibre chassis and an enormous 800hp engine aren’t exactly cheap parts. The Jota is expected to debut some time next year, which the Urus should make its debut the year after, and go on sale in 2012.

Source: WorldCarFans

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Ferrari Developing Turbocharging

Ferrari F430 engine

More Ferrari news on the blog today, apparently the Maranello manufacturer is planning to turbocharge some of its future models. With the 458 now launched we can only guess that this could appear in their road cars as soon as the next model. Or maybe even in the next limited edition one. Ferrari engine developer Jean-Jacques stated: “Turbocharging will come eventually, but we need to solve the issue of turbo lag.” I have a question for Mr. Jean-Jacques: do you remember the F40? That had 2 turbos and far from no lag. It’s been 22 years since the last turbocharged road-legal Ferrari (I may not be right) and I would like to say a turbocharged one is more than welcome. Just imagine the power. Their engines turn out already more than 100bhp/litre of displacement, just imagine what turbos will do. The Frenchman also said that they won’t be using the Fiat turbo technology anytime soon but they did bolt some turbos to a F430. It’s also said that they won’t use turbos anytime soon.

Source: Autocar

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Video Special – Slow Motion Motorsports

Well, as I haven’t done too much for the blog since I joined in a couple of weeks ago I tough I might be able to pull something off by stitching together some slow-mo videos of various motorsports. After 2 weeks and big technical difficulties, it’s ready. All of it is motorsports except for the Top Gear shots with the Exige, Mustang, Aston & Ferrari. I was inspired by another bloke called Mattzel who some of you might know, has his video featured on TG’s website.

Please note there may be some problems at first due to the fact that the video is still new and click that HQ button!

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