Thursday, December 26, 2013

Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration Livermore - Ferrari launches 2014 Formula One engine, tests it in a LaFerrari? [w/videos] - FZ Restoration - 925-294-5666

A rendering of the 059/3 engine for the 2014 Ferrari F1 car



Ferrari is the last of the three engine manufacturers remaining in Formula One to reveal its 2014 power unit. Called the 059/3, like the Mercedes and Renault units it is a turbocharged, 1.6-liter V6 further boosted by an energy recovery system that is twice as powerful as before. The 2013 KERS was good for 80 horsepower, could power the car for six seconds and reduce a lap time by about 0.3 seconds. For 2014, the energy recovery system puts out 160 hp, powers the car for 30 seconds on full batteries and, according to Ferrari, can shave a massive three seconds per lap.

The car that surrounds this engine doesn't have a name yet – that will be chosen by Ferrari's social media followers in January from a selection of names provided by the Scuderia.

Ferrari didn't provide an audio sample of the power unit at its introduction, but a brief video taken at Fiorano has led folks to believe that the team has been testing the engine in a revised LaFerrarichassis. The clip shows a camouflaged version of the marque's new supercar fitted with a roof intake and sounding nothing at all like a V12 as it takes the hairpin and powers onto the straight.

You'll find videos below of the engine and its details, along with the LaFerrari mule and press releases from Ferrari and Shell with all the details you could want on what will power the scarlet cars in Australia in March of next year.











source: autoblog
by Jonathon Ramsey

http://www.fzrestoration.com












Saturday, December 21, 2013

Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - 1,500 BHP Bugatti Super Veyron Arriving in 2014 - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666






Word has it Bugatti is preparing a final edition of its Veyron supercar. Rumored to have more than 1,500 under the bonnet, the Super Veyron will reportedly arrive next year with a top speed of at least 280 mph (450 km/h).

According to Autocar, the new vehicle is set to arrive with “dramatic weight-saving technologies”, which are said to to make it 440 lbs (200 kg) lighter than the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport (4,162 lbs/1,888 kg). As for the power, it will reach the 1,500 bhp figure by increasing the quad-turbo W16 engine’s capacity. The new supercar won’t benefit from a hybrid system.

“We are looking at several options. The reality is that we are not under time pressure because we are confident of selling out the full Veyron production run regardless. Only after that can we see if there is time and appetite for such a program. It would be expensive and time-consuming, so we must be sure it is worth it,” a Bugatti source told Autocar.

The new Bugatti Super Veyron will cost about about £5 million, which means €5.87 million and $7.69 million at current exchange rates.

Story via 
Autocar
source: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/1500-bhp-bugatti-super-veyron-arriving-in-2014-61819.html
by Ciprian Florea
 

Friday, December 20, 2013

Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - What's With All the Ferrari Fires?! - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666





There you are, in your Ferrari, which you’ve bought with the money you’ve saved up for the last four years. You’ve purchased the 458 Italia, the coupe not the convertible, because you think you have good taste. What’s more, it’s not red or yellow, because that would bring with it throwing of rotten eggs at you as you’re driving around town. No, after spending countless hours with in the official Ferrari website, which by the way runs awfully slow, you’ve chosen one of the retro colors, like Celeste or Avio, because let’s face it - you’re old and don’t want to stand out that much. Either that or you’re from Dubai and it took your father 5 minutes to decide what to get for you 18th birthday!

You might have the most impressive V8 or V12 engine, with variable valve timing on each of the five cams and a steering wheel that nobody can understand, but your Ferrari is going to ruin your life when it catches fire. The 
458 Italia, the FF, the 599 GTB Fioranno, the old 360 and especially the F430, they’ve all caught fire in recent years. And I’m sorry but this can’t possibly be a coincidence!

If I was a Ferrari owner right now, I would have constant nightmares that my six-figure investment is going to go up in smoke. And i’s not like this is expected. Lambos are supposed to be a bit crazy, so it will not surprise anybody if you stick it into a ditch. But a Ferrari is supposed to be the epitome, the pinnacle, the creme de la creme and all that jazz!

And it probably is, but it’s like a horse or racing hound that can run so fast that its lungs can explode. How humiliating would that be if your prized steed that you payed millions for (yes, horses can cost that much) just had a heart attack and died underneath you, braking one of your legs in the fall. If people knew I was good at making investments and my Ferrari turned into ash one day, why, I would even contemplate suicide.

All my friends would start laughing at my, and the whole local community will spread rumors about how much of an idiot with a bank account I am. My kids will even ask their mother to drive them in the nice, safe Mercedes ML to school. No more cool dad with a supercar!

It seems that even though the heavy gearboxes have been replaced by easy flappy paddles, and the one-piece torture seats are now comfy pieces of cow bottom, backed by ergonomic mattresses, Ferraris still can’t be everyday cars. Because the violent nature of a track car ca not be switched off my a manettino and some electronics. And being scared your car will catch on fine is no way to enjoy it everyday.

And I know that every time you look at the picture of a Ferrari, you start to stop caring about the flaws underneath. But that’s a bit like saying you don’t care that a six-foot Nigerian girl will stab you and sell your heart on the black market.

Let’s stop for a second from making fun of Ferrari and come up with some factual information, so as not to bring upon us the wrath of their fans. In August 2010, media reports started focusing on the Ferrari 458 Italia fires and crashes. Ferrari themselves later stated that they were aware and were looking into the problem. The official recall cam the next month, in September.

No less than 1,248 Maranello Marvels, all that had been sold up to that date in fact, had to be recalled. The brand and the supercar’s good name survived, so what was the problem?

The first thing that came in everyone’s mind was that the mighty 4.5-liter V8 engine was to blame, that somehow maybe petrol was sprayed all over it and it caught fire spontaneously. Instead, the fires were caused by the adhesive used to hold the vehicle's inner protection of the fenders in place. This is flammable and sits too close to the exhaust system. When the vehicle is driven hard or for a long period of time, it results in you being forever scared of driving a Ferrari.

I could live with my car catching fire if it was hand-built by 10 Germans and one Dutch, but Ferrari will probably make about 25,000 units of the 458 in over about five years or so. If you’ve ever thought it’s supposed to have a few quirks because it’s a rare Italian job, let me tell you it ain’t so!

Last year, they sold 7,195 cars and had a revenue of €2.251 billion with a ‘B’. While most major European automaker struggle to make a profit, they brought in €312 million, which is an impressive return they can only achieve by playing the the luxury pond. If I tell you they made about 14 percent return per each one of those really expensive cars, will you agree that “driver error” can’t really be spoken of in these fires? If they make that sort of money, they had better make sure the FF, the 599 and even your old 430 don’t catch fire for whatever reason.

Am I exaggerating? Are just a dozen or so cases every year cause for concern? Does that fact that only a few humans are attacked by great white sharks per year mean that I can ride on the back of one safely?

At least another guy with a lot of money will see smoke and fire coming out of his engine compartment next month, I’m sure of it. And I won’t feel bad for him at all, because he bought a Ferrari. But it’s definitely not ok for amazing supercars to end of in a pile of ash and not have a reasonable explanation.
 
 

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Ferrari Back to Le Mans? - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666






 

Scuderia Ferrari is reportedly planning to make a 24 Hours of Le Mans comeback in the top LMP1 tier now that the FIA decided to replace F1’s familiar V8 engines with turbocharged 1.6-liter V6 units.

And that’s because the Italians have a few ideas on how to develop a LMP1 prototype around the brand new mill. Nothing’s official, but Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali said the engine “would allow 
some interesting projects”, which could mean a Le Mans racer.

About five months have passed since Domenicali made that statement and nothing has changed, as Ferrari is still mum on details. However, speculation is again on the rise after Luca di Montezemolo said he likes the idea of racing at Le Mans in the LMP1 category, which hasn’t happened in 40 years.

“We have won with the 458 GTE, but I also quite like the idea of racing at the Le Mans in the highest category: who knows, maybe one day we can return and win, say thanks and come home,” di Montezemolo was quoted saying by 
Autosport.

The last factory-backed Ferrari to compete in Le Mans’ top category was the 312 PB. The Italians entered three of those 3.0-liter flat-12 race cars in the 1973 event, scoring a second place finish with Arturo Merzario and Carlos Pace taking turns behind the steering wheel.
 
by Ciprian Florea
 

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Chinese Ferrari 458 Spider Crashes in Tunnel - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666


Chinese Ferrari 458 Spider Crashes in Tunnel


Another supercar crash recently occurred in China with the car in question this time being a stunning, bright red Ferrari 458 Spider.

 Chinese Ferrari 458 Spider Crashes in Tunnel

The exact cause of the crash is not yet known, but it is believed that the driver was cruising along at around 100 km/h when he lost control on a downhill section and speared into a wall absolutely destroying the front left of the Italian supercar. Further highlighting just how brutal the impact was is that the airbags were deployed.
Chinese Ferrari 458 Spider Crashes in Tunnel
 

Fortunately, the driver emerged from the wreck unhurt. However, his bank account will inevitably take a hit as repairing the lightweight aluminium body panels, suspension and brake components as well as a whole new wheel, wing mirror and windscreen will cost a lot!

As a reminder, the Ferrari 458 Spider features the same 4.5-liter V8 engine as the standard Ferrari 458 Italia and therefore produces an equal 570 hp. Despite weighing slightly more than the Ferrari 458 Italian coupe, the Spider can still hit 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and has a lower top speed of 319 km/h, surely still sufficient to tear up an mountain road and hear the roar of the cars brutal V8! The following Ferrari 458 Spider however, will be out of action for quite some time.



by Brad Anderson

http://www.fzrestoration.com

Monday, December 16, 2013

Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Ferrari wins it all for Silicon Valley executive - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666


Art Zafiropoulo, chairman and CEO of Ultratech and partner in Ferrari Maserati Silicon Valley, next to his Scuderia Corsa #63 Ferrari 458 Italia. The team won the 2013 Grand-AM Rolex GT Championship.



Two years after forming a Ferrari racing team, a Silicon Valley technology veteran and his partners took home the Grand AM Rolex GT Championship. This week, they brought the winning car home to be adored.

Art Zafiropoulo, chairman and CEO of Ultratech and partner in Ferrari Maserati Silicon Valley, and partner Giacomo Mattiolicreated the Scuderia Corsa racing team in 2011. This year, one of their cars, the #63 Ferrari 458 Italia (pictured in all its over-the-top-sexiness in the accompanying photo array), too first place.

The #63 car's vital stats make it as dangerous as it is beautiful: a 4.6 liter V8 engine makes 530 horse power. She does 0-60 mph in under 3 seconds and tops out at 202 mph.

Zafiropoulo in 1993 led a management buyout of Ultratech Inc., a semiconductor equipment maker, and led the company through its initial public offering.
soruce:http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2013/12/12/sexy-ferrari-wins-it-all-for-silicon.html
by Vicki Thompson

http://www.fzrestoration.com

Friday, December 13, 2013

Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Ferrari 458 Italia crashed by kid in Switzerland - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666





A 20-year old kid from Switzerland has managed to crash his Ferrari 458 Italia, while driving it like a douche, into a university medical center.

You may remember the young American who crashed his Lamborghini Aventador just a few weeks ago and with parents becoming more irresponsible than their children more and more often, these scenes continue to happen. The newest example of such an incident is coming from Switzerland, where a 20-year old kid has managed to ruin his Ferrari 458 Italia by crashing it into a university medical center. He nearly ran over a pedestrian before hitting another car. He was apparently showing of and driving in the bus lane. I bet daddy will make him drive something awful from now, like an SL63 AMG.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a rear mid-engined, rear-wheel drive supercar, which has been in production since 2009. The model is currently being made in Maranello and it replaced the F430. The 458 is coming in two body styles, the 458 Italia, for the Coupe, and the 458 Spider, for the Convertible. Power is being provided in both versions by the same 4.5 liter V8 unit which is good for 562 HP (419 kW) and 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) of torque. This is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. The 0 to 100 km/h sprint takes 3.3 seconds and top speed stands at 325 km/h.
 
 

Friday, December 6, 2013

Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Video: Ferrari F50 Drifts in Slow Motion! - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666





 

The Ferrari F50 is one of the all time great, a legend and one of the most desirable and rare cars ever to be built in Ferrari’s factory. Not the sort of car you would expect to see being thrashed around a farm yard in serious anger! TaxTheRich have been at it again. After hooning around in an Enzo they have done the same in slow motion with one beautiful F50!

 

 The combination of the massive 513hp and 1,020kg weight meant that this 21-year-old can will fly to 100km/h in a stunning 3.7 seconds, a spectacular time consider the age of this car. The topspeed of this F50 is also staggering, 312km/h, at that speed this carbon bodied F50 must really test the driver’s bravery!
source: http://www.gtspirit.com/2013/12/03/video-ferrari-f50-drifts-in-slow-motion/
by Zaid

http://www.fzrestoration.com

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - LaFerrari Gets Rear-Ended by a Truck - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666

 
 LaFerrari Gets Rear-Ended by a Truck

It was bound to happen at some point.

No matter how expensive, rare or special a car may be, the risk of an accident or any other sort of serious crash always exists. And the new Ferrari LaFerrari isn’t immune from an accident-free life. Thanks to car spotter Marchenttino, today we have an image and a few details regarding the first LaFerrari accident. The incident took place on a highway around Mantova, Italy, an area known for Ferrari testing. From the looks of the single image taken, the LaFerrari was rear-ended by a truck. No one was injured and the car doesn't look too bad, but that truck driver has some serious explaining to do for smashing into a $1.3 million car.
LaFerrari Gets Rear-Ended by a Truck


by Jay Traugott
 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Ferrari 458 Italia Splits In Half in Alabama Crash - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666




Ferrari 458 Italia Splits In Half in Alabama Crash

 

When you jump inside a supercar, it is easy to get carried away by the power and speed of these incredible machines. One transport company employee recently discovered that point in the worst possible way after crashing and absolutely destroying the following Ferrari 458 Italia in Birmingham, Alabama.

It is reported that the transport company employee took it for a quick spin before delivering it. However, at speeds of around 225 km/h, the driver lost control and slammed into a post splitting the 458 Italia in two Lamborghini Aventador style.

Despite the rigidity of the Ferrari 458 Italia, the driver is said to be in a coma while the passenger received serious injuries.

[Via Zero2Turbo]
source: gtspirit.com
by Brad Anderson

http://www.fzrestoration.com

Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration - Ferrari F12 Crash: Totaled During Test Drive in Holland - FZ Restoration Livermore (925) 294-5666



Ferrari F12 Crash: Totaled During Test Drive in Holland [Photo Gallery]


A Rosso Corsa Ferrari F12 Berlinetta was totaled in the Netherlands yesterday, with the accident taking place in the city of Breukeleveen.

The details of the crash are rather sketchy at the moment, but it seems that the driver had taken his grandson out for a spin in the 740 HP Ferrari.

The F12 exited the road, rolled and stopped against a tree on the side. The car was put back on its wheels using a crane. Subsequently, the full damage became clear - notice the effects of the crash on the supercar’s front fascia.

It appears that this example of the F12 Berlinetta is owned by a local dealership. The car was offered for a test drive during the weekend, so the situation is probably pretty interesting at the moment.

Via: 
regio14.nl