Our spy photographers are never truly on holiday. For
instance, they decided to spend this summer in Italy, but instead of heading to
Capri, for instance, they decided to hang out in Maranello. That was an
excellent choice, given the Ferrari F12 GTO spyshots they’ve just delivered.
As most of you know, the Prancing Horse is working on a mid-cycle update for
the F12berlinetta and their efforts will
include an even spicier version. When Ferrari did this with the 599 GTB, the
F12’s predecessor, we ended up with the 599 GTO, so we’re expecting the
three-letter badge to also show up on the F12. While Ferrari might use a
different name for the more hardcore F12, its introduction is a certainty.
In fact, a set of images allegedly taken from a Ferrari configurator showed us
the car in all its splendor and so did a leaked real-world picture. We’ve
attached the images below, so there’s really no point in talking about what
lies under the heavy camouflage in these spy shots.
A hybrid heart is a strong possibility
Seeing the Ferrari F12 GTO debuting with a hybrid powertrain is a strong
possibility. The Prancing Horse is currently in the midst of an
emission-reducing process that sees V8 going down the forced induction road and
V12 receiving electric assistance while keeping their natural aspiration.
While the V8 category mentioned above has already brought us the California T
and the 488 GTB pair, we have yet to see the way in which Ferrari engineers
apply the lessons they’ve learned with the LaFerrari, as well as with the
racing version of their halo car, the FXX K.
Still, we shouldn’t take the hybridization of the tentatively-named F12 GTO as
a certainty. For one thing, the GTO version is aimed at offering a sharper
experience and the extra weight brought by the electrical system doesn’t
exactly help with this.
Regardless, Ferrari is reported to only produce 650 units of the spiced-up F12,
which would account for 51 more compared to the 599 GTO production run. The
first examples are expected to reach their owners in the first half of 2016,
but we expect to find out more about this GT development soon.
Everyone has been waiting for the McLaren P1, LaFerrari, and
Porsche 918 to lap the same track at the same time to find out which is the
best. Everytime one of these tests are organized, there seems to be a snag on
the automaker's end.
But there's not much they can do to restrict owners from
taking them to a track day. And that's just what happened at a recent
track day at Spa.
Now, a couple notes. First, each car is being lapped by
different drivers, so there is a great deal of variability there. Secondly,
there were no laptimes recorded. But that doesn't mean we can't see where which
car is fastest or where another has issues, especially because all three have
onboard cameras and the laps are overlaid on each other.
So, which car is best and which car do you think is
best? Sound off below:
And it’s one spectacular supercar crash to end the week
with.
The newest exotic vehicle to end up in our Car Crashessection
of the website is this particular Ferrari 458 Italia. According to the guys
from Wrecked
Exotics, the model in question has been crashed in Luton, the United
Kingdom, recently, after its driver has pushed the throttle too hard and lost
control of the wheel. The supercar has slid underneath this Volkswagen Passat
resulting in some spectacular images. We are not sure what happened to the
driver or if anyone was injured in this unfortunate incident so if you happen
to know more about the topic, please feel free to share.
The Ferrari 458 Italia is the last of its breed to get a
naturally aspirated V8 engine under its hood, as its successor, the 488 GTB,
has dropped it in favor of a newer 3.9 liter twin turbo V8. The supercar has a
rear mid-engine and rear-wheel drive layout and it has been offered in two body
styles, the 458 Italia (coupe) and the 458 Spider (roadster). The exotic model
has been in production between 2009 and 2015 and it is making use of the above
mentioned unit, a 4.5 liter naturally aspirated V8 engine. This is capable of
sending a total of 562 HP (419 kW) at 9,000 rpm and 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) of
torque at 6,000 rpm through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, to
the wheels. The 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph acceleration takes just 3.0 seconds and
this can go up to a top speed of 325 km/h (202 mph).
A crashed example of the Ferrari F430 Spider has been
recently caught on camera, quietly sitting around on a trailer.
We are ending this week with yet another addition into our Car Crashes category
and after we have shown you a newer model, the Ferrari
458 Italia, being crashed into a minivan in Hong Kong, time has come to
talk about this damaged example of the Ferrari F430 Spider. The model in
question has been captured on the back of a trailer recently and judging by its
damages, we can dare to say that it has been rear-ended by another vehicle. The
exotic ride has been spotted in Jakarta, Indonesia, and if you happen to know
more about the topic, please feel free to share.
The Ferrari F430 has been produced between 2004 and 2009 and
it was designed by Frank Stephenson at Pininfarina. The supercar was put
together in Maranello, Italy, after it has made its public debut at the 2004
Paris Motor Show. The F430 has been offered in two body styles, a two-door
coupe and a two-door roadster, standing in at 4,511 mm long, 1,923 mm wide and
1,234 mm tall (Spider). Under its hood, the 4.3 liter naturally aspirated V8
engine was found, with 483 HP (360 kW) and 465 Nm (343 lb-ft) of torque,
available at 5,250 rpm. From 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph), the supercar needs 3.7
seconds and it can go up to 315 km/h (196 mph). The F430 has been replaced by
the 458.
By now, you’ve probably seen dozens of Tesla Model S P85D
drag racing videos, so we figured why not change it up a bit by
showing the BMW i8 lined up against some supercars.
In this video, you’ll see the i8 plug-in hybrid race the
McLaren MP4 12C, Ferrari Speciale Aperta, Nissan GTR and more
Just shy of €77,000 or $84,000 for a 15,000km (9,322 mile) Ferrari
F12 Berlinetta, which drops down to €67,226 or $73,200 for export, doesn't
sound half-bad until…you see the other half of this car.
While the opening photo of this ad on Germany's Mobile
site might put you in a refinancing your house- and/or revaluating
your relationship with your spouse-kind of mentality, reality quickly sinks in
once you grasp the entire
damage on the Italian supercar.
I'm no auto body mechanic, but this looks like the definition of a complete
write-off and I can't see anyone putting the 740PS (730hp) V12-powered
F12 back together in one piece for anything other than a static display.
What else do you think this trashed F12 is good for and how much do you think its
worth in this state?
The year is 1951. The Formula One World Championship is
still in its infancy, Alfa Romeo is the team to beat, and Ferrari has yet to
claim a single win in the top tier of international motor racing. Given a
modern look at what Ferrari has become, it’s an almost inconceivable thought,
but it wasn’t a streak that was about to last long.
In July of 1951, Ferrari driver Jose Froilan Gonzales
crosses the line at the British Grand Prix, earning the constructor its
very first win in Formula One. Nearly 60 years later to the day, Ferrari F1
racer Fernando Alonso repeats Gonzalez’s momentous win in Great Britain—the
only F1 win the team would receive in 2011.
The miraculous achievement and its historical significance
were cause for celebration, and in December 2011, Ferrari let loose the
confetti and crafted this stunning tribute—the 599 GTB Alonso Edition
60F1. Suffice it to say, this is quite the Prancing Horse.
To create the Formula 1 tribute, Ferrari first began with
the 599 GTB sports car, complete with its 611-horsepower 6.0-liter V12 engine
pushed far back in the chassis, quick shifting six-speed gearbox, and
magnetorheological shock absorbers. Then, Ferrari upgraded each 599 chassis to
“HGTE” specification, which included tougher and shorter springs as well as
tightened anti-roll bars. It’s a car that can surely corner, and now it looks
every bit of a “Scuderia Ferrari” racer for the road.
On the outside, the company offered each of its limited
run “60F1” 599 GTBs with a choice of three color options—one derived from
Gonzalez’s 1951 375 F1 car, and two reminiscent of Alonso’s 2011 150 Italia F1
car. Inside, buyers received either Sabelt or Recaro racing seats, black
Alcantara upholstery, and plenty of carbon fiber trim. When fully provoked,
this 599 can dash from zero to 60 mph in under 3.7 seconds, and if kept on
the throttle, it will do 205 mph. That’s F1 fast.
A four-door Ferrari? It doesn’t seem right. We sent
photographer Rémi Dargegen to capture the essence of the Ferrari that never was
– and, very unusually, he was invited along for a ride, too.
A concept to tempt Enzo
Sergio Pininfarina longed to create a four-door Ferrari to
rival the high-performance saloons ofMaserati, Jaguar and Mercedes.
Pininfarina’s 50th anniversary, in 1980, seemed the perfect opportunity to
develop a four-door Ferrari concept to tempt Enzo Ferrari into considering a
step in this direction. So the design studio created the ‘Ferrari Pinin’, on a Ferrari 412 chassis, in time for that year’s Turin
motor show.
Longing looks
Thirty-five years later, photographer Rémi Dargegen’s first
impressions are mixed: “The car appears strangely long when you see it from a
distance, even though it’s only a little bit longer than a 365, 400 or 412. The
shape is very late 70s or maybe early 80s, so it’s a style you’re going to love
or hate – but either way, you can’t deny that it exudes a huge helping of
elegance.”
A spin in the Pinin, the world’s only four-door Ferrari saloon
A four-door Ferrari? It doesn’t seem right. We sent photographer Rémi Dargegen to capture the essence of the Ferrari that never was – and, very unusually, he was invited along for a ride, too.
A concept to tempt Enzo
Sergio Pininfarina longed to create a four-door Ferrari to rival the high-performance saloons ofMaserati, Jaguar and Mercedes. Pininfarina’s 50th anniversary, in 1980, seemed the perfect opportunity to develop a four-door Ferrari concept to tempt Enzo Ferrari into considering a step in this direction. So the design studio created the ‘Ferrari Pinin’, on a Ferrari 412 chassis, in time for that year’s Turin motor show.
Longing looks
Thirty-five years later, photographer Rémi Dargegen’s first impressions are mixed: “The car appears strangely long when you see it from a distance, even though it’s only a little bit longer than a 365, 400 or 412. The shape is very late 70s or maybe early 80s, so it’s a style you’re going to love or hate – but either way, you can’t deny that it exudes a huge helping of elegance.”
Back to the future
But it was when Dargegen climbed inside the Pinin that he
really started to appreciate the avant-garde nature of this luxury sports
saloon. “You look around and start to realise that the modern high-end saloons
– cars such as the Panamera, Rapide and new Lagonda –
really aren’t the first of their breed. This Ferrari got there first: four
seats, controls for the rear passengers, an incredible level of comfort,
magnificent leather everywhere and some impressively innovative (for the
period) technology. The dashboard is positively futuristic.”
Shoehorned engine
Since the Pinin was purely a show car, it wasn’t designed
around an engine – although it contained a non-working, front-mounted, flat-12
engine when it was displayed at Turin. When the engine was adapted to make it
work, it created some problems; as Dargegen discovered when he was invited to
be a passenger on a short test drive. “The car is drivable, but it’s not that
easy; since it wasn’t originally designed around an engine, there’s very little
room. The result of squeezing a 512 BBengine under the bonnet is that you find yourself in
a historically fascinating concept car that can hardly turn to the left, and in
which you need to look out for every little stone on the road, as the power
unit has been fitted so very, very low in the engine bay.”
Bad timing
Although Enzo Ferrari was deeply impressed by Pininfarina’s
concept – so much that he seriously considered a production run of the
four-door Ferrari – he eventually decided against adopting the radically
different design direction. The concept car itself was instead sold to Jacques
Swaters. “The Pinin was coherent with Ferrari’s philosophy, but unfortunately
it wasn’t the right time for such a car…
The car that should have been
…but riding in it today, especially through the streets of
Maranello, past the factory and on to the Cavallino restaurant – it’s pure
magic. Even if the Pinin isn’t the most useable of cars on the road, it’s a
great honour to find myself inside the four-seater Ferrari never made – but
should have done.”
