Ferrari Unveils New Superamerica 45 Coachbuilt Special

Ferrari is once again showing off its coach-building capabilities with the release of its latest one-off special, the Superamerica 45, which will make its first public outing at this weekend’s Villa d’Este Concours d’Eleganza in Italy. It was built to order for New York billionaire, collector and former owner of the New York Post, Peter Kalikow, to celebrate the 45th anniversary of his Ferrari purchase in 1961.

Even though it was originally believed that the Superamerica would be designed by Pininfarina, the styling is the work of Ferrari Design with the engineering and manufacturing taking place in-house.

The Superamerica 45 is based on the Ferrari 599 and is distinguished by the custom bodywork and a rotating carbon-fiber roof. The latter incorporates a rear screen and works in a similar fashion to the one found in the older 575 Superamerica. Ferrari recently showed a limited edition drop top variant of the 599 called the Aperta, but this model featured a far more simple soft-top cover.

Other custom details include the double air vents on the front wing, a specific chromed front grille and burnished aluminium A-pillars, wing mirrors and door handles. The one-off Italian supercar is finished in an exclusive Blu Antille shade that matches the color of Kalikow’s 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica cabriolet nr. 2331SA. The vehicle’s alloy wheels are colored in the same hue while the roof and other carbon-fiber elements such as the front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser are executed in a darker blue shade.

We don’t have any photos of the interior yet but Ferrari says the blue theme is carried over inside to the dashboard combined with Cuoio leather trim and Blu Scuro carbon fibre details.

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Report: Ferrari said to Skip 599 Facelift and Bring All-New Model Based on the FF in 2012

It seems the success of the Ferrari FF, the production of which for this year has already been sold out, will affect the 599 GTB Fiorano as well. But in a good way, since it is being reported that Ferrari has cancelled the original plans for a 599 facelift and instead build an all-new car as a replacement. The plan was revealed by Motor Trend magazine, which noted that the new car will be derived from the FF featuring a mightier punch in the performance division. Ferrari plans to launch the new car in late 2012.

The car's naturally aspirated V12 engine will reportedly develop around 700 horsepower and will be based on the FF's 6.3-liter unit, using direct injection in order to be more fuel-efficient than the current 599. Aside from the power increase of around 80 horsepower, the 599's successor will be also lighter, due to the use of an aluminum frame made up of 20 different alloys.

It seems Ferrari will stick with aluminum, although Lamborghini and McLaren have switched to carbon fiber. The magazine quotes Ferrari technical director Roberto Fedeli who admits the car will use some composite panels as well.

The new 599 will make use of a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a multi-link rear axle as is the case with the California, 458 and FF. The car will also benefit from the fitting of an electronic differential on the rear-axle, which will allow for greater handling flexibility according to the Manettino's position.

In tune with its performance-oriented character, the 599 replacement will not have all-wheel-drive like the FF. However, AWD could be offered as an option on the California in 2013.

By Dan Mihalascu

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VIDEO: Tunisians Repossess Ousted President’s Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano with a...Forlkift

As a result of the political turmoil going on in Tunisia, president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali has fled the country. But like any dictator on the run, Ben Ali had to leave plenty of wealth behind, accumulated in his 20+ years of totalitarian rule, including his Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, which was “repossessed” by angry protesters using a forklift. Video after the jump.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Youtube via Autogespot

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VIDEO: Ferrari 599 GTO Prototype Shows Some Muscle on the Fiorano Race Track

A prototype model of the Ferrari 599 covered in black cladding has been snagged on film during testing at the Fiorano circuit. We're not entirely sure if it's a test mule for a replacement of the 599 or an updated version of the current model, possibly featuring Ferrari's upcoming KERS energy-recovery system which was first shown on the Geneva Salon HY-KERS hybrid concept.

In any case, the vented hood and the styling of the bumpers point towards a prototype based on the 670-horsepower 599 GTO, which was introduced into the range this past April, with some minor changes such as the California-esque LED headlamps. Watch the video right after the jump.

Via: Jalopnik , Source: Youtube/Marchettino

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21yo Saudi Arabian Millionaire Takes Delivery of 33rd Supercar

Actress Bo Derek once quipped, "Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping." Someone who would most likely agree with her is 21-year-old Dhiaa Al-Essa, a Saudi Arabian Engineering student and millionaire playboy with a collection of over 30 exotic supercars worth more than £4.5 million (US$7.3 million).

Al-Essa has recently taken delivery of his thirty-third exotic, the first Ferrari 599 GTO worth £345,000 (US$557,000). In his own words:

"I've been so excited about the Ferrari 599 GTO – I have had to wait six months for it to arrive. It's a limited edition car with more technology that pretty much any other car in the world – and it's the fastest ever Ferrari. My favourite car used to be the Mercedes McLaren SLR but now it's the 599. It's the best ever, simply amazing – I love it."

His collection includes a £350,000 (US$565,000) Ferrari SA Aperta and a £255,000 (US$411,700) Ferrari F430 Scuderia Spider 16M; both the last of the line. Al-Essa also owns several other Ferraris as well five Porsches, three Lamborghinis, two Rolls-Royces and a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.

This latest acquisition is a stop-gap measure until he receives his 22nd birthday present: a Koenigsegg Agera and a Bugatti Veyron, both worth £1.6 million (US$2.6 million) a piece. Al-Essa concludes:

"I love speed, but the limit in Saudi Arabia is 75 mph (121 km/h) so I'm pretty limited. When the Bugatti arrives I hope to take it to Germany where you can drive as fast as you can on parts of the autobahn."

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Swsn & Metro / Photos: Ferrari

VIDEO: C&D Pits Lexus LFA Against Ferrari 599 HGTE

In 1971, one of the greatest one-on-one boxing matches took place in New York's Madison Square Garden: the bout between Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier. So big was this event, advertisers dubbed it, 'The Fight of the Century'. Now, two different contenders take to the ring (uh...tarmac). The reigning champion: the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE. The challenger: the Lexus LFA. Video after the jump.

One is a purebred, Italian racehorse with decades of motor racing heritage under its belt. The other is the new kid on the block: the young hood with its 'doof doof' music and unshakable will to win.

So maybe I went a bit too far with the boxing analogy...

The real scoop here is U.S. magazine Car and Driver putting the V12-powered 599 GTB HGTE and V10-powered LFA through their paces on the narrow, sodden backroads of Wales. Technical editor Michael Austin is behind the wheel of the Ferrari while executive editor Mark Gillies is in the Lexus. Their goal: to find out which of these two, similarly priced front engined, rear-wheel-drive GTs is the best?

Watch the video and decide for yourselves.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: C&D

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