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The Ferrari annual dealer meeting at Maranello proved to be the venue for the unveiling of the 458 Challenge. The car, based on the 458 Italia, features a modified dual-clutch F1 gearbox, an ‘E-Diff’ electronic differential, and an ‘F1-Trac’ traction control system equipped with settings for wet and dry conditions.
Additionally it has a race suspension (with solid aluminum bushings, stiffer springs, and single-rate dampers), high performance Brembo CCM2 brakes, and 19-inch wheels with Pirelli tires.
The vehicle’s weight has successfully been reduced by thinner body panels, carbon fiber components, and Lexan windows. No details on the specs were given, there is confirmation that the 458 Italia scales in at 1380 kg.
Engine power is from a 4497 cc V8 engine (producing 570 PS (562 hp / 419 kW) and 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) of torque). This equipment means that this extremely responsive car laps the Fiorano test circuit in 1 minute, 16.5 seconds – a whole two seconds faster than the F430 Challenge.
Smart, owned by auto veteran Daimler, is all set to show off their new two wheeler – a plug-in scooter – at the Paris Motor Show. The diversification by Smart is said to be part of a long-term strategy to improve on the brand’s performance.
Other vehicles out recently from the company are the new Smart ForTwo and the new 2013 ForFour.
The latter, with its rear mounted engine powering the rear wheels, is expected to be a perfect buy for customers who wanted a little something more than what the ForTwo is offering. The company says that these offerings are an attempt to address the issues faced by consumers in crowded city environments.
Though all of their previous efforts were in the four wheeler market, Daimler says that they have been noticing the need for this kind of an offering for some time. In addition, sources also say that the company plans to foray into the green vehicles arena too.
Word is that a new Toyota Supra could be out in the market soon. This possibility was sparked off by a comment made by the head of Toyota, whose key interest was in developing a fifth generation Supra.
The concept of the vehicle was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in 2007, and when the car comes out it will be the first to see the light of day since the cancellation of the Mark IV in 2002.
Akio Toyoda, head of Toyota Motor Co. was a fourth generation Supra owner, and is widely known to be a fan of the hybrid. According to early reports, the car could be using a hybrid powertrain to power it, which includes a V6 engine.
It is unclear, however, whether focusing on the fifth generation Supra is actually the way Toyota is going. Reports say the company is preparing a replacement to the MR-2. Moreover, the FT-86 sports car is in the advanced development stages with Subaru, and there is a possibility that the company may not see a Supra release as an immediate plan.
Dream car. But what if your wallet doesn’t support such a dream? The best way is to go weird! You have been hoping to drive the 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS but then don’t have the money to get one. All you can do is to make one yourself. The racecar gone street legal, which could cost $150,000, could be yours if you have the will.
Nay, we aren’t talking of the model that Porsche has built. Instead you could drive a look alike, well almost, if you have some extra time and creative skills. All you need would be some colored paper and bit of home engineering skills. An almost functional model is what you would end up making, and driving too. Once you have done that, you will have all the right to scream, “Here I come girls, driving my own Porsche! Take a look and DIY.
Does it get better than this? What we are staring at is the new Ferrari. Or is it? Going by the pictures in front of us, we are tempted to slip into the driver’s seat and do some guesswork as to when this beauty of a machine will arrive for real. By the way, we have just these pictures and we aren’t quite sure as to whether these are indeed real. We are charmed by what we see, but can’t tell you more about the sexy wheels displayed here. On that note, permit us to leave it for you to decide. If you think it’s the new real Ferrari that you would get to see or even drive, dive into these pictures. Indulge! Have fun!
It is almost every hot blooded man’s dream to own a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, but expensive cars come with expensive insurance premiums. Because exotic cars are placed in a high risk category due to their appeal to thieves and incredible cost of repairs, car insurance providers charge a higher rate of insurance premium to compensate.
To illustrate why these premiums are so high, below are a few examples of the most outrageous exotic car insurance claims:
1. Ferrari Enzo: Suleyman Kerimov, businessman and multi-billionaire listed by Forbes as one of the world’s richest people, Suleyman Kerimov bought a luxurious Ferrari Enzo car. When driving the car at extremely high speeds in Nice, he crashed into a tree and totaled the car. The crashed cost $1.2 million.
2. McLaren F1: Known as Mr. Bean from the Mr. Bean British television show and movies, actor Rowan Atkinson has been collecting exotic cars since 1982. Rowan bought the McLaren and used it for the family rides. The speed limit of the car is 240 miles per hour. In 1999, Rowan was driving the car and crashed into a Rover Metro. The car was estimated at $1.2 million US
3. Bugatti Veyron: The exotic Bugatti Veyron is one of the fastest cars and the insurance is very expensive. One of these luxury sports cars crashed in Britain. The crash is believed to be the most expensive individual car crash. It cost 1.6 million bucks.
4. Ferrari 250 GTO: In 2008, an English buyer bought a Ferrari 250 GTO for $28.5 million at an auction which made it the most valuable car in the world. He was involved in a crash and totaled the car. It is the most expensive car crash ever.
5. Bugatti EB110: Valued at $500,000 the Bugatti EB110 is one of the more expensive and powerful fast cars. Famous “feel good” guru Emile Ratelband was the owner of a 1992 Bugatti EB110 and had it in a garage for an annual check-up. A mechanic was test driving it when he claims he hit an oil slick and crashed it into a pole.
6. Mercedes Benz SL 300: The SL 300 “Gullwing” is one of the finest exotic car. An owner of one of these cars valued at about $750,000 decided to race it on the streets of Mexico at the annual “La Carrera Panamericana” race. Unfortunately, he crashed the car at a cost of almost a million dollars
It is always sad when a gorgeous exotic car is damaged in an accident. However, for those who own them, they can greatly afford the costs. Insurance companies, however, probably weep a little when a claim is made for one of these exotic cars.
Adventure, theme park and Ferrari fans rejoice! Ferrari World, the world’s first Ferrari theme park is all set to start functioning in October 2010, in Abu Dhabi. According to sources this will be one experience no one will want to miss – providing an intense multi-sensory experience.
The theme park will be a testament to the unsurpassed excellence of the Ferrari – famed for being high in performance, technical excellence and design. The red roof of the park is a direct take off from the iconic double curve of the Ferrari GT body – and spans 200,000 square metres. Emblazoned on it is a sight that any Ferrari lover would kill to get a look at – the biggest Ferrari logo ever made.
Ferrari World will have a number of rides – with a number of the usual amusement /theme park rides and will also impart a complete Ferrari experience – through 20 state of the art rides. One of them is the world’s fastest roller coaster (with speeds in excess of 200 km per hour), which is designed to give the rider the feeling of being inside a Ferrari. Another experience that is sure to be unforgettable is the G-Force – which takes passengers on a ride over 62 m – through the roof and back again!
Located on the Yas Island, on the north east of mainland Abu Dhabi, the park was specifically located here keeping in mind the global tourist destination tag and facilities that this area enjoys. It’s sure to be a hit with the locals too – who are well known for their motor sports enthusiasm.
Images of the Hyundai hatchback being readied for a 2012 debut have been found in the open. Obviously clicked on the sly, the pictures reveal the car to be much smaller than the Accent. We get to know that the Korean car maker is making the new hatchback primarily for the South African market and will be rolled out of its assembly line at Piracicaba in Brazil.
The HB could come in two variants – one a sedan and the other a compact SUV. Expected to be pitted against Volkswagen Gol and the Honda Fit, Hyundai might look at producing around 100,000 units a year. To arrive sporting two flex-fuel variants – 1.0 liter and a 1.6 liter engine – the hatchback would have design lines similar to the ix-Metro concept. If you would remember, Hyundai had showcased the ix-Metro concept at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
Meanwhile, sources tell us that the 1.0 liter version will come with unpainted door handles and mirrors.
