Alfa Romeo's marketing people have been bouncing around the idea of ditching the current three-digit numbering system and proceeding with a nameplate nomenclature. The shift – already in place on some models and not on others – could increase the appeal of certain models even more, while helping them avoid a crossroads that will inevitably come up when models like the 159 need to be replaced.
Italian magazine Quattroruote has come up with a composite image of what it thinks that vehicle could look like. Unfortunately the results are rather cumbersome, essentially Photoshopping the nose from the MiTo onto the existing 159 body. The rear-end rendering is not much better, but intriguingly appears to carry a New York State license plate. While the existing 159 remains one of the most striking mid-size sedans on the market, we hope its successor – speculatively reviving the Giulia nameplate of old – will look a heck of a lot better than this.
For some Ferrari faithful, every prancing horse that comes out of the factory should be painted in red. Yellow, black, blue and grey are just plain heretical, and perhaps that's why some of the purest Ferraris, the F40 and 288 GTO, were only offered in red. Well, if anything but Rosso Corsa bothers you, then this particular Ferrari will give you the shivers. We can't imagine what inspired this Saudi Arabian Ferrari owner to chrome his 599 GTB Fiorano, but it definitely reflects his personality. We also have to wonder if it helps keep the car cooler in the hot sun. No matter his reasoning, he's guaranteed himself plenty of looks.
While we all know that a 16-cylinder Bugatti Veyron would leave a 12-cylinder Ferrari 599 GTB choking in its own emissions, two blokes in the UK apparently wanted to check it out for themselves. After witnesses reported the two supercars jockeying for position at high speeds on public highways, police took pursuit in a BMW patrol car. Following velocities of nearly 140 mph in the chase, the Bugatti respectfully pulled over while the Ferrari got away scott free. Fortunately for the Bugatti driver, police officially clocked the 253-mph Veyron going a mere 97 mph. The resulting citation was three points on his license and a fine of just £60 (about $120). We think the outcome would have been much, much uglier in the States.
You may not remember the name Ugur Sahin, but if you've been reading Autoblog for a while you probably remember his designs. The Turkish designer has dreamed up the Corvette Z03 Concept, and before that brought the world his interpretation of what a modern Ferrari Dino might look like (he was a little off). It turns out that Sahin has been continually evolving his Dino design, however, and today we get our first look at the result of his extra doodling: the USD GT-S Passionata concept. Based on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, the Passionata retains the grand sports tourer personality of its host chassis, but adds a body that's much more organic with swoops, bulges and soft curves everywhere the eye falls. The mega hood scoop makes the car look a little insect-like, and we also see some cues inspired by the Corvette, Lotus and even McLaren F1 in the front end, but overall it's a knock out design and the connection to Ferrari's own design language is unmistakable. Truthfully, we just wish that we could draw cars this well. Sahin, however, is hoping to do more than just draw the Passionata, as he claims in his press release after the jump that "production will be arranged" if there's a demand for it. Unfortunately, a brand new Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano will have to be sacrificed to build the Passionata, which we think probably violates Ferrari's warranty. Check out a high-res gallery of the Ugur Sahin USD GT-S Passionata below to view the design from every angle and let us know what you think in the comments.
Ferraris are best known for their looks, performance, and exclusivity, but lately, it seems one could add flammability to that list of attributes. The latest case of Ferrari flambé involves a beautiful black 599 GTB Fiorano, which self-ignited at a stop light while being driven by someone who wasn't even the car's owner. Martin Bullen, who works at supercar garage Romans International in Banstead, UK, was at the wheel when he heard a strange sound followed by a brilliant display of smoke and fire. The £250,000 exotic was a total loss, and the 28-year-veteran of the high-end garage had to inform his boss of the Ferrari's fate.
Luckily for Bullen, his employer is a forgiving and understanding man. Garage owner Paul Jaconelli said he wouldn't hold the destroyed 599 against his employee, and that the vehicle was still covered under warranty. That's good news for Bullen, but Ferrari owners the world over must be wondering if their expensive toys will be the next to join the ranks of the carbequed. This isn't exactly what they bargained for when they decided to get a hot car. Head to The Sun for more pics of the latest Fire-ari.
Say what you will about Edo and the things it does to supercars, but you've got to hand it to them: it takes a lot of nether-regional fortitude to try and improve on the most finely honed and intricately developed performance machines. The latest results of Edo's endeavors is the 630 Scuderia.
Although you wouldn't recognize it from the name, the 630 Scuderia is based on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. Using Edo's existing 630 GTB – whose engine more closely resembles the high-strung unit from the FXX than the "stock" 599's Enzo-derived powerplant – and upgrades it with a new aerodynamic kit designed to optimize the cooling and airflow around the vehicle. There's a sharply-styled front end with bigger vents that help cool the brakes, with an integrated lip spoiler increasing downforce. Underneath and around back, a new aerodynamic undertray and widened six-blade diffuser help optimize stability, aided by the new side skirts. All the components are made from carbon fiber, cutting curb weight down by 110 lbs.
Check out the images in the gallery below – and the press release after the jump – to make up your own mind: stylish and functional enhancement or sacrilegious defilement?
Things are looking solid for this year's Indianapolis 500 after race officials released the entry list for the first running of this iconic open-wheel race since this country's two warring open-wheel racing series merged back together in February. 39 entries have been placed, putting the complete roster within spitting distance of the record 42-car grid set in 1933. Of those 39, a solid 32 have confirmed the drivers who will race the cars, putting the list just one short of a full grid over a month ahead of the race, which will take place on May 25.
Along with such stoic racing names as Foyt, Scheckter, Andretti and Rahal, former Indy 500 winners Helio Castroneves (2001 & 2002), Buddy Rice (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005) will return in pursuit of a repeat performance. Jason Priestly's Rubicon team is not on the list, however all three female drivers who competed last year will be back again. Twelve rookies will race for the checkered flag at the reunited event this year – including former Indy Lights champions Jay Howard and Alex Lloyd – marking an eleven-year record since 1997, the year after open-wheel racing split.
Remember last month when we showed you a pair of supercars tuned by MANSORY at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show? Perhaps the poor lighting inside the Geneva EXPO obscured the awesomosity of these two tuner vehicles. MANSORY has corrected this by releasing a slew of high-res official images showing each car in perfect lightning so every detail is laid bare, for better or worse.
The first car is the MANSORY McLaren SLR "Renovatio", which is obviously based off of the Mercedes-Benz supercar but features many replacement carbon fiber pieces, lighter wheels and a new body kit that makes the standard car look downright dowdy by comparison. MANSORY didn't just alter the SLR's looks, but went one step further by upgrading its supercharger and intercoolers, so the 5.5L V8 is now producing a stout 700 horsepower. The interior also gets the same Midas touch as the exterior.
The second car is the MANSORY Ferrari 599 GTB "Stallone", which to Europeans may evoke images of wild stallions, but to U.S. folk sounds like an homage to Mr. Balboa. MANSORY takes the already superlative 599 and adds an F1-inspired aero body kit and a supercharger with enough engine upgrades to bump the 6.0L V12 from 620 to 720 horsepower.
Both vehicles have the grunt to fully back up their new appearance packages, but we're still not sure we'd actually want to be seen in them.
Alfa Romeo has been turning out some impossibly beautiful cars. Unfortunately, most of the line-up is lacking the grunt to back up its killer looks, with the 8C Competizione floating beyond reproach atop the range and a huge gap down to the standard production models. Alfa is apparently looking to bridge that gap, however, with the 159 GTA.
In the video after the jump, you'll see footage of a 159 decked out with enormous AMG Black Series-style vents and four squat tailpipes from which you can clearly hear a monstrous engine resonate. The test mule, spotted near the Nurburgring in Germany, looks like a further development of the one spied last summer. Although curiously, rather than wearing camouflage, it's all decked out in big Alfa Romeo decals as if to scream "look at me" in true Italian supercar fashion. Initial reports suggested the GTA could get a slightly detuned version of the V8 found in the Ferrari F430, although either the 4.2-liter V8 from the Maserati GranTurismo and Quattroporte or the 4.7-liter unit from the 8C and GranTurismo S (both of which were also developed by Ferrari) would probably be the safer bet. Either way, the Italians are putting the likes of the Audi RS4, BMW M3, Lexus IS-F and Mercedes C63 AMG on notice, while the prospect of similar power for the Brera and Spider hangs in the balance.
more ...
It's always nice when money gets thrown at making epic videos of cars, and this one is so beautifully produced that it obviously cost a bundle. What could be more epic than a couple of Ferraris being treated like the rentals Rowdy and Cole duked it out with in Days Of Thunder? Okay, Ferrari and NASCAR, ne'er the twain shall meet, but what we do have here is a fantastically beautiful video of a Ferrari 599 showing the F40 what an old man it's become. Let's see, do we want to take the comfortable, easy-driving, fighter-jet fast GT, or would we prefer the raucous, painful, finicky throwback that's nearly as fast but is probably more exhilarating due simply to the cacophony behind your head? Either could be fun - follow the jump to see for yourself.
more ...
