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An outfit like Ferrari keeps a tight product portfolio. Four model lines in all, when it comes down to production models. Even with the various derivatives that follow, that still doesn’t amount to a large number of new debuts from year to year. But as a racing team first and an automaker second, it rolls out a new vehicle at least once a year. What falls between, then, bridges the gap.

What comes in between a road car and an F1 car, you ask? With a rapidly escalation level of crossover in technologies, less and less. But the narrow territory we’re talking about is the XX development program – what Ferrari terms as their elite cadre of “client development drivers.” That is, the customers who are willing to shell out big bucks – and we do mean big bucks – to test out the latest technological developments on the path from F1 cars to road cars.

The program initially launched with the FXX, an Enzo-based track car that was neither homologated for any racing series nor certified for road use (save a handful of well-heeled customers in some small countries where cash can overcome regulation). That was later improved upon with the FXX Evoluzione, an upgrade offered to existing owners/participants in the program. That, in turn, was succeeded by the 599XX, which has now led, somewhat expectedly, to the 599XX Evoluzione.

For another €185,000 (about $250k) over the €1.3 million ($1.75m) purchase price of the initial 599XX – existing buyers-in to the program can opt to upgrade to the Evoluzione model. That includes a two-year extension of factory-backed “test sessions”, as well as a number of upgrades that center primarily around the aerodynamics package. Aside from the giant front splitter that juts out from the nose, you might notice a rear wing that would make a jumbo-jet blush. But it’s not just a big spoiler: it’s an adaptive one, too. Like the DRS mechanism employed in Formula One, the FXX Evo’s rear wing can be opened up for reduced drag on straightaways or closed for increased downforce in the corners.

Coupled with an incidental 30-horsepower increase in output from the 6.0-liter V12 (for 740hp total), the 599XX Evoluzione can now lap Ferrari’s private Fiorano test track in 1:15 – a full second faster than the existing 599XX… or nine seconds ahead of the 599 GTO, the fasted street-legal version of the same road-going GT. But with only 29 examples in existence – the first of which was just unveiled for the first time at the Bologna Motor Show – we’ll just have to wait for the adaptive aero bits to trickle down to the rest of us. Details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Ferrari unveils upgraded 599XX Evoluzione in Bologna

Ferrari unveils upgraded 599XX Evoluzione in Bologna

Ferrari has worked hard over the past several years at differentiating its products from each other. Where its lineup once consisted principally of mid-engined supercars of different sizes, today’s range includes as well a front-engined GT, an all-wheel-drive shooting brake and a 2+2 hardtop cabriolet. The latter is known as the California, and while it certainly serves a purpose in Maranello’s catalog, it’s hardly the most heart-pumping Prancing Horse on offer.

That’s where these spy shots come in. Following reports that Ferrari was preparing to update the cabrio with a combination of increased engine output and reduced weight, we’ve now got the spy shots to prove it.

This test mule seen driving Ferrari’s private Fiorano test track and the vicinity, aside from sporting a rather garish red and black color paint and wrap job, has its hood all carved up like a pumpkin. There’s a pair of NACA ducts on the nose, some strange bulbous protrusion on the passenger side, and the whole hood doesn’t seem to want to close. The question is, what’s that modified hood hiding?

According to our paparazzi on the scene, the prototype had a distinctive turbo wail. If that’s the case, this would be the first time Ferrari’s used forced induction on a road car since the F40. Whether the upgrades will feature on a straightforward update for the California or breed a more hard-core version along the lines of the 430 Scuderia or 599 GTO remains to be seen, but Ferrari obviously has something up its sleeve for its most sedate model.

Ferrari developing hotter California?

The Ferrari 599 has given birth to a staggering array of variants. There was the original GTB Fiorano. Then the HGTE with improved handling dynamics. There was the China edition, the HY-KERS concept, the 599XX track car, the GTO and two roadster variants: the P540 Superfast and the SA Aperta. But while the entire 599 range is expected to be replaced soon, rumor has it there could be one final variant in the pipeline to see it off in grand style.

Word around the Internet chat boards like FerrariChat and Teamspeed is that Ferrari is planning to pay tribute to its star Formula One driver with a 599 Fernando Alonso edition. According to rampant speculation, the Alonso edition 599 will be lighter than any of the previous models, and therefore quicker. Tipped to be released in January, production is expected to be limited to an extremely exclusive 40 examples.

It is possible that the speculation was sparked by the F10 Tribute Edition which Alonso himself is seen driving in the video after the jump. That was little more than an existing 599 GTO specced out by a customer in Scuderia livery. We’ll just have to wait and see whether anything more comes of the rumors. But if Ferrari does choose to unveil such a model, it would be likely to do so at the Finali Mondiali cavallino-fest taking place this weekend at Mugello.

Continue reading Ferrari planning Fernando Alonso edition 599? [w/video]

Ferrari planning Fernando Alonso edition 599? [w/video]

Leave it to the Germans to build one of the best-looking Ferraris at this year’s Concorso Italiano. When we first walked past this 599 in the Meguiar’s booth we initially mistook it for the race-only 599XX. And that’s the point. Deutsch aftermarket company Vörsteiner felt the Ferrari 599 GTO didn’t look aggressive enough and developed a body kit for the standard 599 GTB Fiorano to make the car look more like its track-going brother. The result is the Vörsteiner Ferrari 599-VX.

The makeover is achieved via an eight-piece body kit that includes a new front end, hood, side skirts, rear decklid, rear intake panel and rear bumper with integrated diffuser. All components are constructed in lightweight carbon fiber, and a closer look revealed that the fit and finish is top notch and worthy of the Italian marque. Everything is finished off with a beautiful matte white vinyl wrap from 3M.

You can take a closer look at the Vörsteiner Ferrari 599-VX in the high-res gallery above.

Vörsteiner Ferrari 599-VX stands out among the crowd of exotics

There are plenty of events going on in Monterey this week, from car shows to races to auctions, but you don’t even have to be at one of these to see amazing cars. Even if you just hang out near the events you’re bound to see rare exotics and coveted classics.

Take, for instance, the Quail Motorsports Gathering. You don’t even need to be inside the show to get your fill of sports cars. Simply walking through the parking lot is like going to an amazing car show, with exotics like the Porsche Carrera GT, Ford GT, Ferrari 599 GTO and Porsche 911 Speedster strewn across the grass.

Don’t believe us? Check out the high-res gallery above.

The parking lot of the Quail is a car show in itself

History has a way of putting things into perspective that contemporary developments can’t. Take, for example, the Ferrari 599. Over the years, the front-engined V12 supercar spawned many derivatives, but while the GTO and XX track car stood out among the ultimate renditions of the model, the vast majority of those built were the more common GTB Fiorano version. That’s where Vörsteiner comes in.

The German aftermarket firm makes a series of body kits and wheel upgrades for a variety of vehicles, particularly Bentleys, Mercedes, Porsches and BMWs. But now Vörsteiner has turned its attention to a Ferrari for the first time.

The result is called the 599-VX, and it imbues the 599 GTB with some of the visual aggression of the 599 GTO and 599XX. The package includes an eight-piece body kit with a new front end, hood, side skirts, rear deck lid, rear intake panel and rear bumper with integrated diffuser, all made of carbon fiber. A set of lightweight wheels forged from aircraft-grade aluminum round out the package that is set to be unveiled shortly.

Lucky for you, the good folks at Vörsteiner, eGarage.com and photographer Albert Roxas gave us this sneak peek at what they have in store. Take a closer look in the high-res image gallery for more.

Vörsteiner previews GTO-look Ferrari 599-VX originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ferrari has started work on the successor to its lovely 599 GTB Fiorano. Our spies caught the beast, codenamed the F152, during some warm-weather testing, and although these shots confirm the car’s development, they don’t really give any useful clues as to what it will look like. Test mules – gotta love ‘em.

The bodywork you see here was stuck together from forms for the 599 GTO, and is only there to cover the new car’s chassis. The new Prancing Horse is slated to break cover sporting a 700-plus-horsepower 6.3-liter V12 backed by a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Rumor has it that the new Ferrari will also carry direct injection (not surprising). Stay tuned for more, but for now, see the 599 successor mule in our attached high-res image gallery.

Ferrari 599 successor caught out and about originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Few circuits in the world have gained as much notoriety as the Top Gear test track in Surrey, England. The show’s private playground plays host to the best performance machines and biggest celebrities. But Clarkson and company didn’t design the track themselves, it was set up by Lotus.

Now, Top Gear has again turned to Lotus to design two new tracks for the Top Gear Live traveling show. The courses, B20 Raceway and Docklands GP, will be set up at the NEC in Birmingham and the ExCel center in London, respectively, where thousands of fans will gather for the veritable automotive circus. Each circuit is set up differently, and the corners will be individually named, with an opportunity for fans to vote on the names of one at each track.

Clarkson, Hammond, May and The Stig will perform, of course, as well as Ring-mistress Sabine Schmitz, rival presenter Tiff Needell and five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell. An array of celebrities will battle for the top spot in the on-site Star in a Reasonably Priced Car competition. The highlights of the show, however, are sure to be supercars like the McLaren MP4-12C, Lamborghini Aventador and Ferrari 599 GTO, classic Group B rally cars and F1 racers past and present.

Follow the jump for the press release and check out the track layouts in the gallery.

Continue reading Lotus designs a pair of new test tracks for Top Gear Live

Lotus designs a pair of new test tracks for Top Gear Live

It’s official, ladies and gents: the Aston Martin V12 Zagato is entering production. Still, we wouldn’t expect to see one down at the local dealership anytime soon. That’s because, as expected, only 150 examples will be made, each fetching a whopping £330,000. That’s before taxes, and by current conversion rates, it comes in around $525,000.

To put that into perspective, consider the following: over in the UK, Lamborghini’s flagship Murcielago LP670-4 SV cost about £220k (roughly $350k), the new Aventador that succeeds it, slightly less. The Ferrari 599 GTO – its current top-of-the-line model – goes for £305,000 (around $490k).

In other words, the latest Aston is more expensive than just about anything this side of the seven-figure league populated by the likes of the Bugatti Veyron, Pagani Huayra, and Aston’s own One-77, which stands as the only offering in the company’s range that’s still more expensive than the Zagato. Everything else is less than half the price being asked for this latest coachbuilt special.

Those are some big figures, but the V12 Zagato is definitely big on beauty. Before it hits those lucky few dealerships, we’re expecting to see a few more road-car compromises to the almost-race-ready concours show car and the competition-spec version that subsequently tackled the Nürburgring. You know, stuff like a full interior (likely to be swathed in Alcantara), electric windows instead of these sliding plastic jobs and maybe a nose that’ll be able to get up your driveway without losing its carbon-fiber splitter. So watch this space for those pre-production photos and check out the existing galleries in the meantime, along with the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Aston Martin putting V12 Zagato into limited production with £330,000 price tag

Aston Martin putting V12 Zagato into limited production with £330,000 price tag

Typically, Ferrari works its products in two phases. First comes the all-new model, then a number of years later comes a substantially updated version that carries it through until the next all-new model comes along. Think 360 Modena to F430, 456 GT to 456M, 550 Maranello to 575M… noticing a pattern here?

That’s what Ferrari was originally planning to do with the 599 GTB Fiorano, but the latest reports indicate that the company has opted to skip the updated 599 and go straight to an all-new model. Which may make perfect sense, considering how many derivatives the existing 599 has spawned, from the HGTE to the latest GTO (pictured above).

The decision is reportedly spurred by the radical step forward which the company has taken from the 612 Scaglietti to the new FF. The 599’s successor won’t pack the FF’s all-wheel-drive system, or its shooting brake body style, but is likely to take advantage of its direct-injection 6.3-liter V12 to the tune of some 700 horsepower.

Sources expect the next front-engine/rear-drive V12 supercar to come roaring out of the gates at Maranello sometime late next year.

Ferrari to skip 599M and go straight for all-new model?

With the new FF already released, the focus at Ferrari is reportedly turning to a successor for the 599 GTB Fiorano, which, according to various sources, will pack “at least” 700 horsepower – the magic number achieved by arch-rival Lamborghini’s new Aventador.

The engine is expected to form the latest stage in the evolution of the V12 that powers the 599 GTB at 612 hp, upped to 661 hp for the 599 GTO and has produced as much as 850 horses in the FXX Evoluzione. With direct injection, a version of the same engine produces 651 hp in the FF – the same output as the Enzo for which the engine was originally designed – and a good 120 more horses than the 612 Scaglietti it replaces.

A lighter aluminum chassis is likely to further improve performance, but don’t expect the all-wheel-drive system from the FF to drive the 599’s successor too. While a future version could foreseeably adopt the system, reports indicate the car will (at least initially) be rear-wheel drive only, but the replacement for the California could incorporate all-wheel drive like its big brother.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Ferrari’s next-gen 599 to pack “at least” 700 horsepower

A true driver’s car can seem to know exactly what the driver’s thinking, but that’s really not the case. Right?

According to the latest reports, Ferrari is developing a series of systems that will actually read a driver’s mind and body to bring the relationship between man and machine that much closer. The reports stem from a patent application wherein Ferrari describes a network of technologies that will aim to read a driver’s respiration, perspiration, blink rate, heart rate, blood pressure, cranial activity and other parameters, adjusting the vehicle’s dynamics accordingly.

The hopefully non-invasive gizmos would be placed in the cabin ceiling, dashboard, steering wheel and seat, and are being developed in response to one simple conclusion: drivers think their abilities are beyond what they actually are. But is this one step too far in the development of electronic nannies?

[Source: Autocar]

Ferrari reportedly developing biometric driver aids

Given the extraordinary waiting lists, most Ferrari buyers are probably taking possession of whatever vehicle in whatever specifications they can get their hands on. But if you find someone who ordered theirs directly from the factory and waited the months it took for delivery, ask them how much they paid. Not the list price, but all-in with all the extra bits and pieces. Because anyone who’s been through the process will likely tell you that the sticker price is just the starting point.

Beyond the basic options list, Ferrari offers a Personalisation Programme (that’s “personalization program” in American) that gives buyers nearly infinite control over every minute detail. And the new 458 Italia is no exception. As you’ll see from the video after the jump, there’s a whole new range of options – on top of the usual seat belt and brake caliper color choices – that includes unique touches like two-tone paint schemes (for that 599 GTO-style look) and carbon fiber everything, made in the same kilns that bake the components for the Scuderia’s F1 racers. Just don’t expect them to throw in the extra bits for free.

[Source: Ferrari via World Car Fans]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari’s personalization program gives the 458 Italia endless options

Video: Ferrari’s personalization program gives the 458 Italia endless options

That didn’t take long. As soon as the Ferrari 599 Spyder post went live this afternoon we started hearing from multiple sources that Ferrari did indeed preview a 599 “Roadster” in Monterey a few weeks ago and that the letter posted on Luxury4Play is authentic. It shouldn’t be that surprising, after all, we did a post predicting the unveiling a while back.

Apparently the invitees had to negotiate a tricky path after clearing a security gate to get to the venue. They all had to sign NDAs and their phones and cameras were confiscated. The car that was presented to them was a 599 convertible with a part-time fabric roof that included a removable glass panel for the back window. It was described as an occasional use roof, making this more of a barchetta than a spider in Ferrari parlance. Actually one person described it as nothing more than a piece of fabric that connected to both sides of the body. We’re thinking a Porsche Boxster Spyder-type arrangement.

This particular 599 roadster was rosso fuoco – a rare and expensive multi-layer red – and had silver buttresses. It also had a new wheel design. The best news about this new model was that the engine will come from the recently unveiled 599 GTO and that the convertible will weigh no more than the current 599 GTB coupe. It will be priced at a premium over the GTO and will be limited to just 100 units. There was no indication of what this new model will be called, but Barchetta and SuperAmerica were used on the 550 and 575 convertibles, so maybe one of those will be resurrected…or possibly another name from Ferrari’s past, like Monza. Sales were tentatively promised for Summer 2011.

That was quick – Ferrari 599 Roadster preview confirmed

Monterey 2010: The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering

Every two years in July, hundreds of vintage race cars gather at the famed Le Mans race circuit in France to fire up their engines and relive the glory days in the historic corners and long straights of the nearly 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe. But that’s just part of it. In addition to the priceless machinery racing on the track, thousands of other classic cars trek to the grounds to fill nearly every open spot at the huge venue. Autoblog was invited by Porsche France to enjoy the 2010 Le Mans Classic in person, and needless to say, it was absolutely spectacular.

According to the organizers, this year’s show welcomed 100,000 spectators, 8,000 display cars, 460 racing cars and 1,000 drivers. With sunny 95-degree temperatures over both days, the weather was unusually hot and the grounds chokingly dusty, but it didn’t seem to keep anyone – or anything – from the event.

When not enjoying the racing, we strolled the show and stumbled over well-preserved classics from Jaguar, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Renault, Lamborghini, Audi, BMW and more. Porsche models were everywhere as the various European Porsche Car Clubs stormed the venue with more than 800 cars. Where else can you physically brush elbows with a race-ready BMW M1, a brand-new 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO and ride in the back of a historic war-era Willys Jeep all within the same 60 seconds? Le Mans Classic, baby. And these weren’t sterile, stuck-behind-the-ropes museum stock, either – everything was meant to be driven and enjoyed.

We’ve put together a massive gallery offering just a taste of the caliber of vehicles on display, running hot laps and racing last weekend. While we’ve attempted to caption many of these, some still have us stumped. If you can identify a few of the nameless, give us a shout in the comments (with the photo number as seen in the URL) and we’ll update the captions as quickly as our server’s cache will let us.

Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Autoblog attends 2010 Le Mans Classic, celebrates 80 years of legendary racing

Every two years in July, hundreds of vintage race cars gather at the famed Le Mans race circuit in France to fire up their engines and relive glory days in the historic corners and long straights of the nearly 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe. But that’s just part of it. In addition to the priceless machinery racing on the track, thousands of other classic cars trek to the grounds to fill nearly every open spot at the huge venue. Autoblog was invited by Porsche France to enjoy the 2010 Le Mans Classic in person, and needless to say, it was absolutely spectacular.

According to the organizers, this year’s show welcomed 100,000 spectators, 8,000 display cars, 460 racing cars and 1,000 drivers. With sunny 95-degree temperatures over both days, the weather was unusually hot and the grounds chokingly dusty, but it didn’t seem to keep anyone (or anything) from the event.

When not enjoying the racing, we strolled the show and stumbled over well-preserved classics from Jaguar, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Renault, Lamborghini, Audi, BMW and more. Porsche models were everywhere as the various European Porsche Car Clubs stormed the venue with more than 800 cars. Where else can you physically brush elbows with a race-ready BMW M1, a brand-new 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO and ride in the back of a historic war-era Willys Jeep all within the same 60 seconds? Le Mans Classic, baby. And these weren’t sterile stuck-behind-the-ropes museum stock, either – everything was meant to be driven and enjoyed.

We’ve put together a massive gallery offering just a taste of the caliber of vehicles on display, running hot laps and racing last weekend. While we’ve attempted to caption many of these, some still have us stumped. If you can identify a few of the nameless, give us a shout in the comments (with the photo number as seen in the URL) and we’ll update the captions as quickly as our server’s cache will let us.

[Source: Le Mans Classic]

2010 Le Mans Classic, celebrating 80 years of legendary racing

The 599 GTO being the fastest road-going Ferrari ever to roll out of Maranello, you don’t stand much chance of seeing one sitting still. Of course, the limited run of 599 examples doesn’t help. But as if an excuse were needed, that does give us a reason to bring you the latest batch of high-resolution images showing the Prancing Goat in all its glory.

You can check ‘em all out in the gallery below. That is, assuming you haven’t seen enough from the seemingly endless stream of videos that have circulated since the supercar’s debut. Yeah, we didn’t think so.

[Source: Ferrari via eurocarblog]

Pics Aplenty: Ferrari 599 GTO

So, if you were watching Chris Harris give the Ferrari 599 GTO what for and thinking, “Yeah, but can you can only really use a car like that on a track,” sit back and prepare to be vindicated. The gurus at EVO have been so kind as to release a three-part video series showing exactly what can be accomplished if the car is unleashed on the Ferrari Fiorano test track. And let’s just say you don’t hear him complain about the air-conditioning this time around.

The first segment sees Harris wedged in the cockpit with the insanely fast Raffael De Simone at the wheel – the same guy who managed to fling the car around the Nürburgring in 6:58.1. If you like seeing the typically even-keeled Harris get surprised by the wicked carbon ceramic brakes on the 599 GTO, you can check it out on the EVO site.

But we’re more interested in watching Harris himself shuffle the Prancing Horse. While there’s a profusion of descriptors like “quick” “awesome” and “outrageous” thrown about during the brief segments, it’s interesting to see the car’s driver aids come into play – and just how far they’ll let the car get out of line before reigning you in. Hit the jump to find out.

[Source: EVO]

Continue reading Video: This time, EVO’s Chris Harris takes Ferrari 599 GTO to the track

Video: This time, EVO’s Chris Harris takes Ferrari 599 GTO to the track

Ferrari always shows up big for the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and this year will be no exception as a roster of factory and private entries fill out the Prancing Horse stables on the run up the Earl of March’s front yard.

Both the 458 Italia and the 599 GTO will be making their British debuts at the event, but arguably more intriguing is the specially-prepared California that will be joining them. The two-tone roadster is decked out in a Argento Nurburgring hue, offset by a black roof and pillars similar to the treatment which Ferrari gave to various versions of the 599, including the XX, GTO, HY-KERS and China editions. Other optional extras like 20-inch matte-black rims and special interior stitching set this example apart from the standard model, but the question is – with some saying the body-toned roof helps the California’s unwieldy shape – does the blacktop treatment do it any favors?

Along with the 458, 599 GTO and California, the Scuderia will also be fielding last year’s F1 car piloted by factory test driver Marc Gené, while a range of vintage road and race Ferraris will also be on hand, all of which you can read about in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Special two-tone California to lead Ferrari fleet at Goodwood

Special two-tone California to lead Ferrari fleet at Goodwood