2011 The New Ferrari FF Presentation in Maranello

Ferrari's website played host to the first images of the Italian marques first ever Shooting Brake model.

Badged as the FF, the successor to the 612 Scaglietti will be a four-seat, four-wheel drive supercar - the first of its kind and touted as a "revolution" by Ferrari.

Alongside other Shooting Brake models the FF stands out as it has rejected the squared-off rear of its competitors instead favouring a more rounded rear-end that smacks of a hatchback.

Again Ferrari has teamed up with Pininfarina - the famed Italian design house - to come up with the FF however similarities can be drawn to Shooting Brake predecessors like the Lotus Elite Type 75 and the Reliant Scimitar.

Earlier today, Ferrari showed off its brand new FF supercar for the first time in real life at a special event in Maranello, with the presentation being broadcast live on the Italian firm's website for all to see. In case you missed it, we have some photos from the special premiere that you can check out after the jump.

Ferrari 599 GTO

Thanks to the 670 hp engine, the SA Aperta beautifully represents the sporty spirit of the 599 GTB, and at the same time, it incorporates Ferrari's most advanced technology to deliver absolutely benchmark performance and superb driving pleasure. Its interior is stylishly sporty with sophisticated materials, trim and colors. The practically endless combinations available assure that each and every SA APERTA is absolutely unique.

2011 Ferrari 599 GTO Steering Wheel & Gauges

2011 Ferrari 599 GTO Side View

Detail Pictures And Review The New Ferrari-458

There are things you immediately notice when you climb in and start one up as well. Firstly, it is much more dignified when you start the engine up. It doesn't scream into life and blow out all the neighbours windows. The engine catches and then quickly settles into a gentle tickover. It will turn the heads of peopl walking down the street but it won't wake the neighbours up.

Inside the car the cabin is a big step up on previous generations with a futuristic looking contoured dash angled towards the driver. It's also fairly functional with two displays either side of the central dash, one for the sat-nav and there other providing a host of information about the cars current status. Some argue that the styling of Ferrari's over recent years haven't been too great - eye-catching yes but not always pretty. If that were the case then the 458 bucks the trend. It truly is a sight to behold. The exterior style isn't purely for show either though with performance always in mind. The 458 is undoubtedly the performance car launch of the year and has thrown down the gauntlet for its competitors.

Detail Pictures And Review The New Ferrari-458

2011 Ferrari-FF

The experts say that a person should walk at least 4 days a week to get the most from the exercise that you can. A daily 60 minute walk, which they can split up into two or three sessions each day, does wonders for the senior's physical health. It is extremely effective, walking for your health trains your heart to work less and makes your blood flow. Even people who have moderate arthritis of the legs and feet can greatly benefit from walking. A walking stick or cane can be used to reduce strain on the legs.

The research specialists have also discovered that "power walking" is a good way to get in an exercise that will raise your fitness level, especially in the 50 plus age group. Walking for your health does improve the senior's physical status a great deal.

You can see that if you are walking, either for leisure or as an exercise, it does a great deal for you no matter what age group that you are in. It is not an expensive sport either that you can do, and just about anywhere that you want.

Walking can raise your blood pressure; loosen up your stiff joints, if you do have any arthritis; and it can be a good exercise for all diabetics too. If you have diabetes, as all seniors should do is to first check with your medical provider to make sure that the activity of walking will be all right for you to do. Remember that walking is a form of exercising.

Paris Show: Ferrari California HELE gets Stop- Start Tech, Emits 23% Less CO2

Visitors to the 2010 Paris Motor Show may have noticed a rather innocuous looking, black-topped Ferrari California on display at the automaker's stand. This is the Ferrari California HELE, which stands for High Emotion Low Emissions. Think of it as a Ferrari for the environmentally conscious.

Featuring a host of technological jiggery including intelligent fan and fuel pump control, adaptive gear shift and "electronically controlled variable displacement"...air conditioning, the California HELE is said to reduce CO₂ emissions by 23% over its non-HELE sibling.

That's 270 g / km down from 299 g /km. The California HELE also features a stop / start system that can restart the car's engine in an impressive sounding 230 milliseconds.

Ferrari is also introducing some new two-tone finishes - no doubt for the 599 GTO wannabes - and water-resistant leather for its California range. There's no word on pricing or launch dates, or in what markets the California HELE will be sold. No doubt buyers will pay a premium over the non-HELE base model.

By Tristan Hankins

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

The Ferrari-612 GT Berlinetta

The interior is beautifully appointed with fine leather seating, and sleek, aircraft styled instrumentation. It also provided ample headroom for the two front passengers, and seats two adults quite comfortably in the rear seats.

It is impossible to choose which 12-cylinder Ferrari should be elected to represent part of the world's heritage, but what follows is a brief examination of the most notable 12-cylinders cars in Ferrari's history. The 250 GT Berlinetta was designed by Pininfarina and built at the Scaglietti works in Modena.

The Ferrari-612 GT Berlinetta

the Ferrari-612 original Colombo-designed

Both gear boxes deliver excellent performance and the high performance that Ferrari is known for. Combined with the V12, it delivers an amazing high performance output, and in a four passenger vehicle weighing in at just over 3,800 lbs.

Its power unit was a further development of the original Colombo-designed single overhead camshaft per bank V12 engine. The Testarossa revived perhaps the most revered name in Ferrari's history and the engine was the first four-valves-per-cylinder 180deg V12 cylinder configuration unit fitted in a Ferrari road car. The F50 was the limited edition Ferrari "extreme machine" of the 1990's, taking over the mantle from the epic F40. Whereas the two previous Ferrari "supercars", the 288 GTO and F40, had been powered by turbocharged V8 engines, the latest variant used a normally aspirated V12 engine. The mid-mounted engine was a 65deg V12 unit fitted longitudinally.

the Ferrari-612 original Colombo-designed

New ferrari 458 challenge front angle view

The 458 Challenge boasts a host of upgrades over its road-legal sibling to make it race worthy when it hits the grid in Ferrari’s one-make race series from 2011. The Ferrari 458 Challenge will make world premiere at the 35th edition of the Bologna Motor Show in Italy, which runs for the public from December 4 to 12.

Ferrari is also displaying a variety of other racing models from the past and present at its Bologna Motor Show stand, including a 430 GTC owned by the AF Corse team Ferrari and an F1 model.

Ferrari’s engineers have made modifications to the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox to further improve torque at lower revs. While the Challenge keeps the 458 Italia’s direct injection 4.5-liter V8 with an output of 570 hp at 9,000 rpm intact.

Finding a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

Finding a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti for sale is difficult as most owners would find parting with this special vehicle difficult at best, but if you are indeed fortunate enough to find one a true high performance car lover will be in heaven.

The first V12 of 1946, designed by Gioachino Colombo, was an engine of mere 1.5-litre capacity; by the time its direct descendants had reached the end of their development, they had grown to 4.0 liters. The first quality expected from a V12 is smoothness. It is expensive, a bit longer than V8 and it is heavy, but it is the best compromise for smoothness in a road car.

2010 Hamann Sports Cars Ferrari California F149

World premiere at the 63rd Frankfurt Motor Show - the HAMANN tuning programme for the Ferrari California F149. HAMANN unveiled the 2010 HAMANN Ferrari California program at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. The HAMANN Ferrari California is powered by a standard 4.3 liter V8 engine that develops 460 hp which 20% more than standard. The extra horses of the HAMANN Ferrari California comes from a re-programmed ECU and a new sport exhaust system.

2011 The Ferrari 458

The Italian-made Ferrari has been one of the biggest-selling sports cars of all time. Not only do the cars look sleek and stylish and like something you'd see in the sky as opposed to on the ground, but they're also extremely well built, lightning fast and rugged enough to hold up to the rigors of prolonged high performance. One of the newest Ferrari's is the 458 Italia.

2011 Ferrari 458 Challenge Photos

The new 458 Challenge is equipped with the last generation of Brembo CCM2 brakes integrated with the newest ABS system, which first debuted in the Ferrari 599 XX. The specific suspension set-up includes steel uniball joints, stiffer springs, single-rate alloy dampers, center-nut 19" forged rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 50mm all round.

2011 The Ferrari 458

All New Ferrari-458

The Ferrari 458 Italia shares some things with the Ferrari California. Most noticably when you move off you find that the gearbox is much nicer than the one in the F430. The Italia's is the same gearbox that is in the California, being a 7 speed dual clutch system which makes the car much easier to drive, especially in traffic. It seems though that these gearboxes are getting so good, it will be the only gearbox option on the 458 Italia.

In terms of handling, the steering is light and you barely have to turn the wheel due to a very fast steering rack - only a couple of turns are needed to get from lock to lock. With pretty much everything you need found on the steering wheel itself, the 458 provides a very hands on drive with no distractions away from you, the wheel and the road ahead. There is fantastic traction in all conditions and the ride of the 459 feels much stiffer and more rigid than the F430.

All New Ferrari-458

Ferrari 458 Challenge Car Tuning

 

Ferrari 458 Challenge Car Tuning

The 458 Challenge boasts a host of upgrades over its road-legal sibling to make it race worthy when it hits the grid in Ferrari’s one-make race series from 2011. The Ferrari 458 Challenge will make world premiere at the 35th edition of the Bologna Motor Show in Italy, which runs for the public from December 4 to 12.

Ferrari is also displaying a variety of other racing models from the past and present at its Bologna Motor Show stand, including a 430 GTC owned by the AF Corse team Ferrari and an F1 model.

Ferrari’s engineers have made modifications to the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox to further improve torque at lower revs. While the Challenge keeps the 458 Italia’s direct injection 4.5-liter V8 with an output of 570 hp at 9,000 rpm intact.

 

 Ferrari 458 Challenge Car Tuning

 

Ferrari 458 Challenge Car Tuning  

The Ferrari 458 Challenge is equipped with the E-Diff electronic differential already employed on the road-going version, a first for Ferrari’s track-only cars. Another first for a Ferrari Challenge model is the adoption of the firm’s F1-Trac traction control system. The race-spec model also gets a specific suspension set-up with steel uniball joints, stiffer springs, single-rate alloy dampers and a ride height lowered by 50mm all round.

Stopping power is provided by the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes integrated with the latest ABS system which debuted on the 599XX, Ferrari’s experimental laboratory car, while it rides on centre-nut 19-inch forged rims wrapped in larger dimension Pirelli slicks.

Result of combined is the improvement of the car’s lap time at Fiorano by two seconds over that of its predecessor, resulting in a new record of just 1’16.5”. According to the Italian company, the amount of lateral grip the new car generates is 1.6G. Read also about this car’s detail at previous post..

Ferrari 458 Challenge Car Tuning

 

 

MPH Show Website Polls Brits on their Ultimate Driving Partner and Cars

We've already reported on the upcoming Top Gear Live show at the MPH: The Prestige & Performance Motor Show at Earl's Court this November. Now the organizers' website has polled some 2,500 men and women on their preferences for dream cars and dream passengers. Details after the jump.

If you are into girls, your choices are U.S. singer Katy Perry, U.K. singer Cheryl Cole, U.K. TV host and model Holly Willoughby, former Friends cast member Jennifer Aniston or Hollywood star Halle Berry.

These lovely ladies will be riding shotgun in either a Lamborghini Gallardo, Spyker C8 Aileron, Bugatti Veyron, McLaren MP4 12C or Pagani [Zonda] Cinque

If, on the other hand, you are into guys you can choose from Twilight star Robert Pattison, action man Jason Statham, the needs-no-introduction Brad Pitt, ex-footballer David Beckham or Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney.

These fine gentlemen will be your co-pilot of choice in a Ferrari 458, Aston Martin One-77, Lamborghini Gallardo, Alfa 8C Competizione or Bugatti Veyron.

Oddly enough, I had to Google two of the girls, yet knew who all the men were. Speaking of which, I have to ask: Katy Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Robert Pattison and David Beckham? Really?

I think I'd rather cruise around with Mayor of London Boris Johnson or Octomom Nadya Suleman then any of them. And that's saying something. At least the polled seem to have better taste in cars than company.

By Tristan Hankins

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________