Autoblog

1964 Ferrari 250 GTO sells for nearly $32M

Noah Joseph — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Earnings/Financials, Ferrari

Widely regarded as one of the most sought-after cars ever made, it's not every day that a Ferrari 250 GTO changes hands. But that day, according to reports out of the UK, has come.

Word has it that a private treaty sale - the only way vintage machinery of this caliber ever moves - of one such 1964 model has yielded a purchase price of £20.2 million - $31.8M in equivalent U.S. currency- just shy of the $30-40 million said to have been paid in 2010 for a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. In other words, this is the second most valuable car ever sold, and the most expensive ever sold in Britain. Or, at least, whose sale has ever gone on record, as many of these exchanges remain secretive.

Even in this case, although the purchase price was reportedly confirmed by the broker, the identities of the buyer and seller - and of the exact example in question - have not. The speculation is, however, that we're talking about s/n 5095, which British businessman Jon Hunt is said to have bought from former Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee in 2008 for £15.7 million (about $20.8M), and that it is now bound for Spain.

Whoever the buyer is, he or she is in good company. Of the 39 examples of the 250 GTO built, one belongs to Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, one to British radio personality and consumate Ferrari collector Chris Evans, and one to fashion icon Ralph Lauren (who also just happens to own a Bugatti Atlantic).

1964 Ferrari 250 GTO sells for nearly $32M originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1965 Pontiac GTO does donuts, helps sell boxers [w/bonus boxer puppies]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 18 May 2011 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Pontiac

1965 Pontiac GTO does donuts - Click above to watch the video after the break

We love ourselves some vintage muscle cars, and none more so than the one that started it all: the Pontiac GTO. It's 389-cubic-inch V8 engine burbling underhood, its paper-thin bias-ply tires at all four corners and its complete lack of any kind of safety equipment mean the old Goat is nothing if not a hoon's dream car.

But what does it have to do with boxers? Beats us. Whether you're talking about the kind you wear under your jeans (in this case from Camouflage) or the kind that licks you in the face, we're completely baffled as to why the donut-performing muscle car is being used to advertise boxers.

Oh well. The Pontiac GTO (1965 vintage, in this case) is always welcome on these pages, and boxer puppies are adorable. You'll find both of them in the video after the break. Enjoy! Thanks for the tip, Diland!

Continue reading 1965 Pontiac GTO does donuts, helps sell boxers [w/bonus boxer puppies]

1965 Pontiac GTO does donuts, helps sell boxers [w/bonus boxer puppies] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GTO London offers everything but the Prancing Horse

Noah Joseph — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Ferrari

Cufflinks by GTO London - Click above for high-res image

Ferrari is as much a lifestyle entity as an auto manufacturer, putting its name on everything from wristwatches to theme parks. Still, not everything imbued with the Cavallino spirit comes out of Maranello's marketing department. Case in point: the lineup from GTO London. An offshoot of vintage Ferrari specialists GTO Engineering, GTO London offers a range of Ferrari-inspired, if not necessarily licensed, paraphernalia.

The collection includes such items as cufflinks, keychains, tie pins and wallets, all styled along the lines of classic Ferraris and inspired by the marque's most legendary automobiles. Design flourishes range from steering wheels and shift gates to carb trumpets and connecting rods, realized in leather, silver, gold and "real Ferrari metal" reclaimed from the workshop's restoration projects. They may not be for everyone, but for the gentleman motorist with a soft sport for Maranello's finest, they're sure to make a welcome gift this coming holiday season. UPDATE: Additional high-resolution images added to the gallery below.

Gallery: GTO London

[Source: GTO London]

Continue reading GTO London offers everything but the Prancing Horse

GTO London offers everything but the Prancing Horse originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 31 Oct 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 1985 288 GTO lays claim to World's Fastest Ferrari with 275.4 mph run

Zach Bowman — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Videos, Ferrari, Racing

World's Fastest Ferrari - Click above to watch video after the jump

We've seen a lot of special action from the Bonneville Salt Flats this year, but this just about takes the cake. The guys from P4 by Norwood, a Ferrari tuning shop, are laying claim to the title of the World's Fastest Ferrari with a record run of 275.4 mph averaged over two sprints. Using a stock-bodied 1985 288 GTO, owner Steve Trafton managed to snag not only the title of world's fastest Ferrari, but the world's fastest sports car (AA/BFMS) at the same time. The Prancing Horse beat out the previous record holder by just over 3 mph.

Interestingly enough, Thrafton skipped using a high-dollar Italian mill for this car's beating heart. Instead, there's a 540 cubic-inch big block General Motors V8 wedged down into that slinky body. Two Borg Warner 80-mm turbos help shove a full 17 pounds of boost into the eight-pot. Thrafton isn't saying exactly how much power the car is laying down, but it has to be enough to move a planet on command if need be. Hit the jump to watch the Ferrari do what it does best on the Utah salt.

[Sources: Seattle Post Intelligencer, YouTube]

Continue reading Video: 1985 288 GTO lays claim to World's Fastest Ferrari with 275.4 mph run

Video: 1985 288 GTO lays claim to World's Fastest Ferrari with 275.4 mph run originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Next Best Thing: 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione up for auction at Brooklands

Noah Joseph — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Ferrari, UK

1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione - Click above for high-res images

Practical considerations aside, cost no object, if you could have any car ever made, what would it be? We'd bet that a large proportion of you would be thinking of the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO. Unfortunately, cost is an object for the vast majority of us. And considering how the iconic GTO is one of the most valuable, most sought-after classic sportscars ever made, the overwhelming likelihood is that most of us - make that practically all of us - could never stand a chance of owning one.

It's only natural, then, that there should be replicas made. Scratch that - "tributes." But if you're going to replicate a GTO, you're not going to start with an old Firebird as your underpinnings. You're going to start with another classic Ferrari. Just one not quite as valuable.

That's what the owner in that other video did. And that's what you're looking at here. This 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO "Evocazione" started its life as a Ferrari 330 GT, and in 1993 was sent to Italy to have its chassis modified before being fitted with painstakingly handmade aluminum bodywork in the UK. Attention was paid to every detail, down to the gauges and Borrani wire wheels. And now it's up for grabs, courtesy of newly inaugurated auction house Historics at Brooklands. Once it crosses the block there on September 25, it's expected to fetch around £240,000 ($377k) - which may seem like a fair chunk of change, but it's a far cry from the $18 million reportedly last fetched by the original.

Gallery: 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione

[Source: Historics at Brooklands]

Continue reading The Next Best Thing: 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione up for auction at Brooklands

The Next Best Thing: 1965 Ferrari 250 GTO Evocazione up for auction at Brooklands originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Ferrari 599 GTO

Noah Joseph — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ferrari

Ferrari 599 GTO - Click above for high-res image gallery

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.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 GTO

[Source: Ferrari via eurocarblog]

Pics Aplenty: Ferrari 599 GTO originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Zach Bowman — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:56:00 EST

Chris Harris and the Ferrari 599 GTO on track - Click above to watch videos after the jump

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.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 GTO

[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 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Angry Car Designer dreams up a Ferrari 612 GTO

Noah Joseph — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Design/Style

Ferrari 612 GTO by Sasha Selipanov - Click above for image gallery

Just about every time Ferrari comes up with a new variant of one of its supercars - be it the Scuderia, Spider, Challenge, XX or what-have-you - someone takes it upon themselves to imagine what another Prancing Horse from the stable would look like with the same treatment. Some come out looking better than others, but push comes to shove, there is no 458XX, no 599 Challenge and no California Scuderia. Once in a while, though, someone comes up with something truly intriguing.

In this case, that someone is Sasha Selipanov of Berlin, Germany, also known as the Angry Car Designer. Sasha's idea? The Ferrari 612 GTO. Only the thing is, these renderings don't depict what the Scaglietti would look like given the same treatment as the 599 GTO. No, this is something altogether more intriguing. More like a mix between the Aston Martin One-77 and the Ferrari 458 Italia, with a few elements from the original 250 GTO thrown in there for good measure. (Ferrari, Pininfarina? Are you paying attention for the 599's upcoming replacement?)

It's a design study, so there's little more left to discuss other than viewing the renderings for yourself, so check 'em out in the large gallery below. And if you like this, check out the source site, where Sasha's got some other intriguing designs on file. Most of them Ferraris, natch.

Gallery: Ferrari 612 GTO by Sasha Selipanov

[Source: AngryCarDesigner.com via autoblog.nl]

Angry Car Designer dreams up a Ferrari 612 GTO originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Dario Benuzzi laps Mugello in the new Ferrari 599 GTO

Noah Joseph — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Ferrari

Ferrari 599 GTO at Mugello - Click above to watch the video after the jump

When you're dealing with a car that packs 661 horsepower, the culmination of arguably the most exhaustive performance development program in the world, and the bragging rights as the fastest, most powerful roadcar ever built in Maranello, it doesn't take much to dramatize the results. Just the right driver and the right setting. The utopian pairing of Dario Benuzzi and Mugello ought to do the trick.

We're talking, of course, about the new Ferrari 599 GTO, the factory's veteran roadcar test driver (think Valentino Balboni wearing red) and the company's racing circuit north of Florence. The car was revealed online less than a month ago and live in Beijing a couple of weeks since. The driver we had the chance to meet during the California launch a couple of years back. And the track will be immediately recognized to anyone who's ever turned a lap on Forza. Follow the jump to see them come together.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Video: Dario Benuzzi laps Mugello in the new Ferrari 599 GTO

Video: Dario Benuzzi laps Mugello in the new Ferrari 599 GTO originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 May 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ferrari 599 GTO already sold out before presentation at Italian military academy

Noah Joseph — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Videos, Ferrari, Military

Ferrari 599 GTO presented at Modena's Ducal Palace Military Academy - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ferrari brought out the big guns last night for the official presentation of the new 599 GTO. A big gun in its own right, it was presented by the company's chairman Luca di Montezemolo, chief executive Amedeo Felisa and vice-chairman Pierro Ferrari, son of the legendary Enzo. Which is a good thing considering the venue: Modena's Ducal Palace military academy... the same location, incidentally, that sister company Maserati chose to unveil the Quattroporte Automatic over three years ago.

The grand gala, which also involved the participation of Ferrari factory test drivers and military cadets in front of a crowd of 500 clients, almost seems like overkill. Never mind that the fastest road car ever built by Ferrari speaks for itself, and that the supercar is set for an additional unveiling at Beijing Motor Show later this month. But the 599 GTO, according to reports, is already sold out. All 599 examples of it. Which means that, even if you've got the £300,000 asking price, the closest you're likely to get is via the video after the jump. Check it out. (It's actually dubbed over in English this time!)

Gallery: Ferrari 599 GTO presented at Modena's Ducal Palace Military Academy

Gallery: Ferrari 599 GTO

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari 599 GTO already sold out before presentation at Italian military academy

Video: Ferrari 599 GTO already sold out before presentation at Italian military academy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari takes wraps off new 599 GTO, quicker than an Enzo

Noah Joseph — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Beijing Motor Show

Ferrari 599 GTO - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've seen the spy shots. We've even seen the options list. Now Ferrari has officially taken the wraps off its new performance benchmark, the 599 GTO, ahead of the car's official debut later this month at the Beijing Motor Show.

Sort of a street-legal stepping point between the production 599 GTB Fiorano and the track-only 599XX, the 599 GTO evokes the famous Gran Turismo Omologato designation made famous by the legendary 250 GTO of the 1960s and the muscle-bound 288 GTO of the 1980s. That's quite a legacy to follow, so it's a good thing the 599 GTO brings the goods.

Output from the 6.0-liter V12 - itself derived from the Enzo's engine - is up from 612 horsepower to 661, with torque up a modest 9 lb-ft to 457. Coupled with a 195 kilogram (430 lb) weight reduction program - now tipping the scales at 1495 kg (3295 lbs), the leaner and meaner 599 can sprint to 62 miles per hour from a standstill in a scant (and very specific) 3.35 seconds, with a top speed in excess of 208 mph, while lapping the Fiorano test track from which its donor's name is derived in a blitzing 1 minute, 24 seconds. That's faster than the Enzo, people.

The GTO is also treated to more aerodynamic bodywork, including a new front splitter, side sills, diffuser and rear spoiler. The vented hood is new as well, as are the ten-spoke, 20-inch rims with F1-derived wheel donuts aiding aero efficiency.

Piquing your interest yet? Don't get too excited. As the new flagship in Ferrari's range, the 599 GTO is reported to fetch a price tag approaching £300,000 overseas (equivalent to nearly $460k). Only 599 examples will be offered, which is still more than the Enzo whose performance it eclipses. Follow the jump for the official press release, and check out the images in the gallery for a closer look.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 GTO

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari takes wraps off new 599 GTO, quicker than an Enzo

Ferrari takes wraps off new 599 GTO, quicker than an Enzo originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ferrari 599 GTO spotted again, still looks awesome

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Luxury

Ferrari 599 GTO - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Ferrari 599 GTO was caught standing still in the steel, and to quote the Big Tymers it's a #1 Stunna. The 700-horsepower, top-of-the-heap beast with the 60-millisecond shifts and monster options list will be gracing out waiting eyes in the very, very near future. And in red, we're feeling even better about spending 430 large on it when we finally do see it.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Ferrari 599 GTO

[Source: TeamSpeed]

Spy Shots: Ferrari 599 GTO spotted again, still looks awesome originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari 599 GTO pricing sheet leaked?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Ferrari

Ferrari 599 GTO price sheet - Click above for high-res image

You know that when Ferrari comes out with a new flagship supercar, it's going to cost a pretty penny... or eight. The upcoming exotic from the gates of Maranello is the 599 GTO, reviving the stoic nameplate that adorned the 250 GTO of the 1960s and the 288 GTO of the 1980s on what stands to be the ultimate iteration of the 599 GTB Fiorano.

A pricing sheet has apparently leaked onto the interwebs, revealing the "base" price of the 599 GTO and itemizing the various costly options available on top. The cost of entry, according to the sheet, comes in at a whopping 319,495 euros (nearly $430k). But that's just the tip of this high-performance iceberg.

Want the entire engine bay done up in carbon fiber? That'll be another 7,774 euros (over ten grand). Four point harness? That's a must-have at 2,990 euros (four grand). Want a full leather or Alcantara interior? Tempting choices at 4,425 and 3,708 euros, respectively (nearly six grand/five grand). There's plenty more, so click the scanned image above for the full specs.

[Source: Autogespot (translated)]

Ferrari 599 GTO pricing sheet leaked? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: First official shot of Ferrari 599 GTO

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ferrari

Click above to view the video after the jump

The crew at Fast Lane Daily have apparently scored the first official shot of the Ferrari 599 GTO ahead of its launch later this year, and while we're still suitably skeptical about the pic, we've been assured by the show's producers that this is the real deal.

So what's Ferrari have in store? If previous reports are to be believed, the GTO will be a road-focused version of the 599XX, packing a 700+ horsepower Enzo-derived 6.0-liter V12 capable of revving to 9,000 rpm. Shifts will be delivered in a mind-boggling 60 milliseconds, resulting in a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds as it climbs to a claimed 217 mph top speed. Only 500 units will be produced - and likely made available to select Ferrari owners - each carrying a price tag somewhere north of $400,000. Make the jump for Derek D's insufferable commentary and photoshopped shenanigans, and expect the 599 GTO to be revealed in full in the coming months.

Gallery: New York 2009: Ferrari 599XX

[Source: FastLaneDaily]

Continue reading Video: First official shot of Ferrari 599 GTO

Video: First official shot of Ferrari 599 GTO originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ferrari 599 GTO, is that you again?

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Luxury

The Ferrari 599 Gran Turismo Omologato - or something that everyone has given that moniker to - has been snapped in varicolored glory outside the Ferrari factory in Maranello. Taking turns in red-and-black, blue and black the car is disguised in the same way as the previous surreptitiously-caught 599 that everyone wants to be a GTO.

A keen spotter on Teamspeed even pointed out the fact that the tape over the rear bumper appears to be hiding vents as on the original GTO. Otherwise, save for the black roof and diffuser, things don't look like they'll change much if this is anything close to the final version. Of course, a 700-horsepower engine could be all the change anyone needs...

[Source: Teamspeed via Daily Derbi]

Spy Shots: Ferrari 599 GTO, is that you again? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Onyx gives the Bentley Continental the Platinum GTO treatment

Noah Joseph — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Bentley, Luxury

Onyx Bentley Continental Platinum GTO - Click above for high-res images

GTOs come, and GTOs go. Although the Pontiac GTO may be long gone, Ferrari is working on a new 599 GTO. Now Irish tuning house Onyx Concept - which previously worked up the Range Rover Sport and Vogue - is releasing a GTO of its own.

Based, as you can see, on the Bentley Continental GT, the Onyx Continental Platinum GTO packs a host of visual and performance modifications in an effort to take what is widely known as the "Camry for rich folks" to GTO levels of performance. That includes boosting the power from the W12 engine from 553 horsepower to beyond 640, although Onyx hasn't disclosed exactly how that's been done. The suspension has also been dropped to the ground like the pants on an American Idol contestant. 22-inch matte black alloys compliment a body kit comprising of a new front bumper with LED daytime running lights, wider wheel arches and carbon fiber splitter, decklid spoiler and rear diffuser.

Onyx says the Platinum GTO will be available beginning next month. Along with the pair of images (which we've posted to the gallery below), those are all the details available at this point in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Onyx Bentley Continental Platinum GTO

[Source: Onyx Concept]

Continue reading Onyx gives the Bentley Continental the Platinum GTO treatment

Onyx gives the Bentley Continental the Platinum GTO treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ferrari 599 GTO, is that you?

Noah Joseph — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari

Few letters hold the same lore for Ferrari fans as G-T-O. Pontiac muscle-cars aside, the letters were first used on the iconic '60s-era 250 GTO. The 288 GTO followed two decades later and laid the ground for the F40, the first in the modern age of Ferrari supercars. Now the name is set to come back again on an extreme version of the 599 GTB

Bridging the gap between the roadgoing 599 GTB Fiorano and the track-bound experimental 599XX - and filling the hole left by the Enzo - the 599 GTO promises epic levels of performance (and extreme exclusivity) worthy of the GTO moniker. The prospect first broke cover back in November when internal documents referred to a "599 GTO Limited Edition," and was followed up with more speculative details - including a 700-horsepower output figure - early last month. Now an intrepid observer in Maranello with a camera handy appears to have snapped a camouflaged prototype out in the wild.

Aside from the yards of white vinyl and black tape telling you something's up, this 599 test mule is wearing big black alloys, a blacked-out roof (like that of the 599XX, albeit sans the extra winglets), a monster rear diffuser and Prova-style factory plates. Beyond that there's little to tell, but this is the first evidence we have beyond rumors and conjecture as to what Maranello is up to next.

[Source: alVolante.it]

Spy Shots: Ferrari 599 GTO, is that you? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Ferrari 599 GTO? EVO says 700-hp bruiser is on the way

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Ferrari, Rumormill

Ferrari 599XX - click above for hi-res image gallery

Few words have greater impact when mashed together than "Ferrari" and "GTO." While there are rivals at times, the most expensive car in the word for the last three decades has been the original, Daytona Coupe battling, Le Mans winning Ferrari 250 GTO. Designed by Giotto Bizzarrini and raced into history by Phil Hill, few cars wear the moniker "legendary" quite as well. After all, only 39 were ever made.

But, like Leah, there is another. The mighty Ferrari 288 GTO. Developed -- like Porsche's 959 and 961 -- for Group B action, few if any cars set our hearts so totally on fire. Know nothings might scoff at the 2.85-liter displacement, but those of us in the know will point to the two turbochargers, two intercoolers and 400 stampeding horses. We might even tell them that if they turned the boost pressure up from 11.6 psi to something a bit higher, 600 hp is well within reach. However, the 288 GTO isn't, as just 272 examples (though some say 273) were made. Compare that to the 1,315 Ferrari F40s that were built. A car we should point out, that's basically a 288 GTO with a body kit.

Now there might be three. EVO is reporting that Ferrari is about to let loose a new GTO upon the world in the form of a 700 horsepower monster called the 599 GTO. Obviously, it's an evolution of the street 599, and in fact EVO's claiming it's the racetrack only 599XX for the street. During a recent interview, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa told the Brit mag that when the 458 Italia debuted, the 599 was internally reassigned to the "Sports Car" division, instead of where it used to reside, as a "GT."

More interestingly, should it come to fruition, the 599 GTO will have specs to make Enzo owners smack their own foreheads. 700 hp will come from the raising the 6.0-liter V12's redline to a stunning 9,000 rpm. A faster transmission should shave gear change times down from 100 milliseconds to an essentially F1 quick 60 milliseconds. And it will be light. Everything should add up to a 3.2 second dash to 60 mph and an Enzo-matching top speed of 217 mph. Though if the 599 GTO went a little bit faster than that, we wouldn't be all that surprised. Tip of the Ferrari branded $50 Kimi Räikkönen baseball cap (no, really) to Kevin!

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Ferrari 599xx

[Source: EVO]

Rumormill: Ferrari 599 GTO? EVO says 700-hp bruiser is on the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari, Rumormill

Ferrari 599XX - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ferrari often uses its World Finals event to unveil exclusive new versions of its most enticing road cars. The FXX Evoluzione was unveiled there a couple of years ago, and the 16M Scuderia Spider made its debut at the event last year. But aside from a mishap involving Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Luca di Montezemolo in a California convertible, this year's event at Valencia came and went with nothing new to offer. However, the latest churns from the rumormill indicate Maranello could be working on an exciting new project.

Supposedly leaked pre-order sheets reportedly refer to a "599 GTO Limited Edition", named in deference to the iconic 250 GTO (to say nothing of the ground-pounding 288 GTO). Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, the GTO could be Maranello's answer to arch-rival Lamborghini's Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce.

Incorporating design cues and technologies from the 599XX program, the 599 GTO could benefit from a weight-reduction program to cut some 100-150 pound off the curb weight thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, while squeezing out as much as 700 horsepower from the Enzo-derived 6.0-liter V12. Pricing would be expected to jump by as much as a quarter to nearly $400,000, and if the reports prove accurate, the 599 GTO could be ready for debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March with the first of just 500 examples slated for delivery by this time next year.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Ferrari 599xx

[Source: Autogespot]

Rumormill: Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jim Wangers back in the business of selling the Pontiac GTO?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:38:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Pontiac, Specialty

The Pontiac GTO is a muscle car legend. As the car that's most often credited with kicking off the trend of putting the biggest available engine in the smallest available body, the praise and adoration are well-deserved. Despite the reality that the Goat wasn't always the fastest ride available, Pontiac's performer was an instant hit and it carried that momentum through the early 1970s.

A good portion of Pontiac's success with the GTO can be attributed to Jim Wangers, who served as the brand's chief marketing manager when the GTO was first released in 1964. It comes as no surprise, then, that Wangers' name and endorsement was sought by Big 3 Performance, which is launching a new restomod based on the 1969 Pontiac GTO.

Changes to the original Goat's cosmetic appearance are minor, including wider hood scoops and a Trans Am-style ducktail spoiler. Inside, a custom dash and audio system join embroidered Recaro seats and GPS navigation. Holding it all up is a custom chassis fitted with Corvette bits up front and a tried-and-true Ford 9-inch rear end. Revised Pontiac Rally II wheels round out the visual package.

The car's powertrain gets a complete workover with a Butler Performance 505 cubic inch Pontiac V8 that's expected to put out around 700 horsepower. Shifting duties are handled by the same six-speed manual transmission used in the Dodge Viper. It's not yet clear when the Wangers GTO will be available and how much it'll cost, but early projections put the car at around $130,000 to $140,000.

[Source: Big 3 Performance via Detroit News]

Jim Wangers back in the business of selling the Pontiac GTO? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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