Autoblog

Click above for hi-res gallery of Novitec Rosso's Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

While America's top tuners make the scene in Las Vegas for this year's SEMA show, aftermarket firms across the pond are still moving ahead at full steam. Case in point, Novitec Rosso's latest take on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. The V12 supercar is already one of the fastest and most capable on the market, but the Dutch tuning wizards at Novitec saw fit to strap on a supercharger. Or two. The result? An astonishing 808 horsepower and a stated 823 Nm of torque (equivalent to 607 lb-ft by American standards).

For that much power, Novitec is quoting a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) run of 3.5 seconds with a top speed in excess of 340 km/h (211 mph). But if you're wondering why an extra 188 horsepower has had such a marginal effect on the "stock" Fiorano's acceleration, consider that Ferrari spent a lot of time perfecting the existing car's performance with the considerable output it already has. But if raw power and top end are what you seek, Novitec's engine enhancements will run you nearly 47,000 euros.

Of course, Novitec is also offering a brake upgrade kit to keep the added power in check, along with three-piece 21-inch rims and an optimized aero kit along with various interior trim options. For the full skinny, consult the press release after the jump, and check out the images in the gallery below.

[Source: Novitec Rosso]

If we came up with a list of our top "Best Day EVER" scenarios, we're pretty sure a straight-line race between the Corvette ZR1, Ferrari 599 GTB, Nissan GT-R and the Porsche 911 GT2 would be close to the top of our list. The scribes at Motor Trend were able to live that dream, but they threw us a bone by recording the supercar showdown for the world to see. Follow the jump to see the 638-hp ZR1 take on some of the best street metal from Italy, Germany, and Japan. We watched the video four times, if only to note the stark difference between the launches and finishes of four distinctly different supercars. And just for fun, write down your projected 1-4 finish and let us know how you fared in the post-jump comment section. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

[Source: YouTube]

Ferrari seem to content with cutting the roof off of everything these days. The F430 Spider remains the company's hottest-selling model, with the new California on the way. A roadster version of the 430 Scuderia is anticipated to make its debut at Mugello in November, and now spy shots have surfaced showing what sources suggest is a convertible version of the 599 GTB Fiorano.

Although the test mule in the spy shots has a fixed roof in place, reports note that the roof appears ill-fitting and mismatched in color to the rest of the body. If that's anything to go by, Ferrari could be planning a successor to the Superamerica version of the Fiorano's 575 predecessor and the 550 Barchetta that came before that. The former featured an intriguing Fioravanti-designed glass roof mechanism, however the 599 Spider would, in all likelihood, employ a similar folding hard-top to the clever mechanism found on the new California, to the possible inclusion of the Fiorano's aerodynamic buttresses. Following the revival of the GTB (grand touring berlinetta) designation on the existing 599, the convertible would likely take on the GTS (grand touring spider) nameplate, while installment of Ferrari's new quick-shifting SuperFast3 dual-clutch transmission could help mitigate the extra weight. Of course this is all pure speculation, so stay tuned.

[Source: Auto Express]

Click above for high-res gallery of this reflective 599

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.

[Source: CarDomain.com]

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. Thanks for the tip, Paul!

[Source: The Sun]

Click above for high-res gallery of the USD GT-S Passionata

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.


[Source: Ugur Sahin Design]

click above to view more high-res images of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

Ferrari has been doing a booming business of late, particularly across the pond where the UK is now the third largest consumer of the Italian thoroughbreds behind the United States and Germany. More impressive is the fact that last year Ferrari GB sold 699 cars, compared to 15 years ago when it only sold 128.

While that's all well and good for the folks from Maranello, it's becoming increasingly difficult to actually get one of Ferrari's offerings in the UK. The longest stretch is for the 599, which demands its well-to-do potential purchasers wait 36 months for the sleek V12 coupe. If you're willing to "downgrade" to the 612 Scaglietti, the wait is still two years and buyers opting for the "entry-level" F430 have to hold on to their promissory notes for up to 30 months.


[Source: WhatCar?]

One would think that with all the attention surrounding accidents with supercars there would be greater care on public roads. Well, fast cars are fun, and fun cars tend to make you forget both local laws, and the more fundamental laws of physics. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne knows this as well as anyone after he crashed his 599 GTB on Friday in Switzerland. Marchionne rear-ended a Renault while going about 60 MPH, which means the collision had little to do with the typical loss of control, and a lapse of attention was more likely the culprit. A few different Italian newspapers mentioned that the Renault "suddenly slowed", but the last time we checked, a Ferrari can stop a lot faster than any Renault.

Luckily nobody was hurt in the accident, but after a tango with a French car and a Swiss guard rail, the 599 GTB looks like little more than a $275,000 parts donor. It's really amazing that the 76 year-old driver of the Renault didn't end up with a bad back or whiplash, as it isn't every day that a Ferrari driven by a top auto exec comes flying into one's behind. It sounds a lot like winning the lottery, but without the risk of putting up $1 for the ticket.

[Source: Corriere.it via autoblog.it, photo by PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty]

Click image to enlarge

Edo Competition modifies cars subtly. While you might see non-standard colors and aftermarket wheels combined with an Edo graphic, nothing outlandish is going on. Most of the company's modifications take place out of sight, with updates made to cars' exhausts, suspensions, and engines in the form of an ECU tune. All of those things will happen on the company's white Ferrari 599 GTB, but the car's not quite ready yet (Edo told WorldCarFans it's "weeks away"), so we'll have to wait to get the final specs. As for the look -- white paint with black wheels -- thumbs up from us. In the meantime, you can see some additional sneak peaks at Dino Pannhorst Photography, which appears to have shot the car for Edo Competition.

[Source: Dino Pannhorst via WorldCarFans]

Ferrari is planning to have a formidable presence at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The company's main attraction will be the new 599 GTB Fiorano, which will make its first and only public UK driving display at the speedfest. The Fiorano will be showing everyone what it's made of on the Supercar Run each day of the event, winning many new fans along the way. More than a few attendees will head home after the weekend lusting after Maranello's latest cruise missile on wheels.

Goodwood will also see the premiere of a special 612 Scaglietti modified by Wallpaper* magazine's design team. They will make changes to the car inside and out to reflect a synergy of the design languages of both Ferrari and Wallpaper*.  At the very least it will be interesting, and more likely, it will be stunning.

The Scaglietti will be joined in the Ferrari area by the full range of Ferrari road cars, an FXX, the 2004 Formula 1 car, a number of classic Ferraris and a display showcasing the winners of the global design competition, Ferrari: New Concepts of the Myth.

It doesn't say so in the press release, but we checked with Ferrari and got confirmation that the FXX will indeed be making the run up the hill!

(Press release after the jump)

[Source: Ferrari UK]