Autoblog

click above image to view high-res gallery of the Ferrari FXX Evoluzione

Following earlier reports, Ferrari unveiled a new, modified version of the super-Enzo during this past weekend's Ferrari World Finals at its Mugello race track in Italy. As the name suggests, FXX Evoluzione is a further evolution of the FXX program that places "client test drivers" (i.e. obscenely wealthy Ferrari aficionados playing Schumacher) behind the wheel of developmental test beds to try out new equipment for Ferrari. In fact, Schumacher himself was reportedly on hand to unveil the car, having sporadically participated in the program over the past two years.

The FXX Evoluzione picks up where the "ordinary" FXX program left off, extending the program by an additional two years, based on an even more radical version of the track-only machine. With 35,000 kilometers worth of telemetry from the 20 cars, engineers compiled a series of tweaks to sharpen the car's capabilities. Output is boosted to a staggering 860 HP, redline is up to a shrieking 9,500 rpm, and shift times are down to a lightning-fast 60 milliseconds. The traction control system has been modified to be less invasive, more adaptable and can be adjusted in-cockpit on the fly between nine distinct settings from corner to corner. Suspension geometry has been modified, as has the aerodynamic package, which, along with fresh livery, accounts for a slightly different appearance compared to the previous version.

The result of all these and a few other small modifications (which you can read about in detail in the press release after the jump) means that the FXX Evoluzione can now lap the company's private Fiorano test track two seconds faster than its predecessor at 1 min 16 sec. The kit can be retrofitted to any of the 20 FXXs that took place in the program until now, and includes participation in a renewed program that will take these most extreme machines to two events each in North America, Europe and Asia (for a total of eight track events) each year over the next two years. Money may not be able to buy you happiness, but it can buy you a seat as a Ferrari test driver, which sounds like happiness to us.

[Source: Ferrari]

http://digg.com/offbeat_news/Schumacher_to_present_the_new_Ferrari_FXX_Evoluzione_this_weekendReports are circulating in the Italian motoring press that Ferrari is preparing to show a significantly reworked FXX Evoluzione. The development car is reportedly being unveiled by none other than Michael Schumacher next weekend at the company's Mugello circuit in Italy in conjunction with the final stage of the Ferrari Challenge series. Also taking to the track will be an anticipated 34 retired F1 cars of various eras from the company's F1 Clienti program as well as the FXX program.

The FXX itself is, of course, an evolution of the Enzo supercar, which gives selected clients a chance to participate in the testing and development of new features and components for Ferrari road cars. It's essentially a rolling test bed, with new parts being tacked on all the time. The FXX Evoluzione, then, must be a significant step forward to warrant the new nomenclature, and sources suggest it will benefit from new aerodynamic elements, a new traction control system using applied experience from F1, and a power hike to 850 HP. Like the incremental modifications the FXX has undertaken to date as part of the ongoing program, the Evoluzione package is expected to be retrofitted to the existing cars.

[Source: Autosprint magazine via Autoblog.it]

Even though the Zonda is on its way out, Pagani has announced that the a track-focused version of the eccentric supercar is slated for production, making 750 HP and taking aim at the Ferrari FXX. At a price of 1.2 million euro, six deposits have already been placed on the Zonda R, with another four waiting in the wings. Production is scheduled for March of '08, right before Pagani moves into its new manufacturing facility, less than a mile from its current home.

Demand for the Mr. Pagani's wares has increased dramatically over the past few years, causing the company to purchase a new center that's three times the size of its current facility and allowing production to increase from 16 to 60 cars annually. Used Zondas are regularly fetching almost double what the supercar retailed for new, so there's little doubt that the market is there.

The replacement for the Zonda – known within Pagani as the C9 – has been pushed back a year to 2009, but the automaker intends to homologate the new vehicle for sale within Japan and the US. It's expected that over 50-percent of Paganis will be sold in these new markets in the coming years.

[Source: Evo]

Ferrari North America has announced the schedule for the 2007 Ferrari Challenge series. The series gives private gentleman-racers the chance to compete in the longest-running sanctioned racing series behind the wheels of their own specially-prepared F430 Challenge cars at locations around North America, in parallel to series across the ocean.

The series has been running since 1993, when the 348 was the chosen vehicle, replaced two years later by the 355. While the earlier cars were retrofitted, the purpose-built 360 Challenge was introduced in 2000 and is being entirely phased out in the new season after one year of overlap with the 430. This season will bring the Ferrari Challenge series to Homestead, Florida the weekend of March 9-11, Infineon in California April 13-15, Virginia May 18-20, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal to coincide with the Canadian Grand Prix from June 8-10, up at the renovated Circuit Mont Tremblant the following weekend, down to California Speedway August 10-12, then at Laguna Seca the next weekend before the world finals in Italy in late October.

Continues after the jump, where you'll also find the official press release.

[Source: Ferrari North America]

Last December, Ascari announced it was producing a new track-ready model more hard-core than its already quick KZ1. Now the British sportscar manufacturer of the KZ1 is ready to take the wraps off its new supercar in just a few days at the 2006 MPH show in England, and is giving us a sneak peek at its new crown jewel.

Unlike the FXX, which, technically at least, is a track-only car and not certified for road use (the Ferrari doesn't even have side-view mirrors), the A10 is road legal, though we suspect the ground-scraping ultra-low ride height and the race-spec suspension will mean it's more suitable for the track. The new Ascari is also a great deal less expensive than the FXX – about a third the price, actually: the FXX costs about €1.5 million, and the A10 costs "just" €522k. (Though, to be fair, the FXX price incorporates participation in a development program and includes storage, transportation, and upgrades to the equipment as they're developed.) Only ten of the super-quick Ascaris will be built to order for fortunate customers, who can also specify electronic "luxuries" like power windows, locks and mirrors, climate control and alarm system.

Now for the good stuff: the new Ascari ups the power from its 5-liter V8 from about 500 in the KZ1 to 625 horsepower in the A10. With carbon fiber body panels, the car weighs just 1200kg and is said to be capable of hitting 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and 100 in under 6. Those are some impressive claims, but with that much power and such low weight...well, let's just say we're dying to see it in action.

[Source: Ascari via AutoMotorPortal]

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]

Coming up just a couple grand short of $4 million dollars is one Ferrari FXX, on sale by Exotic Motorcars based in Boynton Beach, FL. The sale of this vehicle is news because all of the 29 FXX models built were supposedly sold to Client Test Drivers, longstanding Ferrari customers chosen by Maranello to become a bonafide part of Team Ferrari through their ownership of this track-bound hotbed of F1 racing technology. Those customers ponied up nearly $1.8 million to own an FXX new, and apparently the car is appreciating nicely after only a year in existence. Exotic Motorcars claims this specific FXX won't be available until December and has 0 miles on the odometer. We're surprised to see an FXX on the open market like this, especially one that seems to include all of the bonus value of owning an FXX, like free housing for your car at the Maranello factory and transportation to various international tracks.

[Source: 8887Exotic.com via autoblog.it]