Autoblog

Click on the image above to jump to our 52-image high-resolution gallery

Can't get enough of Ferrari's latest hotness? Neither can we, and the first batch of eight official images to come out of Maranello just weren't enough. So we flew out to Germany and got some more from the 430 Scuderia's unveiling at the Frankfurt auto show. But that still wasn't enough. So we got in touch with Ferrari North America to ask for more, but unfortunately our requests went unheeded.

Thankfully our Italian friends over at Automobilismo.it came to the rescue with a whole F1-calibre convoy full of new press images of the new Scuderia, that stripped-out supercar that laps Ferrari's private Fiorano test track faster than any Ferrari road car in the company's sixty-year history – including the Enzo.

Without confirmation from Ferrari, we can't be 100% sure these are all factory-issued, but until we hear otherwise, we give you this gallery of 52 high-resolution images. Enjoy them, because it can't have been easy for the photographer to get the 430 Scuderia to stay still for long.

[Source: Ferrari via Automobilismo.it]

Click on above image for wallpaper-sized images of the gorgeous GranTurismo

This writer fell in love in Switzerland this past March. It happened at the launch of the new Maserati GranTurismo. The thing is, I wasn't sure if my newfound affection was for the car or for the sassy model standing in front of it. What's more is that I'm sure I wasn't the only one. Thankfully, Maserati has put an end to my sleepless nights, at least, with the release of a new batch of images showing its breathtaking new coupe away from the glitz and glamour of the Geneva auto show floor.

It was tempting to keep the pictures all to myself, but that just wouldn't be fair. Not to you, and not to the car. She does love the spotlight ever so much. So we've added the new batch of images, in all their high-resolution glory, to our gallery below, together with the original stock images, concept sketches and shots from Geneva. Enjoy.

[Source: Maserati]

Click image for a gallery of desktop-sized photos

Yesterday we brought you a sneak preview of the much-anticipated Fiat 500. This marks the revival of one of the most iconic small-car designs in automotive history, a milestone in the Italian automaker's recuperation, and for buyers, an enticing new little runabout to add to the shopping list. Today, Fiat has officially released details and images of the sprightly Cinquecento. The car will be properly launched on the 4th of July, a date that marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of the original 500.

In the meantime, Fiat has provided us with the following: they've confirmed the car will launch with a choice of three engines. A 69hp 1.2-liter 8-valve four, a 100hp 1.4-liter 16-valve four, or a 75hp 1.3-liter 16-valve Multijet turbodiesel will be available and can be mated to a choice of five- or six-speed transmissions. That's before any performance-oriented Abarth versions enter the mix. The tiny car measures just 355 cm long, 165 cm wide and 149 cm tall, riding on a 230 cm wheelbase.

The Nuova 500, which will be built in Tychy, Poland, alongside the upcoming Ford Ka, promises to take the market by storm when it goes on sale, first in Italy, on September 15, with production targeted at 50,000 for 2007 and 120,000 for 2008.

Follow the jump for the preview video and the press release, or click below to view the images in high-resolution.

[Source: Fiat]

Click to jump to our high-resolution Koenigsegg image gallery from Geneva

Those Super-Swedes over at Koenigsegg serve up a potent reminder that not all supercars come from Italy. In fact, some of the fastest don't, as evidenced by the Koenigsegg CCX, whose level of performance ranks among the top of the supercar realm.

At the Geneva show, Koenigsegg was in full force, displaying three glorious examples: an "ordinary" orange CCX (as if it could be considered "ordinary" by any conceivable standard), plus a black ethanol-converted CCXR and a white FIA GT1-spec CCGT.

As we previously reported, the Koenigsegg CCX is so potent that it had to be de-tuned and "censored" to meet race regulations to make the CCGT. Power was reduced from 806 to 600 horsepower, and aerodynamic elements had to be replaced to meet specifications. The CCXR, meanwhile, produces more power running on ethanol than on gasoline, making a mind-blowing 1018 horsepower and 780 lb-ft of torque.

Want to see more? Check out our high-resolution image gallery from the floor of the Geneva salon.