Ferrari 612 (2004-) Review

Ferrari has long had a 2+2 in its range, a kind of semi-family Ferrari for those who love the Prancing Horse idea but can't justify the total self-indulgence of just two seats. It's hard to believe that the last such car, the delicious 456, is a decade old, but it is. And now it bows out in favour of the new 612 Scaglietti, named after the Modenese body-building operation which has built many Ferrari bodies over the years.

Scaglietti is nowadays owned by Ferrari, and it builds the 456 on an aluminium semi-spaceframe structure like that of the 360 Modena. This helps keep this hefty car reasonably light - for the 612's key feature is that it has proper rear space for two adults despite a near-200mph top speed and the ability to sear from a standstill to 62mph in just 4.2 seconds. The enormously long bonnet is one reason for a length of over 16 feet, and at 6ft 5in the width is similarly pumped-up.

Powering this Pininfarina-styled behemoth is a development of the 575 Maranello's dry-sump V12, now producing a monster 540bhp at 7250rpm. Naturally Ferrari's F1 paddle-shift transmission is an option - you pay £7000 for the privilege - and it has been ordered by 90 percent of the people who have already ensured all 612 production is earmarked for the next 18 months. It's now dubbed F1A, not in a reference to the international motor sport authority but to emphasise the improved automatic mode. That should please past 456A owners whose cars had a conventional autobox.

The design has a rearward weight distribution to match that of the 360, despite the front engine. That's because the engine is mounted well back and the front wheels are pushed well forward. Big it may be, but the 612 Scaglietti promises to be a mighty driving machine. Read on to see if the reality matches the idea.

As for the name, the six relates (very approximately) to the engine capacity, the 12 to the number of cylinders. Ferrari used to name its cars according to individual cylinder capacities (250, 330 etc) which would make this new one a 480 Scaglietti. Where all this leaves the 575 Maranello, for example, is hard to fathom.

source : www.channel4.com

Ferrari 599 (2006-) Review

Let some numbers set the scene. Maximum speed over 205mph. 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds, 0-124mph in 11 seconds, standing-start kilometre in under 20 seconds. The V12 engine, derived from the Enzo Ferrari's, delivers 620bhp - 40bhp down on the Enzo's figure but who's complaining? - and can rev to a manic 8,400rpm.

Oh, and CO2 emissions are 490g/km - so no cheap road tax for the 599 GTB Fiorano, then.

The 599 replaces the 575 Maranello. It weighs 50kg less thanks to its aluminium chassis and body (made by Scaglietti, like those of the F430 and 612) and it features terrific new technology, some of which has filtered down from Formula One.

Specifically, it has F1-Trac (a new traction and stability system), F1-Superfast (a yet-quicker gearshift system in the F1 paddle-shift gearbox) and magneto-rheological suspension dampers. These contain a fluid which becomes more viscous if a magnetic field is applied around the damper. Result: near-instantly-reacting adaptive dampers with no moving parts. Taken together, these three technologies make for a stunningly satisfying drive.

Other technical stuff? That drive experience is helped by placing 53% of the weight over the rear wheels, achieved by setting the engine well back in the chassis with the gearbox, in usual Ferrari front-engine style, mounted at the back and linked to the engine by a rigid tube. A twin-plate clutch reduces rotational inertia which helps those ultra-speedy gearshifts, and a dry-sump engine lubrication system lets the engine sit very low in the chassis. All four camshafts have variable valve timing and are driven by a single chain instead of the belt used in the 575 Maranello engine.

source : www.channel4.com

Review of the 2008 Ferrari 430 Scuderia

The 430 model range will get a new model in 2008 ? the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. The car will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show by Ferrari icon Michael Schumacher. The Ferrari 430 Scuderia will join the Ferrari F430 coupe and the F430 Spider models already available to the public. The V8 engine on the Scuderia is similar to the other Ferrari models using its torque power. With this 2008 model Ferrari responds to a series of announced models by direct competitors such as Lamborghini and Porsche. The Scuderia is set to fight against cars like the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, and for now the battle is still open on both sides.

This 2-seater berlinetta is yet another clear example of how Ferrari knows how to integrate Formula 1 experience into production cars. The high performance stats announced by company officials announce another winner as far as super car competitions are concerned. The Ferrari 430 Scuderia is basically a tuned up version of the F430. Clients opting for this special model are passionate Ferrari drivers that need some extra grunt and precision. Let?s have a look at what Ferrari actually did in order to increase performance of an already high power car.

Although it is based on the F430, the Scuderia is much lighter ? 100 kilograms lighter, in fact. The Ferrari 430 Scuderia weighs 1250 kg. Put this together with the power of the engine ? the 4308 cc V8 produces an impressive 510 hp at 8500 rpm ? and you get a power to weight ratio of just 2.45 kg for each horsepower. The naturally aspirated Ferrari V8 is also impressive when it comes to torque output, and all these facts combined push the Ferrari 430 Scuderia faster than any other F430 out there.

During development, Ferrari engineers focused on light weight materials and less gadgets and interior trim. This is how they managed to shave an impressive 100 kg from a proper super car. Since the car is lighter, it corners better than the F430 and has a more blistering acceleration. Other technologies involved in making the 430 Scuderia a better car are the F1 Superfast Formula 1 software used in the car?s computer management systems. It reduces each gear change to 0.6 seconds, allowing the driver more control over the revs and gear changes.

Another major area where Ferrari engineers managed to succeed is the stability program for the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. It uses a traction control system that combines the already popular F1-Trac traction and stability control with the car?s electronic differential, and both systems work together as a single unit. So all the extra power achieved by making the car lighter is also complemented by better road-holding abilities, thus making the Ferrari 430 Scuderia another success from the Italian car manufacturer.

The Ferrari 430 Scuderia is just one of the models that will make 2008 a great year for car fans. Find out more about other car manufacturers like Lamborghini, Porsche, Maserati or Bentley and discover the latest news before they hit the streets ? visit CarTitans.com for the latest news, wallpapers and videos or check out our selection of cars in the author box below.

source : www.grahamslam.com