Ferrari F8 Reviews

This patent image may look like an upcoming GTO version of Ferrari’s F12 Berlinetta, but it’s actually the first official hint at the upcoming one-off Ferrari SP Arya supercar. Comissioned by petrochemical magnate Cheerag Arya, the SP Arya will be based on the previous 599 V12 supercar, and built by Ferrari’s Special Projects team. The SP Arya will be the sixth model to emerge from Ferrari’s bespoke skunkworks, following the Eric Clapton SP12 EC, the 430-based SP1, the P540 Superfast Aperta, the Superamerica 45, and the 612 GTS Pavesi. Like its predecessors, this patent image leaked to Car News China suggests the SP Arya will feature unique bodywork, blending details from the F12 Berlinetta and the flagship GTO version of the 599.  The hockey stick headlights, front facia and side scallops are clear F12 references, while the quarter panel winglets and the glasshouse and doorframes are pure 599 GTO. Arya has already accrued a formidable collection of prancing horses in his 32 years, which include an F40, Enzo, and a 599XX, and reportedly chose the SP Arya’s design from twelve concept sketches. Whether the Ferrari SP Arya will ever make a public debut is unclear, but is expected to be completed in the near future. This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn    

The Prancing Horse brand is about to launch an even prancier version of the already snorting 458 Challenge. Called the 458 Challenge Evoluzione, the new car -- set to be fully revealed later today -- draws on the experience the Italian supercar maker has gained in GT racing. Ferrari says that experience has led to aerodynamic improvements, most notable in this first image with a leviathan rear wing to produce increased downforce, balanced at the nose by modifications to the splitter and floor. This "allows drivers to make full use of the 458 Challenge Evoluzione's dynamics and performance, extending its limits and those of the driver, while improving performance both in terms of laps times and over long distances," the Ferrari teaser statement says. The donor 458 Challenge's mid-mounted 4.5-litre V8 engine carries over without any increases to the 419kW of power and 540Nm of torque, but Ferrari has modified the gear ratios and calibration to deliver peak torque earlier and has added its first electronic differential for a track car. Interested buyers will have to wait a little while to hear the price, but those who already own one of the 458 Challenges -- first launched in 2010 overseas for the 2011 one-marque season -- will be able to upgrade with the Evoluzione pack. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

This could be our first glimpse of the finished design for the next Ferrari California hardtop convertible. The sketches are reportedly official patent drawings filed by Ferrari with a registry for trademarks and patents in Europe.The images were found by the World Car Fans site, which believes the drawings show a new two-seat hardcore version of the Ferrari FF. However with the similarities to the current California, we believe the sketches -- if the real thing -- are more likely to be the California replacement due to be launched next year.A quick review of previous spy shots of a test mule for Ferrari’s California replacement show similar proportions, and a matching layout for the quad-exhaust tips. Also, there is no mistaking the suggestion of cut lines for what would be the California's retractable hardtop. The overall impression is of a more aggressive design than the current car, with cues taken from recent arrivals to the Ferrari line-up -- the FF four-seater, F12 Berlinetta and coming LaFerrari flagship.Specification details for the next California are still some way off -- and we'll know more closer to its estimated global debut at the Geneva motor show in March. But it’s thought the car will come with a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, with an F1-inspired KERS system possibly added to help boost power without incurring an emissions penalty.www.motorauthority.com 

Despite the global economic slump, We've seen the record price for cars rise several times over the past few years. And each time, it's been a Ferrari that takes the crown -- suggesting that the car brand is a better investment than gold, shares and real estate.A new record has been reached, according to Bloomberg, with a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO -- like the one shown above -- selling for US$52 million ($55.3m) in a private deal.The car is reportedly an ex-race car from the holdings of Greenwich, Connecticut-based collector Paul Pappalardo, but may have recently moved to a Spanish collector. Although the buyer has not been identified, the sale was confirmed to the business news service by three independent specialist classic car traders.But Pappalardo himself declined to give any confirmation when contacted. "We don’t confirm these things," Pappalardo told Bloomberg. "I have no comment."The car had been in Pappalardo's collection since at least 1974, and is a renowned race vehicle that bagged first place in the 1963 Tour de France Automobile, and the 1964 and 1965 Chamrousse Hillclimbs.The Ferrari 250 GTO models are a must-have for serious collectors of the Prancing Horse -- including  Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and fashion designer Ralph Lauren -- and this desirability is reflected in their string of record prices.The 1963 Ferrari 250 is the latest of its breed to hold the world record, taking it from  a 1962 Sterling Moss Ferrari 250 GTO sold for US$35m ($37.2m) in January 2012. That car swiped the crown from another 1962 250 GTO that went for US$28.7m ($30.5m) in September 2008 during the onset of the global financial crisis.Those were all private sales. We've yet to see a 250 GTO offered publicly, and the Ferrari record at auction is considerably lower -- held by a 1957 Ferrari 250 Tesa Rossa that saw a hammer fall of US$16.4m ($17.4m) at a Pebble Beach auction in 2011.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The wraps came off the Ferrari LaFerrari at the Geneva motor show earlier this year, but we're still in the dark about final performance figures. That data is likely being honed right now as the LaFerrari tests on the Nurburgring.Most of the figures we have so far include the 'less than, more than' qualifiers. Ferrari has so far claimed a 0-100km/h time of less than 3.0 secs (300km/h in 15 secs) and a top speed of more than 350km/h -- which could reach as high as 370km/h.That's achieved with a 6.3-litre V12 engine developing 588 kilowatts of power at 9000rpm and 700 newton-metres of torque at 6750rpm, mated with a 120kW HY-KERS energy recovery unit that adds short bursts of extra zing for a total 708kW and 900Nm.Final performance figures should arrive after more testing, and Ferrari is keen to bust the recent Nurburgring lap record for a road homologated car set by the -- also hybrid -- Porsche 918 Spyder, which finished the circuit in 6:57. McLaren is also eyeing the record for their P1 hypercar.Our spy photos show the test car on the difficult German circuit looks to be similar to the show car from Geneva -- with the addition of some camouflage wrap on the body. Although with it already having been shown undisguised, including runs on Ferrari's own test track at Fiorano, there could be little to hide now. 

Hyundai has given a look at the first of its show cars headed for SEMA in November: a loudly blue Genesis Coupe modified by Bisimoto Engineering.Based on a Hyundai Genesis 3.8 R-Spec, the concept added two turbochargers to the donor car's naturally aspirated V6, which also gained a raft of other changes, including forged pistons, a bigger fuel pump to feed the unit and the aggressive exposed radiator look of an intercooler to cool it -- resulting in a power output of 745kW.Yes, 745kW -- 200kW more than a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. In fact, it also trumps the Bugatti Veyron's 736kW. The Bisimoto Genesis Coupe sports an eye-gouging blue paint job set off by carbon fibre and black panels, and rides low-slung on 20-inch Incurve aluminum wheels.The cabin gets track-ready kit, including a roll cage, racing seats and harnesses --fitting with Hyundai's statement the Bisimoto Genesis aims to blend "the reliability of a street car but with the outrageous power of a no-holds-barred racer." Hyundai and other carmakers will be revealing other outrageous concepts ahead of SEMA's opening in Las Vegas on November 5.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Formula One has moved into turbo charged engines – and so will Ferrari road cars

Ferrari’s hardcore 458 Italia, the successor to the 430 Scuderia, has been revealed as the new Ferrari 458 Speciale. The vehicle’s dry kerb weight comes in at 1290kg, which combined with the stouter engine performance means 0-100km/h acceleration in 3.0 seconds flat and 0-200km/h in just 9.1 seconds. See the video here.

One of the big magnets at Frankfurt motor show this year was the dynamic BMW i8 - but performance purists might be horrified to learn the Bavarian muscle car only has a three-cylinder turbo 1.5-litre petrol engine. And an electric motor.But the output is staggering: 170kW/320Nm from the tiny petrol motor and the rest from the electric power plant, for a total output of 266kW and a whopping 570Nm of torque. It goes to 100km/h in 4.4seconds and uses next to no fuel. Try 2.5litres/100km.It's an all-wheel drive model, with the electrics powering the front wheels and the three-potter the rear. Most of the body is of carbon fibre plastic, the suspension and other underbody parts are aluminium and the electric bit can be recharged at home in about four hours.BMW says the i8 is likely to go from concept to production in a matter of months and has even worked out a price for it: US$136,000. It might be a tad more if it comes to Australia.Ferrari produced a 458 Speciale, said to be its 'best V8 ever'. The blue-striped red coupe producing some pretty decent numbers: 445kW/540Nm, three seconds flat from standstill to 100km/h and a top speed of 325km/h.Across the passage Fiat had a flotilla of its cute littlies. There was the 500e, an electric powered one with a 140km range, the 63kW GQ Twinair, a turbo S version with 77kW and one called Living which offered a head-spinning 88kW.Plus a 500 Abarth circa 1959, one of the world's earliest mini hotties, alongside the latest and considerably bigger version. But Alfa Romeo's 4C was possibly the best of the Italian sporting machines, a lovely blend of style, performance and balance at a comparatively affordable price.  

Innovation, many hybrids and all-electrics, some high-powered models and a couple of striking retro-inspired coupes are the highlights of this year's Frankfurt motor show. Throw in some staged antics and the world's biggest car show becomes even better.Volvo set the pace with an unveiling of its Concept Coupe, a technologically advanced number of exceptional grace reminiscent of its iconic P1800 of the 1960s. It embodies what Volvo calls its 'human centric experience' and apart from a host of safety electronics, has the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor that will soon replace the brand's five and six-cylinder engines.The engine has turbo and supercharging plus a plug-in electric motor, resulting in V8-like performance, but with minicar fuel consumption. However, the classy coupe is not scheduled for production in the near future. Instead, it marks the capability of Volvo's new architecture and elements of its design will feature on all future models, starting with the new XC90 in about a year.Frankfurt was also used to display a growing trend towards compact premium SUVs. Mercedes-Benz showed its cute new GLA-class SUV with new generation 4matic all-wheel drive, and Infiniti unveiled its Q30 concept, which it said was in a unique class, being a blend of coupe, hatch and crossover. A surprise was the appearance of F1 racing camp Sebastien Vettel, who said he helped sort the Q30's handling.Minutes later, Lexus trumped that by having a couple of giant animated creatures, seemingly from outer space, whip the covers of its new LF-NX, another smallish Crossover concept. It, too, had a hybrid powertrain and despite an enthusiastic description of how it's brushed metal finish made it look as if carved from a single billet of solid metal, it was just plain ugly.Then there were the glam cars: Ferrari, Maserati, Jaguar, BMW, Aston-Martin and lots of specially-bodied creations from Brabus and similar outfits, scores of Fiats and Smarts, Hyundais and Kias and about 50 more brands. Spread through about a dozen vast halls, they added up to sore feet and bewildered looks as people did their best to absorb the techno and visual overdose of tomorrow's dream machines.