Ferrari 599 News

The man accused of lavish overspending during his time as a car company boss has imported an Italian supercar into Australia.

We all know the Middle East has a healthy abundance of big-dollar luxury and supercars, but this video juxtaposes the typical ‘bunch of hoons hanging in a carpark' situation with exotica from Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, and Rolls Royce.This Ken Block-wannabe Ferrari 599 driver clearly has the budget of Block, but the skill level of a P-plater in a Gemini in the mall carpark after Coles shuts, as he slides precariously past a Ferrari 458, a pair of Californias, a Porsche 911 Cabriolet, a drop-top Aston and a Rolls-Royce Ghost - and a relatively pedestrian C7 Corvette.However unlike many Hagwalah drift videos, the gathering survives the clip unscathed, so perhaps the graduation from the usual Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord fare is just the ticket to successful Middle Eastern drifting.Watch the Ferrari drifting around other exotics video on our desktop site. This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

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 new, big sister to the 458 Italia aims to put down about 525kW from its 6.2-litre, direct injection V12 engine borrowed from the four-seater FF. But the front-engined coupe won't get the FF's all-wheel drive system - rather will keep the weight (and price) down with rear-wheel drive through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It won't even expand on Ferrari's carbon-fibre program, sticking with an aluminium chassis and body panels. It follows the limited-edition track-only 560kW 599XX launched in December that traditionally signifies the tail-end of a model series. The new car is known inside Ferrari as the F152 but has more recently been dubbed the 620. Ferrari Australia says the 620 name is just - at this stage - speculation, though carries some logic. It would signify a 6.2-litre engine with a superfluous "0'' to hint at its engine.  But Ferrari seems intent on keeping names as unpredictable as possible - the FF carries no numbers; the 458 indicates 4.5 litres and eight cylinders but is actually a 4.8-litre unit; the "F'' prefix is added and removed at whim - such as F360 but 458; and after Maranello, Modena, California and Italia, Ferrari is running out of choice geographical names. The 599-replacement (which is the most accurate name to date) goes on display at next month's Geneva motor show. It will stabilise the range at four models, adding to the 458, California and FF.

As Australians go through the discussion about same sex marriage, Americans also face the same issues. The American Family Association argues that if marriage laws are relaxed, we will soon legally be able to marry anything – even our cars. And that’s a proposal that had the Carsguide journalists shopping for confetti quicker than you can say ‘I do’. “I’ll take the Lamborghini Aventador to be my lawfully wedded wife, because it’s the Batman car - and I’ve got a thing for Batman,” Mark Hinchliffe confesses - but declines to discuss whether his current wife knows of his Gotham obsession. “I’d turn up at the altar with the Ferrari 599 FTB Fiorano, not because of its tongue-tangling name or because it’s the greatest car I’ve ever driven but because it’s a gorgeous, feisty Italian - and I’m married to one of those, so must have a thing for them,” says Ged Bulmer (with the nous of a man who wants to ensure he stays happily married to one of them).     “I’ll hook up the classic 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing,” says Karla Pincott. “But it will have to be an illicit elopement – that car isn’t the marrying kind.” “I’d be prepared to enter a civil union - as endorsed by the ALP - with the new BMW 328i,” says Paul Pottinger. “It’s sleek, fast, desirable and will grow on you. In other words, it possesses many of the qualities I would like in myself.” “My bride would be a Porsche because I like the German efficiency that means it would keep things clean, its cute rounded tail and the sensual sound it makes when going hard at high revs,” volunteers Neil Dowling bravely.

Set to be at the top of the street legal Ferraris, the 599 GTB will be officially unveiled at Geneva motor show in March, but has been snapped testing by spy photographer group, Carparazzi. Under the bonnet – rather than at the rear -- will be a version of the 6.3-litre V12 also carried by the four-seater FF all-wheel-drive – however the 599 GTB will be rear-wheel drive, via a seven-speed DSG transmission. Considerable work has been done with advanced aluminium technologies to reduce weight, and with a tipped 520kW of power, is likely to get to 100km/h in about 3.2 seconds and have a top speed above 340km/h.

Then we head north in a Holden Cruze and Mitsubishi ASX, looking to see how far this pair can go on a single take of fuel.  Ed Ordynski is in the ASX and I have the Cruze, holding  the trip computer just over 6 litres/100km as Ordynski - expert driver - is below 5 litres/100km.The first stop is just outside Port Pirie after 250 kilometres and the figures are 5.3 and 4.2, as we battle wind and rain.  A lunch stop in Waikerie - about 530km into the journey - and then a turn south to follow the Murray both cars maintain sub-6 readings - the ASX in the region of 4.5 and the Cruze 5.5 litres per 100km as we pass the 700km mark near Murray Bridge.The weather worsens as we follow the river south through 730km at Wellington."The ASX was more adversely affected by that, it was 0.3 litres/100km worse off - we did what you need to do into a headwind and that was reduce the speed a little," Ordynski says.Running down through the southern foothills to complete our 1000km journey we return the tanks to full. There are still 15 litres in the Mitsubishi's 60-litre tank, but my Cruze is almost on fumes.  But after thirteen hours of "real-world" driving we have hit our 1000-kilometre target."I would drive like that with people on board and not be embarrassed," Ordynski says.  "You win on fuel use and emissions as well, with 2kg of CO2 for every litre of fuel, you win on maintenance and longevity of the vehicle by driving it kindly as well, it's hard to see a downside."Ed Ordynski’s Fuel TipsLevel 1. Overall factors1. Plan when you need to use your car to avoid unnecessary journeys.2. Plan your journey to avoid peak hour and congested roads.3. Measure your fuel consumption and take pride in reducing it.4. Choose an energy efficient vehicle.Level 2. Anyone can try1. Concentrate on driving smoothly and anticipate traffic flow to conserve momentum.2. Keep tyre pressures at maximum recommended.3. Avoid any excess weight in the vehicle and remove accessories which affect the aerodynamics (e.g. roof racks).4. Choose a manual transmission and learn to drive it properly for optimum fuel efficiency.Level 3. Hard-core methods1. Avoid use of airconditioning and keep windows closed.2. Do not use cruise control but do focus on keeping a constant speed and conserving momentum.3. Drive at low speed - most cars are at their most efficient at around 75km/h in top gear.4. Drive off as soon as the engine is started, especially from a cold start.GREEN STARSMake-model weight price combined fuel con1. Mitsubishi -MiEV 980kg $leased 02. Toyota Prius 1370kg $39,990 3.93. Smart Fortwo 750kg $19,9904.44. Honda Insight 1205kg $29,9904.65. Suzuki Alto 880kg $11,790 4.8GREEN DUDS1. Ferrari 599 1690kg $677,250 21.32. Ferrari 612 1849kg $698,000 20.73. Nissan Patrol 4.8 2440kg $75,690 17.24. Maserati GT S Coupe 1880kg $345,900 16.65. Mercedes ML 500 2148kg $132,400 16.5

But it is the European brands who are trumping the locals with a range of concepts and production cars intended to tap into the sales boom and gold rush in China. Mercedes-Benz shows its Shooting Break wagon, Volkswagen has the new Phaeton flagship, Audi has a long-wheelbase A6, BMW has a new four- door coupe and Ferrari has its F599 GTO to make the running.The 45 local brands are doing their best - with Great Wall alone showing nine new models - but they are the entree for the main course choices from Europe. The big news from the Chinese carmakers - including Australian start-ups Chery, Geely and Great Wall - is a strong emphasis on green cars, mostly fully-electric plug-ins but with a smattering of hybrids.A total of 95 alternate-energy vehicles are spread through the nine giant, pulsating, colourful stands at the Beijing Exhibition. Even Volkswagen is using China Auto 2010 to push its electric strategy, promising to start local production of plug-ins between 2013 and 2014."As China becomes Volkswagen's most important market around the world, achievement in the electric-vehicle segment in China is key," says Martin Winterkorn, global chief of VW.Holden is helping GM make a Beijing splash with the latest version of the Volt, a boxy five-door SUV concept, which was built by the design crew at Fishermans Bend. It is impossible to underestimate the importance of the biggest motor show in China, as first-quarter sales in the country rocketed to 4.7 million vehicles this year.Most full-year sales forecasts for 2010 are set in the 16.2 to 16.5 million range, well ahead of the USA and fueled by overall economy growth which continues to run in the 8-9 per cent, year-on-year.

The three companies with Australia in their sights - Great Wall, Chery and Geely - are all expected to unveil new value-driven compacts and SUVs at the country's biggest annual motoring event.  Great Wall is the only brand with vehicles already in local showrooms, a dual-cab ute and SUV, but Chery and Geely will both hit the road down under before the end of 2010.BYD, a technology leader for China, is also planning to reveal its first plug-in electric cars in Beijing although it currently has no plans to sell overseas.  All 47 of China's manufacturers are expected to have something new at the show, with a move away from the copycat designs of the past - everything from the Rolls-Royce Phantom to the BMW X5 was either parodied or duplicated - to unique Chinese designs."They will all show their new export cars," says Ric Hull, the Ateco Automotive executive responsible for the Great Wall and Chery brands.  Hull says the Chinese car industry is advancing so rapidly it is hard to keep tabs on the new-model action."I think everything has to be seen in the context of the market. The Chinese made and sold about 13.6 million vehicles last year, and the US was 10.4 million," he says.  "They have not only eclipsed the US, they have gone way beyond them. In good years the US is 17 million, but the Chinese are there already."In the first quarter of this year, they have sold 4.6 million vehicles. So you're now talking 18 or 20 million a year. It's just gone bezerk.  "The thing that fascinates me most is how anyone can lift production to those levels. I don't believe the Japanese could do it, or even the Koreans."Hull says Ateco is already on track with additions to the Great Wall range including a single-cab ute, with Chery to hit first with a compact SUV.  "We'll launch Chery in August. It has just been an agonizing process to get the compliance issues in place, but it will be fine."I'm hoping to launch a RAV4-kind of vehicle at a really good price.  "Great Wall are talking about a 1.5-litre car that we'll introduce before the end of the year. They are getting there and getting there awfully, awfully quickly."Hull says he is expecting rapid improvement in Chinese vehicles, with quality and safety as top priorities.  Great Wall is just about to face its second ANCAP crash-test barrier in Australia and, following the miserable two-star result for the ute, Hull is hoping for a four-star rating for the brand's SUV."We took a hammering from NCAP on the utes but Great Wall reacted and they have made a lot of changes," Hull says.  Car sales in China are so important that all the world's major makers will be displaying in Beijing.Even though many skipped last year's Tokyo Motor Show, previously the world's equal number one with Frankfurt every two years, no-one can afford to miss the biggest motoring event in China.  There were more than a dozen world previews at the last Beijing show and a lot of the action is at the upmarket end of the business in 2010.Ferrari is unveiling its new go-faster flagship, the 599 GTO, and Mercedes-Benz will reveal an update of the $1.5 million Maybach ultra- luxury limousine.

The Maranello-based company has confirmed details of the 599 GTO ahead of its official launch at the Beijing Motor Show later this month. The road-ready street car is based on the experimental 599XX track car. It has already proven its race-track credentials too. The 599 GTO set a record lap time at the company's Fiorano test track in Maranello with a time of 1:24. Developing 500kW at 8250 revs and 620Nm at 6500 revs, the six-speed GTO hits 100kmh in just 3.35 seconds with a top speed of more than 335km/h. Despite the increase in power over the 599 GTB Fiorano, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions improve slightly to 17.5 litres/100km and 411 g/km respectively. Widespread use of composite materials and components from Formula 1 have kept the car's overall weight down to 1605kg - 80kg less than a Holden Commodore Omega.To match the performance, it gets the latest, second-generation carbon-ceramic brakes which are lighter and offer better performance. There are also new aerodynamic innovations, such as the wheel doughnuts which increase aerodynamic efficiency and improved brake cooling. A different tyre set-up with wider front tyres helps improve roadholding. Ferrari has thrown in what it calls the "virtual race engineer'' device, which provides the driver with instantaneous information on performance. Apart from new springs and a stiffer rear anti-roll bar, the car also features Ferrari's second-generation magnetic suspension system. Local prices and specifications will be announced when the car arrives next year. In Europe the GTO costs $461,238 but its local price is tipped to be significantly more. However, the size of your bank account will not guarantee pole position behind the wheel of Ferrari's newest sportscar. "Cars will only be sold to Ferrari's most valued customers worldwide," according to Edward Rowe, a spokesman for Ferrari importer Ateco Automotive Ltd. Rowe says many of these customers will already have a stable of Ferraris in their garages. Even though 10 Australian and New Zealand customers have expressed interest in the new 12-cylinder 599 GTO, not everyone will be able to walk into a showroom and order Maranello's latest weapon. With just 599 being made, many already have customer names to them. Australia has not been allocated a specific number of cars but only a handful are expected to arrive early next year. "We have no definitive number of the car we'll get," Rowe says. The GTO gets its first public airing at this month's Beijing Motor Show - recognition that China is emerging as one of the brand's strongest global markets.