Ferrari 599 News

Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, BMW, Bentley, Jaguar and Audi will display new models, many for their first showing in Australia.BMW is holding the international unveiling of its 3-Series convertible in Detroit today, then will rush a car to the Brisbane show. It will go on sale in March, to be priced about $100,000.BMW also will have its just-released M6 convertible, with a Formula One-inspired V10 engine, $295,000 and six-month waiting list.Rival Audi will bring an early example of its new high-performance R8 coupe. Deliveries of the $300,000 car will not begin until September.Brisbane has scored a coup by attracting displays from upmarket marques Jaguar and Lamborghini, which bypassed the Sydney Motor Show late last year.At the top of the exotic list — and likely to be the most expensive car in the show — will be Lamborghini's $659,000 Murcielago LP640 coupe, making its Australian debut.The Italian-made V12-powered LP640, a new-generation replacement for the original Murcielago, has a larger engine and more aggressive styling. It is claimed to be capable of 340 km/h, and can reach 100km/h in 3.4 seconds.The show also will have the Australian unveiling of the production version of a smaller Lamborghini convertible, the Gallardo Spyder. Top speed 314km/h. Price $439,000.Other high-speed Italians will include the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano ($574,000, V12 engine, 0-100km/h 3.7sec, top speed 330km/h), Maserati's two-door $248,500 GranSport and four-door $258,000 Quattroporte.The 10-day show, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, will open on February 2. Adult tickets will be $16.

And the orders and interest in prestige and luxury brands has continued with stand managers claiming an increase in figures, despite a slight decline in overall attendance.The Mercedes SL500 was bought by a customer who was part of a group of VIP guests and has since sold four more models."We're generally generating around 45 to 50 leads of interest every single day during the motor show," Mercedes Benz spokesman Peter Fadeyev said.The new Bentley GT Continental Convertible has also generated a lot of interest with its first appearance at the Darling Harbour event.Bentley spokesman David Jackson said up to six orders have already been taken for the $400,000 car."We generate a huge proportion of enquiries from the motor show and we sell a lot of cars as a result of it," he said yesterday.Two Ferrari 599 GTBs, worth $700,000 each, have been sold while on display in Australia for the first time.Audi spokeswoman Anna Burgdorf said there has been a lot of interest in its R8, with 10 strong leads and major interest in the much-anticipated new TT model.BMW has already sold two cars from its stand and has generated a lot of interest in the coupes and M6. What's on today* The third nightly fashion parade features Sydney designer Nicola Finetti, noted for high fashion and cocktail wear. There will be two shows at the Saab stand at 6.30pm and 7.30pm.* When: 10am-10pm* Where: Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre* Tickets: Adults $17, 5-16 $10.50, under 5 free, family (2 adults and 3 children) $42* Follow the show online at the official Australian Motor Show website

From baby beep-beep hatches through to luxury supercars, the millions of dollars worth of metal on display is guaranteed to thrill and delight. But there are always some that stand above the crowd. Our 10 show stars were:H3 HummerOnly a distant relative of the behemoth that raced through the Gulf in Desert Storm, but it still has the aura. The Hummer is known for its size - particularly its wide girth. However, in reality it's not much bigger than your average family SUV but - for better or worse - is designed to make you think in supersize.Ferrari 599 GTBAs slick and stylish as the Hummer is clunky. A beautiful piece of Italian design wrapped around F1 engineering. You may never own one but don't miss the chance to see it up close and personal.Audi R8With this race-bred beauty Audi steps up to the supercar plate and hits a home run. Refined over a year on the motor show circuit, the production model is one to desire.Mitsubishi TRM 380 ConceptPoints for bravery on this one. Some exterior flash, some shiny new rims and performance rubber, racing shocks and a Sprintex supercharger bolted to the 380. The result is a special that is definitely worth a look.Volvo C30What will be the baby of Volvo's fleet when it arrives in 2007 should once and for all put paid to any suggestion the Swedes can't style a car. The little coupe should be a must-have for cashed-up youngsters - and safe to boot.Saab Aero X conceptWith a nod to its aeronautical beginnings, the Saab design team has come up with an absolute cracker. The ethanol-powered performance car was named best concept at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. Bentley Continental GTCAnother from the dream end of the market. The drop-top Bentley is proof that large cars - very large cars - can still look stylish ... and there is no substitute for that special attention to detail for which Bentley is known.Suzuki SX4 WRC ConceptWith its war paint on, the car that is going to take a resurgent Suzuki back to world rallying is an absolutely awesome sight. Even better: try to imagine this corker in civvies and you will have a pretty good idea of just what a grand Swift GTi this would make.Honda Sports 4 ConceptA glimpse into Honda's future with regard to their sports lines - particularly the Accord. The four-seat coupe is both sleek and menacing.Aurion Sports ConceptClose to the TRD Aurion scheduled to be revealed as a production car in early 2007, the Aurion Sports Concept is still a front-driver. The sports concept promises a substantial lift of the base car's 200kW thanks to a force-fed engine lifting torque above 400Nm.And a couple of extras that deserve a special mention with our top 10 favourites:Mazda Kabura ConceptThose crazy Japanese. Named for the sound of a howling arrow, the Kabura is a three-seater with a token effort at a fourth behind the driver. Styling and packaging is guaranteed to turn heads but don't be too quick to dismiss it out of hand. Mazda don't do things by accident.Hyundai Arnejs ConceptKorean design has been taking giant steps and the Arnejs Concept is one of the most stylish studies to come out of the Hyundai studios. Unveiled in Paris last month, the Arnejs points clearly towards the Euro-hatch derivative of the company's new Elantra.

Each carmaker presented their new cars to the media on opening day in ways that reflected their brands, ranging from the inner sex kitten, blustering diva, demure sophistication and plain old snoring.

The supercar is the pinnacle of motoring performance, aspiration and exclusivity. Sheets of carbon fibre, resined by hand, form the perfect picture frame for imposing V12 powerplants through a window of flat panel glass – an engine this beautiful (and valuable) is not to be hidden from the admiring public.Designer patented trim fabrics soften the leather and carbon-clad interiors, which are adorned with every sporting attribute and luxury accessory that money can buy.And the price ensures exclusivity.On the 2006 Motor Show floor, several production supercars stand out from the crowd – though they are usually hidden from sight by an admiring audience.The great red hype of the 2006 Show was again a prancing pony. The fastest ever Ferrari production supercar, the 599 GTB Fiorano, is glossy red metal and steely alloy wrapped around a 6.0-litre V12 powerplant developing 456kW and 608Nm of major mumbo. It promises speed just sitting on the stand, and a $600,000 price tag dictates that most mere mortals will never get a taste. It’s almost cruel.In the stand opposite sat the limited edition GranSport MC Victory, which celebrates the FIA GT World Championship win by the Italian carmaker. It copies many styling and performance cues from its MC-12 racecar sibling, and features blue-interwoven carbon fibre, blue suede, and a metallic blue finish, the Italian flag mounted on its A-pillar, and Ferrari DNA in its veins. Only 180 are on offer to Oz and NZ at a bargain $272,500.Bentley and BMW can both lay claim to the world’s fastest cabrio title. The bespoke Bentley Continental GTC (Grand Touring Convertible) takes the roof off the timeless Continental GT coupe, and ironically mixes leather luxury and wind-in-hair topless experience with a monstrous 411kW 12-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine.It can sprint to 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds - the same claimed time as Beemer’s new weapon.The M6 Convertible shares the 373kW V10 engine with its M6 coupe and M5 sedan siblings, while the fold-away roof bumps the price up $20K to $295,000. A steal next to Bentley’s $399,500 cabrio, but the two are of different worlds.Speaking of a different world – the Audi R8. The show stopper. Named after the infamous multiple Le Mans-winning Audi supercar, the R8 is a new breed of performance supercar from the marque renown for its iconic TT coupe and wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing sports saloons.The Audi R8 is a veritable Lamborghini-killer (a marquee which Audi ironically owns), powered by a 4.2-litre V8 FSI engine delivering 313kW at a high-revving 7800rpm, and 430Nm of torque. Top speed is 301km/h, and the 0-100km/h dash is done in 4.6-seconds.The design is cutting edge, with sloping sills and aerodynamic lines still accommodating real-world scenarios like golf clubs and luggage with storage compartments in the front boot and behind the seats (fore of the huge mid-mounted engine).The R8 carries a starting price tag of £77,000 in Europe, with pricing for Oz estimated at $250,000 to $300,000.Those with a small fortune in the bank who want to purchase one of these exclusive cars will still have to wait.The R8 will not arrive until mid 2007, and orders for the GTB Fiorano are backed up to 2008. So for the moment, the average punter and the handful of prospective buyers will have to admire, watch, and wait from the other side of the Motor Show velvet rope.A small comfort, perhaps, to those of us who will only ever dream of owning a supercar...

Both are coming straight from the Paris Motor Show, both are odds-on to be painted red and both are seriously quick machines. Ferrari's latest masterpiece - the 599 GTB Fiorano, above, and the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione - will both be among the show stars. And even if you would like to (and have the considerable means to do so) own one, the Maranello machine's order bank will mean a 2008 delivery date. The $270,000 Alfa's right-hand drive future looks bleak but it will be available to the U.S. market, marking a return for the breed after a 15-year absence. All the 599 GTBs allocated to Australia for 2006 and 2007 have already been sold and European Automotive Imports general manager Kevin Wall says even by Ferrari's standards that's a big deal. "The 599 GTB has been described as the best car in world, the greatest super car of all time, the ultimate useable supercar," he says. Ferrari boasts the $600,000, 1580kg 456kW/680Nm six-litre V12 599 GTB is faster than the F40 and just a little slower than the Enzo. "It is no wonder, therefore, that the demand for the 599 GTB Fiorano has been unprecedented," he says. The Alfa has made an appearance in Sydney before, only as a concept car, but Alfa Romeo general manager David Stone says it was only a dream then. "The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione we will unveil at this year's Sydney Motor Show is the production car, a real super car, available for a lucky few to buy," he says. "One thing that hasn't changed though is that the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is the epitome of everything Alfa Romeo. It is born from a genuine sporting heritage, designed with a passion for style and engineered with an obsession for performance." About 336kW and 470Nm is produced by the new 90-degree 4.7-litre all-aluminium V8, which sends drive to the self-locking rear differential via a six-speed manual gearbox. The fun is halted by a set of massive ventilated disc brakes hiding not so quietly beneath 20in wheels.

At least 40 new cars will be unveiled at the Australian International Motor Show, which begins in Sydney in two weeks.Futuristic concept cars, with designs and features hinting at possibilities for production vehicles, will lead the line-up.The Mazda Kabura is one such concept. Sitting between the size of an MX-5 and an RX-8, the Kabura features a glass roof that connects to the windscreen, and borrows chassis components and the 2.0-litre double overhead cam engine from the MX-5.For Nissan, the stand-out will be a concept car by the name of Foria, which was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. The compact coupe has easy access to the rear seats through centre opening B-pillarless doors.Likewise, Honda's new Sports 4 concept, also revealed in Tokyo last year, will be on display at the show. It features a low centre of gravity and low inertia body and a sports cockpit with futuristic controls.Over at the Saab stand, the aviation inspired Aero X will be on display in Australia for the first time. With a 298kW, twin turbo V6 engine, fuelled entirely by bioethanol, the Aero X does 0 to 100km/h in 4.9seconds.An eye-catching feature of this concept car is the cockpit-like entrance, usually found on a jet aircraft.Straight from the Paris Motor Show, Hyundai's concept car, the Arnejs, is aimed at developing a stronger identity for the brand. Designed in Germany, the Arnejs gives an indication to the upcoming FD-series Elantra, expected here late next year.While there will be a plethora of eye candy in the concept cars, they won't be the only stars to debut at the upcoming motor show. Production vehicles will also go on display to the public for the first time.Perhaps the biggest on the list will be the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. But those interested shouldn't reach for their wallets just yet. All models destined for Australia and New Zealand for this year and next have already been sold.The new Ferrari, which races from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.7 seconds, has a $574,000 price tag for the manual model and costs $600,000 for the model fitted with the F1 superfast gearbox.Over at Audi, the all new R8 will go on show. It is the company's first attempt at the rarefied supercar segment. With its 309kW 4.2-litre, V8 engine, the Audi R8 has a top speed of 301km/h.While the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione made an appearance in Australia at the 2004 Sydney motor show, that was merely the concept version. Now, two years later, the 8C will return in production form as a 336kW, 4.7-litre, V8 supercar.The new Holden Captiva, launched to the media this week, will also go on public display. The Captiva is Holden's attempt to break into the compact SUV market.Toyota's new V6 family car, the Aurion, will also make an appearance.Motor show spokesman, Mark Mathot says: "It will be as strong as any motorshow we have ever had and we still have a few surprises in store."Other new production cars to feature at the show will include the Alfa Spyder, the Mazda CX-7 and the new Audi TT.* Don't miss the official motor show magazine exclusively in The Daily Telegraph on October 27.FAST FACTSWhen: Thursday, October 26 until Sunday, November 5Where: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling HarbourPrice: Adults $17, children under 16 $10.50 (under five free), family $42, seniors $10.50More information: australianmotorshow.com

The Fiorano test track, Ferrari's private playpen near its northern Italian headquarters, has hosted legendary men and machines for more than three decades. Michael Schumacher honed his association with Ferrari on the 3km track (he still does) and spent hours between F1 tests adding his input into the development of Ferrari's latest road warrior, the 456kW 599 GTB. It is no surprise, then, that Ferrari chose to launch the 599 in a program centred around its test track. The opportunity to follow in - or tip-toe in - Schumacher's footsteps was simply irresistible. It also provided the ideal stage to showcase just what a sweetie this car can be. Much in the way a tame grizzly can be considered a sweetie, right up to the moment it turns on you, something it will not do short of senseless provocation. If Ferrari has done nothing else during the development of the 599, it has perfected a performance car for dunces. It has, in fact, done much more than that and the lucky few who get their hands on one of these - only 10 in Australia this year - can make of it what they will. "The ultimate challenge for a performance car is to be at the extreme edge but still be very balanced to drive," says Massimo Fumarola, who is in charge of Ferrari's product development portfolio. "It may sound odd but this is an everyday use car ... performance balanced with comfort." The 599's character is set through the steering wheel-mounted manettino, a Formual One-inspired switch allowing the driver to choose suspension, gearbox, traction control and engine settings. The engine setting range varies between ice, wet, sport, race and ultimate, in which all electronic aids are disabled and the car is set free. All the information relevant to the manettino setting is displayed on a digital display next to the bright yellow tacho, the dominant instrument in the well laid-out dash. The potential of the 6.0-litre (5.99-litres to be precise, hence the name) is brutal. Derived from the Enzo supercar powerplant, the 65-degree V12 can propel the 599 to 100km/h in a breathtaking 3.7-seconds on its way to a top speed somewhere beyond 330km/h. Punch it as hard as you are game and it will take a brave, or foolhardy, soul, to see the top end of the new Cambio F1 Superfast gearbox. At its most aggressive the shifts are down to 100 milliseconds, just half a blink off F1 times. At those levels there is no escaping the thumping violence of the shifts as the gearbox fights to keep pace with the howling engine. Switch the manettino back a notch or two, ease up on throttle aggression and the 599's sweet side re-emerges. Regardless of the choice of mode, the 599's magnetorheological fluid suspension system shines. The system, pioneered by General Motors in the current Corvette, utilises a particular property of MR fluid which sees it change density when subject to a magnetic field. Reading sensors throughout the chassis, the suspension's central processor varies the density and resistance of the fluid, reacting almost instantly to reduce body movement and maintain maximum tyre contact with the road. The result is an almost eerie sense of calm over the most uneven surfaces and a surefootedness that takes some serious exploration before limits are even approached. That sense of calm and control is assisted in no small part by the refined F1-Trac stability and traction control system. Derived, as is so much of the 599, from F1 development, the system offers a claimed 20 per cent increase in the grip quotient under acceleration during cornering. The car will still step out under extreme provocation, caught early and rather aggressively by the system in sport mode but allowed to drift a littler further with a more gentle correction in race trim. As an aesthetic exercise, the 599 GTB is divisive. The opinion on the look of the car can change as quickly as the angle it is viewed. Long and lean from the side, a shape dominated by creases and vents -- all with their purpose. The car sports no spoilers but its aerodynamic downforce is considerable, if subtle. At 300km/h there is 160kg of downforce, 50kg of which come from the distinctive "flying buttress" rear quarters. Apart from the track, the car was also tested on a 300km road loop to the north of Modena. Here the car showed it could be perfectly civil transport with the capacity for fun at a moment's notice. Even broken-up back roads did not phase the magentic fluid suspension while time on the open speed-limit autostrada gave the car the perfect opportunity to stretch its legs. The interior is Ferrari through and through. Individuality is a byword of the brand and there are countless combinations of trim colour, style, stitching and materials available. If you want it, Ferrari can make it. But with the covenant that personalisation will not involve mechanical performance enhancements, will not be illegal -- and importantly, will not involve anything outside the Ferrari philosophy. It wasn't specifically said, but there was a strong impression a lack of good taste in colour requests would also be discouraged. Very Italian, indeed.

AUDIThe much-anticipated second generation of the Audi TT Coupe made its public debut at this week's New York International Auto show. Audi Australia spokeswoman Anna Burgdorf says the new TT will be in showrooms here before the end of the year.The new TT features Audi's new magnetic ride-damper system, which uses metal particles suspended in the damper oil and electric current to provide variable damping. The car is also longer and wider than its predecessor while retaining the sleek lines pioneered in the original TT Coupe.DAIMLER CHRYSLERChrysler will unveil the stretched version of its popular 300C sedan. The extended wheelbase adds 150mm to the length while the rear seat environment has been enhanced with illuminated writing tables, more power outlets, footrests and custom-paint colours. Chrysler expects the 300C long wheelbase to attract interest from the limousine industry, as well as retail customers. Its arrival date in Australia is still uncertain.DaimlerChrysler has also showcased the new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, claimed by Jeep to be the most spacious ever offered. Also on the stand is the compact Jeep Patriot.The Dodge Caliber will bring the Dodge badge back to Australia and will provide a second passenger stream for Chrysler. It will arrive in Australia for sale mid year. Dodge plans to release a new vehicle in Australia approximately every six months for the next three years.MERCEDESThe mildly face-lifted E-Class with engine revamps will make its way to Australia in September or October. Other vehicles on display include the R-Class, which had its Sydney launch this week and G-Class, due in Australia in November.HONDAThe next generation of the Honda MDX large four-wheel-drive, sold as Acura in the US, is on show as a concept car. It is expected to be a pointer to the production model that will go on sale in the US later this year.Honda is not giving away much about the second-generation MDX model, which it says is designed, developed and will be built in North America. The current MDX started as a left-hand-drive-only model, but after sufficient lobbying, Honda agreed to build right-hand-drive models for Japan and Australia. Honda Australia says it doesn't know if the second-generation MDX will be made in right-hand-drive but hopes it will be.It is keen to keep the prestige MDX in its line-up because the big crossover wagon, which is about the same size as a Ford Territory, added 829 sales to its tally last year.SUZUKIThe Suzuki SX-4 – a joint Suzuki-Fiat enterprise – is set to be released to markets outside Europe in the coming months. Suzuki Australia will not officially commit the car to Australia but privately is understood to be anxious to add it to the marque's limited garage.The latest generation of the large XL-7 will not make it to Australia with a decision having been taken last year to phase the model out of local sales.FERRARILaunched at the Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari's 599 GTB has embarked on its world tour. Described as the company's most powerful V12 production car, the innovative and technologically advanced performance star is expected to make its first appearance in Australia at the Sydney motor show in October.MAZDAMazda has unveiled the CX-9, a seven-seat crossover sport-utility vehicle. Its arrival in Australia is still uncertain, with Mazda assessing the possibility of making the vehicle available in right-hand drive and getting it to market at a competitive price. Also on the stand – and confirmed for Australia – are the mid-sized crossover CX-7 and MazdaSpeed3 (badged as the Mazda3 MPS for Australia).LEXUSThe LS600h, which Lexus claims will be the world's first vehicle to feature a full hybrid V8 engine, has been unveiled in New York.This new version of its flagship will be available in Australia only in long wheelbase, and is due to be launched in the first half of 2007. Lexus claims the car will be economical for such a large body, averaging 14 litres/100km.PONTIACOne highlight of the New York showcars not destined for Australia is the G6 GXP concept car. It features Pontiac's distinctive nose also seen on the US-version of the now-defunct Holden Monaro. This concept car has 19-inch wheels and boasts a 200kW, 3.9-litre V6 engine.Which of these cars excites you?

Seen as a crucial gap-filler for GM Holden's line-up and a head-to-head competitor with Ford's market-dominating Territory, the Captiva is a mid-sized machine, which will launch with a 3.2-litre Holden V6 engine.It is expected to be on sale in Australia in the second half of this year with diesel and four-cylinder engines on the horizon.Details of the local Captiva are still a little sketchy, but GM Holden confirms it will be available as a five- and seven-seater with an "active" (part-time) four-wheel-drive system, which feeds on-demand drive to rear wheels.GM Holden chairman Denny Mooney says there was extensive Australian input into the Captiva project that "covers the outside, inside and underneath to ensure it looks, feels and drives as a Holden should"."This has been a missing link in our product line-up," Mooney says.The Geneva show was the launching pad for new models ranging from production-ready family cars to exotic concepts.Saab stole a good deal of the limelight with its Aero X concept, which not only shows a new life in the Swedish manufacturer's design department but also highlights a new direction for green technology.Fitted with a BioPower turbo V6 engine that produces 298kW, it is being trumpeted as a hero car for the bio-fuel movement.The Aero X is also a looker and Saab has tapped its aircraft roots to add a fighter-style cockpit canopy which does away with doors, opening windows and even windscreen pillars. "It represents our vision of what a high-performance car from Saab could look like," says Anthony Lo, the director of advanced design for General Motors Europe. The Concept A on the VW stand is a good example of an idea getting very close to a production future.Rumours abound about a Golf-based small SUV under development at Volkswagen and the Concept A fits that scenario to a T. The concept combines a sleek coupe-style silhouette with the raised stance of an SUV.The drive train is VW's tried-and-tested 4MOTION system while the engine is at the cutting edge of the company's combined use of turbo and supercharger technology. A production schedule for the Concept A could become reality in months.Kia's sleek SUV concept, the Cee'd, is based on the company's C-segment passenger model which start production in Slovakia in December. European Design Centre chief designer Gregory Guillaume says the concept was "the starting point for the new design DNA for Kia". Cee'd incorporates a mixture of designs from the Sorento SUV to the small Picanto.On the more extreme end of the SUV scale sits niche Dutch manufacturer Spyker's D12 Super SUV. Powered by a W12 engine the Spyker retains the marque's trademark sportscar lines but sits on seriously puffed suspension. Staying in a luxury vein, Rolls Royce has again produced an "experimental" car in the 101EX. The car has been hand-built to "explore a potential design direction for a future coupe model".The 101EX uses the same lightweight aluminium construction that was developed for the Phantom, although the body is shorter by 240mm.Ferrari has unveiled its replacement for the 575M Maranello in the shape of the 599GTB. The Modena maestros have not spared the horses in the sleek-bodied 599 using the 485kW 6.0-litre V12 derived from the Enzo supercar powerplant and already in use in the 612. With its lightweight aluminium chassis and body, the 599 GTB promises to be an absolute rocket. It will be on sale in Europe about the middle of the year.GM has shown it hasn't given up on the idea of a successful soft-top model with the unveiling of the Opel GT. There is no indication of how far through the GM family the GT will spread but indications are that it will remain left-hand drive only.Mazda has revealed its Mazda3 MPS, following the success of its Mazda6 MPS and continuing on its promise to have a performance car in every model.Unlike its larger sibling, the 3MPS will not get an all-wheel drive platform, and will stay front-wheel drive. That should make the promised 186kW output an interesting test for Mazda's suspension engineers.It hasn't taken long for Alfa Romeo to follow up its Brera sedan with an even more delicious spider version of the car.The Brera Spider will be in production before the middle of the year.