Ferrari 550 Barchetta

The 550 Barchetta Pininfarina is the perfect interpretation of the classic, open-top front-engined V12 Ferrari sports car, complete with modern styling and technology.

The 550 Barchetta Pininfarina has a traditional barchetta-style cut to the windscreen, around 100 mm lower than the 550 Maranello, with a body-coloured finish to the lower section of the surround. Furthermore it reflects the past as a model aimed exclusively at open-air use, providing just a manual soft-top for emergency use.

Functional and unadorned with a simple manual soft-top, the barchetta-style solution has enabled Ferrari’s engineers to offset the additional weight gained by reinforcing the chassis and fitting rear roll bars. Consequently the 550 BarchettaPininfarina weighs no more than the 550 Maranello. The 550 Barchetta Pininfarina ’s exclusive design includes other distinctive features such as Ferrari badges on the wheelarches, two-piece alloy wheels and a unique aluminium fuel filler cap. The car can be ordered in any colour in the Ferrari range.

The car’s interior reflects its pure, sporting character, with leather and carbon-fibre racing-style seats (a four-point racing harness can also be ordered, depending on market availability). The driving position is enhanced by ideal ergonomics, with the wrap-around line of the dash attractively continuing across to the central tunnel and ensconcing the driver.

The sporting effect is completed by the interior’s carbon-fibre and black Lorica finish, and Lorica is also used to trim the central tunnel and the rear of the cockpit. Lined with impact-absorbing material, the rear roll bars, attractively trimmed in leather, provide additional structural rigidity as well as protection for the occupants in case of an accident. The windscreen surround has been redesigned and incorporates a high-strength steel tube to withstand the car’s weight in a roll-over situation.

Ferrari 512 BB

New European legislation on noise and pollution forced Ferrari Company to make major modifications to the 365 BB and so, in 1976, the 512 BB was born. Exterior changes included larger wheels, a new front spoiler and extra cooling ducts, while the engine was enlarged to nearly 5 litres.

However, the new larger engine was actually down on power and performance as legislation had enforced a lower maximum rpm. This was addressed, to a degree, in 1981 with the addition of Bosch fuel injection.

While many believe it does not have the charisma of its predecessor the Daytona, there can be no denying that the BB has its own place in supercar history thanks to its stunning looks and mid engine design.

Ferrari 456M

Unlike most Ferrari models, past and present, the 456M GT is a 2+2 berlinetta coupe, which means it has a snug two-place rear seat in addition to the customary front buckets. As the company puts it, this is “the evolution of a very popular concept amongst Ferrari clients who want a real Ferrari with the practicality of rear seats for two additional passengers.”

In contrast to the mid-engine 360 Modena, Ferrari’s least costly model that is equipped with a V-8 behind the seats, the 456M GT has a V-12 engine mounted up front. The list price for the 456M GT is $226,975, while the automatic-transmission GTA goes for $232,170. That makes the 456M Ferrari’s most expensive model in the U.S. market at least until the 550 Barchetta goes on sale in spring 2001.

Ferrari sold about 4,000 cars worldwide during 2000, the company’s eighth year of increased sales. More than 1,000 went to North America, with California accounting for 22 percent of sales. Plans for 2001 are identical, with no more than 4,000 cars expected to go out the door.

“Berlinetta” translates to “little sedan,” which is the Italian way of describing what Americans call a two-door coupe. Like otherFerrari models , the 456M GT was styled by Pininfarina, a legendary Italian design studio that’s been responsible for many illustrious models in the company’s history.

About a foot longer than the 360 Modena, the 456M GT measures 187 inches overall. Body lines are softer than those of other Ferrari models, coupled with a cross-hatch grille and large bodyside scallops. The car’s classic look is accentuated by its long-hood and short-deck profile. Body panels are constructed of aluminum, the chassis is made of steel, and the hood is carbon fiber.

Ferrari 456GT

1999 Ferrari 456GT

At the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari introduced a special two-tone version of the 456M GT as a further example of the personalisation opportunities offered by the Carrozzeria Scaglietti personalisation programme, presently adopted by 90% of Ferrari’s clientele.

In the case of the 456M GT displayed on the Ferrari stand, and expressly designed for Michael Schumacher, the dominant characteristic is the two-tone paint finish. This elegant ‘tone on tone’ personalised colour mix was obtained through a specific study personally commissioned by Schumacher on the chromatic tones of grey, then also applied to other exterior details as the wheel rims and the radiator grille.

The personalised options are also extended to the car’s interior with the new graphics for the dials, while the cross-drilled brakes contribute to adding a more sporty note to the two-tone 456M GT ‘Scaglietti’. The tailoring process has also been applied to many leather interior details, such as the steering wheel, the door trims and the rear parcel shelf.

The seats are characterised by micro-perforated leather to the central part, whilst the crimson stitching contributes to the even more personalised style of the interior. The final personalisation ‘touches’ are a special version of the hi-fi stereo system and the radio-satellite navigation system.

Hot Wheels

Fiat 500 and Ferrari: two universal motoring icons which represent Made in Italy, one cute and the other exclusive. This is why the Maranello House has chosen the Fiat model as its courtesy car for its customers, who appreciate Italian style and like unique products. In actual fact, two hundred Fiat 500 have been manufactured exclusively for the Ferrari sales network and will be driving on all of Europe’s roads.

Based on the Sport version and distinguished by the traditional red colour, the two hundred Fiat 500 specials are fitted with the lively 1.4 6v 100 bhp engine and offer specific tuning and exhaust in perfect harmony with the sporty spirit of the prancing horse: these two features are designed and made by Magneti Marelli, a leading components company in the Fiat Group which has supplied high-tech parts to Fiat and Ferrari for years. The same sporty theme can also be found in some aesthetic details such as the red callipers, sporty pedal set, special black steering wheel with red stitching and 16 alloy wheels with 195/45 tyres.

Ferrari Car

Enzo Ferrari was born in Modena Italy on February 18 1898. He came from a well to do family that owned a metal foundry making railroad parts, they were the first in his town to own a car. When WWI came Enzo's father and brother (Dino) were drafted into the Italian army, whom both died from influenza in 1916. Enzo was forced to leave school to run the foundry, when the business collapsed he started work as a metalworker at the Modena Fire Brigade workshop in order to support his widowed mother. Enzo himself was later drafted into the Italian army where he worked shoeing mules for the mountain artillery, after a few months he becomming seriously ill and was released from the military. Not interested in going back to shcool and against his mothers will, he found work as a test driver in Turin in late 1918. Enzo then moved to Milan to work at CMN (Costruzioni Maccaniche Nazionali) as a racing car driver. His first real race came in the 1919, the Parma-Berceto, he then entered the Targa Florio that same year.

Enzo then founded Scuderia Ferrari, (literally means Ferrari Stable) who were mainly sponsers and trainers for Alfa Romeo. He was officially hired by Alfa Romeo as head of their racing department in 1938, then in 1940, upon learning of the company's plan to take control of his beloved Scuderia, he quit Alfa. Since he was prohibited by contract from racing for several years, the Scuderia briefly became Auto Avio Costruzioni Ferrari, which ostensibly produced machine tools and aircraft accessories for Piaggio and RIV as Italy was gearing up for WWII. Ferrari did in fact produce one race car, the Tipo 815, in the non-competition period; it was thus the first actual Ferrari car, but due to the war it saw little competition.

In 1943 the Ferrari factory moved to Maranello, where it has remained ever since. The factory was bombed in 1944 due to making machines for ball bearing production, it was rebuilt in 1946 to include a works for road car production. The first Ferrari road car was the 1947 125 S, powered by a 1.5-litre V12 engine; Enzo reluctantly built and sold his automobiles to fund the Scuderia. While his beautiful and blazingly fast cars quickly gained a reputation for excellence, Enzo maintained a famous distaste for his customers, most of whom he felt were buying his cars for the prestige and not for racing. Ferrari has long been one of the ultimate toys for the rich and young (or young-at-heart). Ferrari cars feature highly-tuned small V8 and V12 engines, often in a mid-engined configuration. But until the introduction of fuel injection in the 1980s, they were quite temperamental and were dificult to maintain. Before the mid 1980s they carried a reputation for unreliability and bad engineering, though these were written off by enthusiasts as "character." Ferrari owners have famously and religiously defended the merits of their cars while virulently criticizing other brands.

new model of peugeot 5008

new model of peugeot 5008 is well underway. The French automaker is up to date with releasing all kinds of new and improved models every where, and this year is no different.
The latest release from Peugeot is the 5008 model which is a seven seater MPV. The 5008 measures in at 4.53 meters long and 1.64 meteres high. The car will have a larger than life windshield, a new panoramic glass roof and a total boot volume of 2506 litres.