Tag: Ferrari

1980s Supercar Icons Showdown: Lamborghini Countach Vs. Ferrari Testarossa

If you grew up in the ’80s and were into cars, there’s a good chance you had one of two cars (or maybe both) as a poster on your bedroom wall: the Ferrari Testarossa and the Lamborghini Countach. But which was the best in real life?

That’s the question at the heart of this video from 888MF, which pitted a 1986 Countach LP 5000QV against a 1988 Testarossa to find out what they are like to drive on the road.

Although the Ferrari has been driven much less, showing only 8,000 miles (12,875 km) on the odometer, it feels like the car you’d prefer to drive day to day. It might be a little less visually striking than the Lamborghini but it’s a much more mature vehicle.

Read Also: Lamborghini Built A New 1971 Countach LP500 Prototype From Scratch For A Collector

With build quality that befits its price tag, a quiet engine, good visibility, and predictable handling, the Testarossa is a remarkably easy car to drive. The gated shifter does take some getting used to, but the rest of it just feels like a normal car. And a good one at that.

The host says he’d be ready to take it across a continent if he had to, something he’d be much less willing to do in the Countach. With somewhat questionable build quality, absolutely appalling visibility, and braking performance that doesn’t inspire confidence, the Countach is a much less civilized affair.

There is an advantage to that, though. On a short drive, it makes much more of an impact than the Ferrari. It’s loud, it’s heavy, and it looks wild. It’s an absolute showboat of a car and if you just want to experience something fun for a little while, it’s peerless.

Whereas the Ferrari is a real grand tourer that you might actually drive, the Lamborghini is more of a showpiece that you use to impress your friends. Today, as it was for the children of the ’80s, the Countach remains, essentially, the automotive poster child of that wild decade that, if you can afford it, you can have in your garage instead of on your bedroom wall.

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Ferrari Launches ‘LaFerrari Power’ Warranty Program For Owners Of Its Hybrid Hypercar

Ferrari has announced an expansion of the warranty and after-sales services programs it offers for the LaFerrari and LaFerrari Aperta.

While it has been almost nine years since the LaFerrari was unveiled, it remains an important model for the automaker since it debuted electrification in Maranello’s cars. The new after-sales service program is dubbed LaFerrari Power and is a two-year renewable program that can be activated at any official Ferrari dealership regardless of the car’s year of production.

The LaFerrari Power program includes an extension of the car’s factory warranty which encompasses the complex HY-KERS system and high-voltage battery. In addition, LaFerrari Power includes annual scheduled maintenance where expert technicians will perform a host of detailed inspections to ensure the car is running in its optimal form.

Read Also: A LaFerrari-Based One-Off Could Be Unveiled By Ferrari In November

Ferrari hasn’t said how much the new LaFerrari Power program will cost owners of its flagship hybrid hypercars. However, if you can afford a LaFerrari, whether it’s the Coupe or the open-top Aperta, you can probably afford to extend its warranty without giving it a second thought.

As a reminder, the LaFerrari is powered by a 6.3-liter naturally-aspirated V12 engine that works alongside an electric motor and a small battery pack. It pumps out 950 hp and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque and until the arrival of the SF90 Stradale, was the car manufacturer’s most accelerative production car. Unlike the all-wheel drive SF90, though, the LaFerrari sends its power exclusively through the rear wheels.

Production of the standard LaFerrari Coupe was capped at 500 units while 201 examples of the LaFerrari Aperta were offered to the automaker’s most loyal customers.

Ferrari Announces Le Mans Hypercar Entry, Will Compete In 2023

Ferrari has become the latest automaker to announce a Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) program.

The company didn’t say much about their effort, but confirmed the program was greenlighted following careful study and analysis.

Development is already underway as the automaker has spent the past few weeks working on the car’s design as well as running simulations. If everything goes according to plan, Ferrari will enter the new top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2023.

Also Read: Toyota GR010 Hybrid Unveiled With Twin-Turbo 3.5-Liter V6 For Le Mans Hypercar Class

This will be a big moment for Ferrari as 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of their last official participation in the World Sports Car Championship. Ferrari went on to say they “proactively helped to establish” the FIA World Endurance Championship and aren’t a stranger to the 24 Hours of Le Mans as they have racked up 36 victories over the years.

In a statement, Ferrari President John Elkann said “In over 70 years of racing, on tracks all over the world, we led our closed-wheel cars to victory by exploring cutting-edge technological solutions: innovations that arise from the track and make every road car produced in Maranello extraordinary. With the new Le Mans Hypercar program, Ferrari once again asserts its sporting commitment and determination to be a protagonist in the major global motorsport events.”

While Ferrari didn’t go into many specifics, they confirmed drivers and the name of the car will be revealed in future announcements.

Regardless, they’ll be competing against Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, Peugeot and Toyota. Aston Martin was supposed to be part of that group, but they pulled out last year.

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What’s The Ferrari Roma Like To Drive Through The Canyons?

The Roma doesn’t just have unique styling when compared to other Ferraris, but it also drives in its own unique way.

Ferrari introduced the Roma as a middle ground between the Portofino and the F8 Tributo and journalists in the U.S., including Matt Farah, have recently had their first opportunity to put it through its paces. The Roma is marketed as a grand tourer but it performs wonderfully through the canyons and feels like a proper sports car.

It is powered by a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that is rated at 612 hp and 561 lb-ft (761 Nm) of torque and while this engine is used in other Ferraris, the Italian car manufacturer did modify it for use in the Roma and have given it a different character. In fact, Farah says that it actually sounds better than the one in the F8 Tributo.

Watch Also: Is The All-New Roma One Of The Best GTs Ferrari Has Ever Made?

Coupled to the twin-turbo V8 is an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. This gearbox snaps through the gears with blistering pace but needs to be driven in manual mode if you want to get the most of it. When left in automatic mode, it responds in a very relaxed manner.

Key rivals to the Ferrari Roma including the Mercedes-AMG GT C, Bentley Continental GT and Porsche 911 Turbo and while they’re all excellent, they don’t turn heads quite like the Ferrari does.

As you’d expect, though, it’s quite pricey and can get substantially more expensive once you start ticking the option boxes. As standard, the Roma starts at $218,000, but the car tested by Farah had an MSRP of $316,000.

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First Ever LEGO Technic Ferrari Is A $169.99 Miniature 488 GTE For Your Desk

Even though Lego and Ferrari first teamed up more than 15 years ago, their latest project, a miniature version of the 488 GTE, is the first Technic model made by the two companies.

Aimed at enthusiasts aged 18+, it is 48 cm (19 in) long, was made using 1,677 bricks and lives up to the expectations by looking like something you can proudly place on your desk.

It replicates the design of the Italian endurance racer, boasting its bespoke livery on top of the red body. Since it’s a Lego Technic model, it also features the bells and whistles expected from such a build, including the moving pistons inside the V8 engine and the front and rear suspension.

Read Also: 1927 Bentley 4½ Litre ‘Blower’ Will Blow Your Lego-Obsessed Mind

“When I was a kid, I played quite often with Lego bricks, so when I saw this reproduction of the Ferrari 488 GTE, I was really impressed, especially considering some of the features they managed to replicate”, said the Ferrari Competizioni GT official driver Alessandro Pier Guidi. “I have to say that to see a Lego Technic model of a car that I raced and carried my name on, has made me very proud.”

If you intended on buying it as a Christmas gift, that will unfortunately not be possible as it will only become available come January 2021. The miniature 488 GTE will sell on the Danish company’s official website, in its stores and at other retailers globally. U.S. pricing is set at $169.99, while in Europe and in the United Kingdom it will cost €179.99 and £169.99 respectively.

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Michael Schumacher vegetative, recovery unlikely

Michael Schumacher, the legendary Formula 1 driver who has been in a coma since a 2013 skiing accident, is in a “vegetative state” and has a minimal possibility of returning.

The report came from renowned neurosurgeon Erich Riederer during a documentary on French television station TMC.

Riederer said Schumacher, 51, is awake but is not responding. The seven-time World Champion is breathing and his heart is beating, but the physician believes the legendary driver’s condition is “the maximum for him.”

Formula One driver Michael Schumacher may never recover.
Formula One driver Michael Schumacher may never recover.

Schumacher was in a medically induced coma for six months after the head injury suffered in the Swiss Alps. He returned home 254 days later and he primarily remained there since.

Michael Schumacher: Another surgery set?

Schumacher’s condition has remained guarded and he has undergone several surgeries since his accident. Additional reports detail Schumacher will undergo a stem cell surgery in a bid to revive his nervous system. The previously scheduled surgery was halted amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michael Schumacher remains in a coma in France.

Michael Schumacher remains in a coma seven years after a skiing accident.

Schumacher’s son, Mick, a veteran driver, recently drove his father Michael’s 2004 title-winning Formula One car ahead of Ferrari’s milestone race, the Tuscan Grand Prix. Ferrari celebrated its 1000th F1 race.

Mick wore his father’s famous red helmet during the promotional laps. The occasion capped an important weekend in the younger Mick’s career. He took recently took the lead of the F2 championship and is he’s expected to compete in the F1 series next season.

The elder Schumacher won his seventh F1 championship in the F2004. Lewis Hamilton is seeking to equal the record this season.

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Ferrari May Soon Unveil A One-Off Special Project Inspired By The F40

Ferrari may be readying a one-off with a design inspired by the iconic F40.

According to unnamed sources, the latest vehicle from Ferrari’s ‘Special Projects’ division will be unveiled in the coming days and dubbed the SP42. It will apparently be inspired by the F40 and if it is indeed a one-off, has inevitably been commissioned for a very wealthy collector.

The story comes from The Supercar Blog which understands the Ferrari SP42 will have a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, likely the same 3.9-liter unit as the F8 Tributo that is rated at 710 hp and 568 lb-ft (770 Nm). However, it is entirely possible the one-off could benefit from a slight increase in power.

Read Also: A Ferrari F40 Was Crashed And Totaled Allegedly During A Test Drive In Australia

The Ferrari F40 has one of the most iconic designs in Ferrari’s rich history with perhaps its most identifiable component being the towering rear wing. Ferrari has been reluctant to use large rear wings on its modern road cars so it will be interesting to see if the SP42 has a wing like the F40. We have our fingers crossed it will as that would perfectly complete the design.

Ferrari has produced a host of unique ‘SP’ vehicles in recent years. One of the more recent creations is the P80/C unveiled back in March 2019. This car is based around the Ferrari 488 GT3 racing car and took four years to develop. It was inspired by the 330 P3/P4 and the 1966 Dino 206 S and has a design radically different than any other Ferrari.

Note: Modern-Day F40 pictured here is an independent study by Samir Sadikhov that is not related in any way to or endorsed by Ferrari

Ferrari 812 Superfast Is An Ode To V12-Powered Supercars

The days of the traditional internal combustion engines are numbered, and electrification and other alternative fuels are the future. When they eventually go out for good, though, the automotive world will look back at some of the most iconic models, like the Ferrari 812 Superfast, which sits at the top of the Prancing Horse’s range.

Succeeding the F12 Berlinetta, it is a two-seater grand tourer with a front mid-engine layout and rear-wheel drive. It has a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 under that very long hood that pumps out 789 HP (800 PS / 588 kW) and 530 lb-ft (718 Nm) of torque. The 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) is dispatched in just 2.9 seconds, and even though it feels like it can hit warp speed, it will eventually run out of breath at 211 mph (340 km/h), and there are very few places on our planet where one can reach such speeds safely and legally.

Watch Also: Nothing Gives You An Adrenaline Rush Like A Ferrari 812 Superfast On Full Chat

It may be billed as a GT, but the 812 Superfast is actually more of a supercar. It certainly has the numbers on its side, aided by the advanced aerodynamics, firm suspension and even rear-wheel steering that makes the wheelbase feel shorter than it actually is. The 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission features short and fast gear changes and the very sharp steering contributes to the unique experience provided by the car. The safety systems have your back in case you are too overenthusiastic on the controls and can get you out of some very serious situations.

The interior looks just as driver-focused as the exterior, with everything bathed in high-quality materials. The traditional controls are a fingertip away, as most of them can be found on the steering wheel, and even the passenger is included in this magic as they have a secondary screen right in front of them that displays the traveling speed, G-force readout and so on. The comfort part is not neglected either, as it features cup holders, USB ports and smartphone integration.

The 812 Superfast may have a bold name, but it is one bold ride that impressed Rory Reid, who got the chance to drive it shortly after the lockdown in the UK ended. What did he have to say about it? Quite a lot of things, but that’s for you to find out by watching the following video.

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What Else Can You Get For $1.1M Instead Of The Nissan GT-R50 By Italdesign?

The market for $1 million cars has exploded in recent years, and there are now many more choices in this rarefied segment than there used to be a decade ago.

One nameplate you wouldn’t expect to find on a list of cars that cost $1 million is the Nissan GT-R, though. That changed late last year when the production version of the limited-edition Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign was announced.

Made in just 50 units worldwide, the anniversary model is offered for a whopping €990,000 in Europe – the equivalent of $1.09 million in U.S. currency. For the money, buyers will get a unique coachbuilt body, an interior tailored to their exact specifications, the underpinnings of the 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo, and then some.

See Also: Nissan GT-R50 By Italdesign Limited Edition Unveiled In Production Guise

The hand-built 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 is specially tuned by Nismo to deliver 720 PS (710 HP) and 780 Nm (575 lb-ft) of torque, rounding out a very special package. But isn’t $1.09 million a bit too much to pay on what is essentially an Italian-styled and more powerful GT-R Nismo?

This got us thinking, what else could you buy for that kind of money? The following list is not exhaustive, as we mainly tried to illustrate the diversity of existing alternatives to the coachbuilt GT-R. You are more than welcome to add your own suggestions in the comments section. Here we go!

10 Nissan GT-Rs or 5 Nissan GT-R Nismos

Yes, $1.09 million will buy you roughly 10 (9.5 to be exact) 2020 Nissan GT-Rs – you know, if you ever wanted your entire family to drive GT-R. Priced from $115,335 (including a $1,795 destination and handling fee), the 565 HP 2020 Nissan GT-R is a supercar killer that seems like a bargain compared to the GT-R50.

If you feel your family members deserve better, you could spend your $1.09 million on five 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismos. At a cool $212,535 each, the 600 HP GT-R Nismo is the car the GT-R50 is based on.

Aston Martin V12 Speedster: $938,500

If buying a bunch of Japanese sports cars for $1.09 million is too vulgar and below your dignity, Aston Martin may have something for your exacting demands. It’s called the V12 Speedster and it’s created by the bespoke customization service ‘Q by Aston Martin’ in a run of just 88 units, each priced at £765,000 ($938,500). This makes it a much more affordable alternative to the McLaren Elva and Ferrari Monza SP2 while looking every bit as special.

With no screen or roof, the Aston Martin V12 Speedster packs a a twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 engine tuned to produce 690 HP (700 PS) and 555 lb-ft (752 Nm) of torque. That’s about the same as the GT-R50, but do you think people will even notice the Nissan parked next to this?

McLaren Senna: $1.05 Million

It’s not that often a Nissan GT-R costs more than a McLaren hypercar, but that’s exactly the case with the GT-R50 and the Senna. The mid-engined British model starts at $1,050,000, which means you can also pocket $40,000 after the purchase.

You’ll get a hypercar whose 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 churns out 800 PS (789 HP) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint of 2.8 seconds and a 211 mph (340 km/h) top speed. Plus, it’s named after the late, and legendary, Ayrton Senna. What else is there to add?

NIO EP9: $1.2 Million

Let’s stay in the realm of hypercars with a very special model, the all-electric NIO EP9. Admittedly, we went over budget with this one but we can make an exception to include the Nürburgring lap record holder for electric vehicles, which has posted a time of 6 minutes and 45.90 seconds on the German track.

Built by China’s NIO in a run of only 16 units, the EP9 is way more exclusive than the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign. It’s also way faster, as its four electric motors totaling 1,360 PS (1,342 HP) enable it to do 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 313 km/h (194 mph).

Lamborghini’s Range: Aventador SVJ ($518,000) + Urus ($211,231) +  Huracan Evo Spyder ($287,400)

This dream trio totals a little over $1 million and would make one heck of a garage for a Lamborghini enthusiast. Think about it; you’d have the stellar performance and presence of the 770 HP Aventador SVJ coupe, the practicality and all-terrain capability of a 650 HP Urus, and the open-top character and raw emotions unleashed by the 631 HP Huracan Evo Spyder. Hard to beat this combination, right?

Ferrari 812 Superfast ($338,750) + Ferrari SF90 Stradale ($625,000)

Well, if you’re a Ferrari kind of guy, you could have two of the hottest thoroughbreds from Maranello right now. We’re talking about the front-engined, 789 HP 812 Superfast and the mid-engined, 986 HP SF90 Stradale plug-in hybrid. You’ll be left with plenty of “change” too – $126,250 to be exact. The cash could come in handy as maintaining not one but two Ferraris is not to be taken lightly.

The range topping variant of each Porsche model

If reliability and bang-for-buck are important for you, you could simply spend your $1.09 million on getting the most expensive models of Porsche’s lineup. We’re talking one of each model line.

Here they are: 718 Spyder ($97,650), 718 Cayman GT4 ($100,550), 911 Turbo S Cabriolet ($217,650), Taycan Turbo S ($188,960), Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo ($193,050), Macan Turbo ($85,950), and Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe ($165,750). The grand total is $1.05 million and that would cover all your motoring needs, from sports cars, wagons and sedans to SUVs, motivated by gasoline, plug-in hybrid or all-electric powertrains.

Over to you now: how would you spend your (hypothetical or real) $1.09 million?

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