2009 Ferrari F149

The worst-kept secret of the year is that Ferrari will be introducing a new car - one that the company insists will not be called the Dino, after the firm's legendary GT - at this fall's Paris auto show. The best-kept secret of the year is what, exactly, that new Ferrari will be.

Thanks to our spy-photographer friends, however, we do know a few things about it. Like, for example, that Ferrari's newest sports car, which is known internally as the F149, has a normally aspirated (although probably direct-injected) V-8 engine in its nose. "If you think the F430's acceleration numbers are impressive," said one Ferrari insider, "just wait."

There's been a lot of speculation that the F149 will be a hardtop convertible, but close inspection of spy photographs leads us to believe otherwise. The F149's A-pillars appear too thin for open-topped rollover protection, and the convex rear glass looks too large to store in the trunk. Rumors also abound that the F149 will be a scaled-down version of the soon-to-be-discontinued 612 Scaglietti two-plus-two, but judging by the looks of the sloping roofline, the rear seats would hold little more than your wallet. (Uh, it's a Ferrari: make that your amply padded wallet.)

Ferrari continues to maintain - as it always has, even in times of woe - that the brand will never abandon its exclusivity in favor of higher volumes. Logically, then, the easiest way to put the brakes on the company's rapidly rising sales is to make its hugely desirable sports cars even more expensive. Thus, the rumors you've heard about the F149 being the "entry-level Ferrari" are true - but such a thing won't happen right away.

VERY CLEVER, THOSE ITALIANS: The front-engine F149 will likely be priced higher than the current mid-engine F430, which for now is the entry-level Ferrari. However, due to the use of more costly lightweight materials, the F430's replacement will be significantly more expensive than the current car. This leaves the F149 to take over the entry-level role. That's a neat sleight of hand - by making the price of entry into the Ferrari club even higher and keeping sales numbers suitably low, the cars from Maranello become even more desirable.

2009 Ferrari California

When the Ferrari California made its official debut earlier this month we were given a few details and about three pictures to drool over. Today Ferrari released a more detailed press release with some new pictures of the Ferrari California (some with the top closed). President Luca Di Montezemolo recently got behind the wheel of the California, taking several laps at the company’s Fiorano circuit. Of course he had nothing but good things to say about his company’s latest toy.

“I am very satisfied indeed with the work that the women and men of Ferrari have done,” said Montezemolo. “The California is an extraordinary car and I was delighted with the performance, comfort and driving pleasure it delivered.

So we already know that power comes from a 4.3 liter V8 producing 460-hp that is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. What new info did we learn? Well for one we learned the Ferrari California returns a combined fuel-economy of 18mpg. Oh we also learned that the retractable hard top that closes in just 14 seconds. And that’s about it. Now go drool over the new pics.

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Ferrari Fiorano 599 GTB

You have reached the net's most comprehensive Ferrari Fiorano 599 GTB resource, where you can find everything you could ever have possibly wanted to know about this unique and currently rather elusive car. Ferrari have an unrivalled reputation in car design and manufacture. They have produced some of the world's most successful and highly acclaimed cars, from likes of the Ferrari 250GT SWB to the F50, the list of Ferrari triumphs is endless. This exemplary record has been continued with the new Fiorano 599 GTB.

The Ferrari 599 Fiorano is not just another sports car; far from it. Ferrari have successfully achieved yet another new level of class and sophistication, while also delivering everything that you would expect from a sports car. Since first going on display at the Geneva Motor Show the Ferrari Fiorano has received the admiration of auto-enthusiasts around the world. However, you certainly do not have to be an enthusiast to fully appreciate the sleek, subtle curves, lines and utterly beautiful exterior design of this truly magnificent car.

Unlike many sports cars, the elegance of the Ferrari 599 Fiorano's exterior is also carried through to the hand-crafted, personalised interior design, which is both sporty and extremely comfortable. The interior makes use of the latest in carbon fiber and aluminum material technology, as well as taking full advantage of more traditional materials, such as leather. In their efforts to produce a high performance sports car that is a pleasure to drive, Ferrari have certainly not forgotten about the passenger. Both driver and passenger will travel in supreme comfort and style, in fact a central grip has specifically been included to provide extra support for the car's passenger.

Moreover, Ferrari have designed the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano with a wide range of personalization options, giving each car its own unique signature. It is possible to make choices in a wide range of categories, including; equipment and travel, racing and track, exteriors and colours and interior and materials. Within these categories buyers can choose to add a multitude of amazing features. For example, you can choose to have a state-of-the-art carbon fiber steering wheel with an LED display, which is made possible by the very latest technological advancements in this field. Conveniently, afully integrated satellite navigation system is yet another optional extra that is available with the Fiorano.

This fantastic car isn't just about looks, although it does undeniably look great, the Ferrari 599 Fiorano also outperforms other cars in this field. You need but glimpse the car's impressive specifications to see that it does indeed deserve the title of super-car. The engine has a maximum power of 456kW at 7600rpm and a maximum torque of 608Nm at 5600rpm. The Fiorano can achieve speeds in excess of 205 miles per hour, accelerating from 0 to 62mph in under four seconds.

If you wish to learn more about the Ferrari Fiorano 599 GTB simply choose from the menu options above.

Exotic Car Lovers Dream Porsche or Ferrari

The fast and luxurious cars from Porsche and Ferrari originated in Europe; Germany and Italy respectively. Both exotic sports cars are more than 50 years old with cutting edge engineering and exquisite styling. These two cars have always been compared for many reasons since they are race cars, cars of status for the rich. Most people always correlate these cars with style and performance.

A modern exotic sports car should have the following traits: it should be easy to start, low to the ground, maneuver well around the city with fat tires, able to put your pedal to the metal on a couple of open and safe roads.

The Ferrari 430 and Porsche 911 Carrera S are two sports cars that are begging to be compared in road tests. What are the results ? Well the Ferrari 430 will zoom from 0 to 100km in 4 seconds while the Porsche does it in 4.8 seconds. Hardly something you can consider slow, but when comparing it to the 430 it is noticeably slower. For fast acceleration like this, both sports cars will need sport brakes, both offer ceramic disc brakes.

Both cars provide impressive power utilizing 6-speed gearboxes and offer top of the line performance handling. These exotic cars offer excellent and comfortable interior space and even when the space seems limited, the passengers won't feel cramped.

Let's talk about the exterior. The Carrera S4 has a finish that is at a premium level, in and of itself, and surpasses the Ferrari 430 which is still impressive with carbon fiber, aluminum and a combination of suede in the interior. Although, the Germans excel on the finish, the 911 Carrera S looks like a 911 and doesn't bring as many ooohs and ahhhs as a Ferrari does when it comes to appearance. Ferrari's just generate more attention possibly due to their rarity on the road and higher price. Nevertheless, most people, if given the opportunity, will not pass up the Ferrari F430 if they had the cash. In the end, they just may do that because of the Porsche 911 Carrera S having a more complete package but you can always test drive your favorite exotic sports car and make your own decision.