Although speed demons can’t do much for their higher auto insurance rates, that doesn’t stop them from marveling at the fastest cars in the world. But what makes one car faster than another? It essentially comes down to maximizing horsepower.

Engine
Horsepower refers to an engine’s strength. This is how drivers can accelerate to high speeds in a matter of seconds, carry loads of various weights, and stop in mere moments. The fastest cars accelerate to a given speed in the smallest amount of time and are able to stop immediately. A typical car usually has a 120-horsepower engine, while the fastest cars can have up to an 800 or more horsepower engine. There are a number of features that engines can have to maximize its horsepower.

The more cylinders an engine contains, the greater performance it will exhibit. When an engine has more cylinders, it has more pistons to pump and turn the crankshaft, leading to combustion and powering the engine.

When air is allowed to enter the engine more freely, the pistons of the engine are able to work more efficiently. So a car with a large air filter or smaller intake piping will be faster than an engine with a smaller air filter because more air is being filtered in the same amount of time. Also, cars with polished or smoothed intake manifolds decrease air resistance, allowing air to flow in much easier. More intake and exhaust valves also mean greater airflow.

Cars with an intercooler radiator are able to decrease the temperature of the incoming air, therefore contracting it and allowing more of it to run through the cylinders and in turn, increasing horsepower the cylinders can churn out. Turbo chargers also pressurize incoming air and allow more air to enter so that the pistons can go to work more efficiently.

A high-performance exhaust system makes a car faster because it allows the exhaust to exit freely, instead of backing up, which makes an engine lose power. High-end systems have a header, free-flowing mufflers, and large tail pipes. These help exhaust move out from the engine and reduce air resistance.

Weight and Design
But the engine’s power isn’t the only thing that makes one car faster than another. Lighter cars with a lower weight to haul around help engines perform better. Therefore, if two cars are identical in every way, the weight of the driver can be a factor in determining which one will be faster. Lightweight parts take less energy to function and enable the engine to rev up faster.

The sleek and stylish designs of the fastest cars in the world aren’t all just for looks and admirable glances. The design of the body does serve a significant purpose when it comes to speed. The sleeker the car is, the less air resistance it faces. Faster cars have streamlined, rounded bodies that cut through the air like a warm knife through cold butter. Therefore if two cars with identical engines were to race, the one with the sleeker design might win out.

The Ferrari 599, 612 and 430 have had offspring. The open two-seater, dubbed the California Spider, with its retractable aluminum hard top is the new entry level model among the sports car offerings from Maranello. Having been introduced to the world at the Paris Motor Show last October, the California Spider can now be admired on our roads, too.

For those who wish to further personalize the appearance and performance of this exceptional sports car, edo competition is now offering very special accessories.

Newly-developed wheel/tire sets in 20 and 21 inches are guaranteed to draw amazed looks from passers- by. The wheels are available in several attractive designs. Customers can also opt for a lowered ride height or the addition of a sport suspension system. The sport suspension is adjustable in both compression and rebound damping, allowing for a custom tailored ride for cruising, spirited driving, or competition.

To make sure the performance of a vehicle as special as the California is up to par in all aspects, edo competition also offers custom ECU recalibration. After reprogramming the production ECU, the 8-cylinder engine now generates 367 kW (500HP) and 369 ft-lb of torque at 5,200 rpm. In addition to the recalibrated electronics edo competition can install a newly-developed high performance exhaust system featuring adjustable butterfly valves and custom designed high flow catalytic converters with a 200 cell per square inch metal core.

This well-matched combination enables the engine to develop its new-found power in an impressive manner. The treatment also provides a torque increase that is particularly noticeable in everyday driving. As a result, the performance figures of the edo California Spider are improved as well: It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a phenomenal 3.9 seconds and the top speed is an impressive 315 km/h (196 mph).

As with all edo competition models, we set no limit to our customers’ imaginations. Special interiors or lavish leather upholstery, individual requests are accommodated and executed with quality.

Michael Schumacher covered around 20 laps of Fiorano today at the wheel of the 599 GTB equipped with the Handling GT Evoluzione package that was recently introduced at the Geneva Show.

The seven-times World F1 Champion took to the track to try out the improved handling offered by the new set-up which emphasises the performance of this, Ferrari’s most powerful berlinetta.

The Handling GT Evoluzione package includes a lower, stiffer ride, a new tyre compound offering even better levels of grip, modified magnetorheological damper settings that improve body control and an even more sporty exhaust sound. The HGTE package also includes a number of styling touches that distinguish it from the standard production car, including a more aggressive front grille, specific 20″ rims and abundant use of carbon-fibre trim in the cockpit.

Schumacher took the 599 GTB HGTE to its very limits at the Fiorano track during one of the factory’s Pilota Ferrari driving courses. These are organised exclusively for Ferrari owners and four levels of courses are available - Basic, Advanced, Evolution and Challenge, along with a special On Ice course and a dedicated one for those wishing to race in the traditional one-make racing series, the Ferrari Challenge. The courses have been run in Italy for over 15 years and, more recently, courses have also been set up in the USA, China and, from 2009, in Japan.

With its Pilota Ferrari driving courses, Ferrari offers owners a comprehensive range of expert tuition designed to progressively instruct drivers in the art of performance driving, enabling them to appreciate even more the handling characteristics of their cars, and help them use their full potential in absolute safety, both on the track and on the road.

The latest set of spy shots shows us a new diffuser. With wider wheel cases, it is certain that the F450 will have a wider track.

F450 will use the F430’s modified chassis and body. Code named F142, a 4.5-liter V8 engine that produces around 585 horsepower is mounted behind the driver. Power is transferred to rear wheels through a double-clutch gearbox used in the California.

Kinetic Energy Recovery System from Formula 1 pit garage could sneak into the F450, which is still unconfirmed. This system recovers kinetic energy from the decelerating wheels while braking.

The Ferrari California shares similarities with the F450, but is made for the customer who calls for a hooligan. The stiff suspension setup will make this a track monster, and should prove a hot performance Ferrari.

The European patent office has leaked another tidbit about Ferrari’s future plans. The image above is part of a patent application by Ferrari for a new type of twin-turbo engine. The design can be used with v6, v8, v10, or v12 engines. It utilizes two turbos, one for low engine speeds and a second that kicks in for maximum power.