Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Performance, Ford, Lexus, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari, UK, Racing

There are plenty of reasons to get excited about the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The annual shindig is a mecca for metal from all over the world - old and new. Motorsports events from across the go-fast spectrum make it onto the schedule and there’s even plenty of auto-themed art to keep the masses entertained when they aren’t huffing tire smoke. In a word, the event is bliss for anyone with even a passing interest in the automobile.

But the grand daddy of it all has to be the Hill Climb. At 1.16 miles, the course features nine turns, a looming stone wall and enough hay to feed all the cows in Wisconsin for a week. Last year brought out a rash of new high-dollar supercars, including the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and the Lexus LFA, and as a result, there were plenty of manufacturers on hand to show off their newest hardware. While we were lurking the grounds and looking at all the shiny conveyances, drivers were blasting across the grounds and recording their exploits. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best videos from the hill and arranged them in no particular order. Sure, some of them are more entertaining than others, but all of them are better than what you’re doing at work, right? Hit the jump to get started.

Continue reading Video: Goodwood 2010 - Taking the hill

Video: Goodwood 2010 - Taking the hill originally appeared on Ferrari News on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Misc. Auto Shows, Ferrari, UK, Racing

Ferrari always shows up big for the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and this year will be no exception as a roster of factory and private entries fill out the Prancing Horse stables on the run up the Earl of March’s front yard.

Both the 458 Italia and the 599 GTO will be making their British debuts at the event, but arguably more intriguing is the specially-prepared California that will be joining them. The two-tone roadster is decked out in a Argento Nurburgring hue, offset by a black roof and pillars similar to the treatment which Ferrari gave to various versions of the 599, including the XX, GTO, HY-KERS and China editions. Other optional extras like 20-inch matte-black rims and special interior stitching set this example apart from the standard model, but the question is - with some saying the body-toned roof helps the California’s unwieldy shape - does the blacktop treatment do it any favors?

Along with the 458, 599 GTO and California, the Scuderia will also be fielding last year’s F1 car piloted by factory test driver Marc Gen

Filed under: Performance, Ferrari

With the 458 Italia, Calfornia, 612 Scaglietti, 599 GTB Fiorano and numerous derivations thereof, Ferrari’s juggling more distinct models than it has since the days of the 328, Mondial, 412 and Testarossa. So while updating its line-up on an ad-hoc basis has worked for the company previously, Maranello has now revealed a solid product life-cycle scheme that will see a new model revealed every year.

The plan calls for each model to live for eight years, with an updated version to arrive four years after a model’s introduction. With four models in the range, that will allow Ferrari to debut an all-new or significantly updated core model every year. And that doesn’t include introductions of convertible or lightweight Scuderia-style variants along the way, to say nothing of the limited-production Enzo-class supercars slated to top the range every ten years.

The news casts further light on the full-range updates which Ferrari revealed just a couple of months ago. On top of that, Ferrari reportedly confirms that, although the prices will remain similar, the replacements for the 612 and 599 will be further differentiated from each other. As for hybrids, Ferrari’s got a few applications of its HY-KERS system in the pipeline, but it will take at least five years to bring them to market.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Report: Four-year product lifecycles will allow Ferrari to unveil new model every year originally appeared on Ferrari News on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari Beverly Hills and Ferrari North America, introduce new Ferrari fans to Driving the Ferrari California at Infineon Raceway. These special guest had their chance not only to drive the Ferrari California on a race track, but also got to see how comfortable and drivable the Ferrari California is on the spectacular roads of California wine country. Watch and see some of their impressions, and also how this new Ferrari is an everyday comfortable vehicle with Super Car Performance.

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Ferrari, Middle East, Luxury

During a Ferrari event at the Yas Island Formula 1 circuit, Ferrari test driver Marc Gene took some willing participants out for laps of the track, going high on the oversteer and tire smoke. The ride of choice was a Ferrari California, and it’s good to see the hardtop coupe is still a leering stallion… but even so, it’s still a California. If that’s what you’re into, there’s 2:03 of goodness in the video after the jump. Enjoy!

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari test driver Marc Gene flogs the California

Video: Ferrari test driver Marc Gene flogs the California originally appeared on Ferrari News on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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On a quick trip into Hyde Park I couldn’t resist filming a couple of cars I saw: 01. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Coupe 02.

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Ferrari

If you are a die-hard, old-school driving enthusiast who still prefers operating three pedals with your own two feet, we’ve got some news for you. As has been reported off and on for the past few years, Ferrari - in as vivid a sign of the times as when Kodak stopped selling film cameras - is phasing out the use of manual transmissions. That is, not before one last hurrah, though having a manual-equipped Ferrari comes with some drawbacks these days.

The California is slated to be the last Ferrari available with a traditional manual transmission. It’s been over a year since the car’s market introduction, during which time only the seven-speed dual clutch transmission has been available. But purists can now order the California with a real six-speed manual, complete with clutch pedal, double-cone synchros with multiple pawl asymmetric geometry and an oil bath fork and lever system.

It’ll cost you though, if not in price then both performance and fuel economy. Compared to the sub-four second sprint to 60 miles per hour and the 17.8-mpg rating that the California achieves with its seven-speed DSG transmission, the manual-equipped model takes even the most skilled hands 4.2 seconds to get up to highway hustle while returning 15.8 miles per gallon.

[Source: Autopareri via Motor Authority]

Manual Labor: 3-pedal Ferrari California slower, less efficient originally appeared on Ferrari News on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The votes from 59 international journalists have been counted and the finalists for World Car of the Year have been named. The Detroit News is reporting that the Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Polo and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class have made the final cut, and the three vehicles will go toe-to-toe on April 1st (no foolin’) at the start of the New York Auto Show, which is where the World COTY award is announced.

On the performance vehicle front, the Audi R8 V10, Porsche 911 GT3 and Ferrari California are jockeying for the big prize. We feel sorry for the judges who have to choose from among these three junkers, but we’re sure they’ll somehow make it fun for themselves.

Design finalists are the Citroen C3 Picasso, Kia Soul and Chevrolet Camaro, and from the green category we have the previously mentioned Prius, the Honda Insight and Volkswagen’s BlueMotion diesel offerings.

It’s been a little over a year since Ferrari released the California. It was Maranello’s first front-engined V8, bearing its first dual-clutch transmission, its first folding hard-top, and its first standard fitment of carbon-ceramic brakes. Unfortunately Ferrari found public reception to the convertible’s styling rather cold, and although we found it looked much better drenched in soft Sicilian sunlight than it does it photos, not everyone’s a fan.

Fortunately there’s an elite cadre of Ferrari tuners eager to spruce up Maranello’s finest - as well as their more controversial designs. Hamann’s one, and they’ve taken their shot at the California already. So has Edo Competition. Now it’s Novitec Rosso’s turn.

The Dutch tuning garage has just released a full array of modifications for the 2+ cabrio, starting with a revised ECU for a modest 40 horsepower bump to 500 even. A sport suspension drops the ride height by 35 millimeters, but it can be raised up front by as much as 40 mm to clear curbs and speed bumps. Outside, Novitec’s fitted a carbon fiber aero kit with front lip spoiler, side skirts, revised diffuser and a little rear wing, along with modular rims measuring 21 inches up front and 22 in the rear, shod with Pirelli rubber.

While opinions remain divided as to the sacriligiosity of tuning a Ferrari, in the California’s case it could be - to some eyes anyway - just what the doctor ordered.

Luca and the stuck California were at the Ferrari World Finals in Valencia, Spain. The Ferrari and Fiat Chairman was ferrying the Scuderia’s brand-new F1 driver Fernando Alonso (who is technically still under contract with Renault) and carryover driver Felipe Massa around the track, waving to the fans. Then - for who knows what reason - Montezemolo decides to not bother with pit lane and just make a ninety degree right hander into a gravel trap. A gravel trap, it should be pointed out, that’s used to catch and slow cars spinning out of control at triple digit speeds.

The result is the new Ferrari grand tourer getting stuck like whale. Montezemolo tries spinning the back tires a bit, which only digs them deeper, while Alonso and Massa attempt to push. Sooner than later, track workers show up and all three men escape to safety seated on the back of a blue California.