Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Ferrari, Luxury

Details may have finally surfaced on the mystery Ferrari we saw bumping around Maranello in a piece of shaky-hand-cam YouTube action late last month.

According to Auto Express, the long-nosed Horse could be none other than the 612 Scaglietti. The site points to the camo’d mule’s rear roofline and somewhat recognizable hood as evidence of the car’s identity. If true, this mule would have us believe that the next Scag will wear headlights that are at least partially inspired by the new 458 Italia. As for the rest of the car, it’s hard guessing as to what we can expect.

This tester wears such extensive cladding that it’s nearly impossible to get a feel for what the rest of the car may look like, which means we’ll have to wait until our army of spy photographers comes up with some photos of the car later in its development. Head over to Auto Express to get a look a look at the whole package.

[Source: Auto Express]

Spy Shots: Ferrari 612 caught testing originally appeared on Ferrari News on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari

Ferrari fanatics should be familiar with the work of Novitec Rosso. The Dutch tuning house regularly churns out beefed-up versions of Maranello’s finest. But while recent releases have upgraded the California, 599 GTB Fiorano and 430 Scuderia, Novitec has now turned its attention to Ferrari’s flagship grand tourer.

The custom 612 Scaglietti has been treated to an ECU upgrade and a host of cosmetic and rolling stock upgrades. The lightly massaged 5.7-liter V12 - good for 530 horsepower and 434 lb-ft in stock trim - has been boosted to nearly 560 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, dropping the big coupe’s 0-60 mph sprint below the four-second mark and its top end to north of 200 mph.

Coupled with interior enhancements, darkened indicator lights and 20-inch front and 21-inch rear modular wheels, Novitec has imbued the big Scag with a modest, but much needed attitude adjustment until its replacement arrives. Details in the press release after the jump, high-res images in the gallery below.

[Source: Novitec Rosso]

Continue reading Novitec Rosso bids farewell to the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti with upgrades

Novitec Rosso bids farewell to the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti with upgrades originally appeared on Ferrari News on Thu, 27 May 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Ferrari, Luxury

The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is due for a major overhaul and the next generation 2+2 is expected to grow in size, be available with all-wheel drive and come packing Ferrari’s new HY-KERS system.

Caught cold weather testing near the Arctic Circle, the 2012 model is sporting a longer wheelbase and redesigned front and rear fascias, along with a massive hood bulge. Power is expected to be provided by an Enzo-derived V12 putting out around 530 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, and delivering grunt to a modified seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox found in the 458 Italia and Ferrari 599 HY-KERS concept.

Although the fitment of all-wheel drive remains a rumor, there’s a significant chance that the next 612 will be equipped with Ferrari’s new hybrid system, complete with lithium-ion battery pack and three-phase electric motor to put out an addition 100 hp. If we’re reading our tea-leaves properly, we’d expect the new 612 to be unveiled early next year with sales beginning in late 2011.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Spy Shots: 2012 Ferrari 612 successor spied originally appeared on Ferrari News on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That is until now, at least according to Autocar. An unnamed source tells the British magazine that the hybrid drivetrain will debut on the next-gen 612 (could the recently-spotted long-wheelbase 612 be a hybrid mule?) with a pair of torque-laden electric motors that will be connected to the front wheels. Ferrari’s traditional V12 or possibly a turbocharged V8 engine would send power to the GT car’s rear wheels.

As befitting an automobile wearing the coveted Prancing Horse badge, Ferrari is said to be using the system to benefit handling and not to improve fuel efficiency. Whatever the case, we’ll surely know more by 2014 or so when Ferrari is actually expected to have the hybrid ready for production.

Ferrari is reportedly currently working on the three V12 cars that will replace its comparable current offerings: the 612 Scaglietti, 599 GTB, and Enzo. The 612’s follow-on will be the first one to arrive, likely in early 2012, and another mule has been spotted out and about. It still sports the hood scoop (bigger engine with more power, anyone?) and California-style stacked tailpipes, and it looks like it might have a longer wheelbase to boot.

Rumor has it that the new direct-injected V12 will be 40 percent less polluting and get 40 percent better gas mileage than the 5.7-liter V12 presently in use, even as it’s expected to get a slight 7-horsepower bump to 540. The fuel economy increase would provide a very respectable 16 MPG - not bad for a car that ought to hustle to 60 MPH in about 4.5 seconds. Check out a host of new spy photos in our gallery below. In case you’re curious, the sticker on the steering wheel boss which reads “Betrieb nur mit geschlossener Motorhaube” is an instruction telling drivers that the engine should only be started with the hood closed.

With the new 458 Italia ready to go, the 458 Spider on its way, and the California still fresh on the market, Ferrari is turning its attention from the V8 range to its V12 flagships. CAR sat down with the company’s CEO and managing director Amedeo Felisa, who revealed the full roll-out schedule for not one, not two, but three new V12 supercars currently under development in Maranello.

First up is the 612 Scaglietti, which has been on the market since 2004. That may not seem like a long product life cycle, but considering the lackluster Scag hasn’t exactly won the hearts and minds of enthusiasts and customers, Ferrari is apparently moving ahead with its replacement, due to hit the market by 2012.

Around the same time, we can expect to see the long-anticipated supercar to follow in the footsteps of the 288 GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo. Although Ferrari has been working on hybrid propulsion and other forms of green technology, those bits won’t be ready by the time the Enzo’s successor rolls around, so expect a more conventional V12 (or possibly twin turbo V8) to drive Maranello’s new benchmark.

The replacement for the 599 GTB Fiorano, meanwhile, will take a little longer. The two-seat GT was introduced a few years ago and recently treated to a new HGTE package to keep it ahead of the competition. But although the new 458 is already expected to outgun the Fiorano, and with arch-rival Lamborghini hard at work on a successor to the Murcielago, Ferrari isn’t planning to replace the 599 before 2015.