Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Panamerican
Statistically speaking, the world's most dangerous road is a 40-mile-long gravel ledge hacked into a Bolivian mountainside in the 1930s by Paraguayan POWs. It descends 10,000 feet from La Paz down to Coroico in the Amazon basin. Each year, roughly 150 people and a couple dozen vehicles topple off this 10-foot-wide path, plunging some 1600 feet to their doom. Almost immediately upon our arrival in La Paz, photographer Brian Vance and I head out to preview the Camino de la Muerte in a Toyota Town Ace van. We don't want any surprises when we set off for Lima, Peru, in a few days on our 1000-mile leg of Ferrari's Panamerican 20,000--an epic P.R. stunt in which two 599 GTB Fioranos will spend three months driving from Brazil to New York City, via Canada.
Chrysler Firepower shot down by management
The Chrysler Group's less than stellar performance in 2006 has led to the official decision by management not to produce the Firepower Concept that debuted at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The Firepower was designed from the ground up, sharing only its 6.1L Hemi V8 with other vehicles in Chrysler's lineup. In order to make a production version that could even hope to return a profit, the automaker would have to build it alongside the Dodge Viper at its Conner Ave. assembly plant in Detroit and charge a price similar to the Viper's $80k+ MSRP. Apparently the business case for such a vehicle just isn't there.We love Chrysler concepts for the simple fact that each one is produced with just enough production intent to take it seriously should public reaction be favorable. Hell, even the ME412 supercar was on the table for a bit.
2007 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
Ferrari borrowing from Chevrolet? It has to be a first. Maybe "borrowing" is too strong a word. "Sharing" is probably more accurate. We're talking about the new Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano's suspension system and its use of Magneto-rheological (MR) shocks. They allow split-second adjustments by controlling an electrical current which flows through the fluid in the shock absorbers. It's a high-tech answer to an old problem, and one of the first production cars to use it was the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette (the Cadillac STS was the other). Ferrari claims the MR suspension system gives the new 599 a safer and more enjoyable driving experience by reducing roll and improving cornering grip. GM made similar claims back in 2003. The traction and stability control system in the 599 is also similar to another Corvette system which has been around for awhile.
Affordable Ferrari?
Before our eagle-eyed readers start firing letters off to our editors, let us be clear that we know the Enzo is the fastest and most powerful sports car ever to emerge from the house that Enzo Ferrari built. That said, if you're talking "reasonable" price and "high" volume - all relative terms, of course - it would likely be hard to beat the new F599 GTB Fiorano, the long-awaited replacement for the 575M Maranello.
Hard as it might imagine, the new sports coupe might actually qualify as a daily driver, as a factory team set out to demonstrate by driving a pair of F599s all the way from the far end of Brazil all the way to New York City, where they wrapped up the Panamerica 20,000 earlier this month.
The sleek shape of the new coupe sweeps from the low, aggressive nose across a bulging hoodline, and back to its broad, rear fenders.
Hamann does up the Ferrari 599 GTB
Hamann, the tuner of all manner of exotica, has gotten their grubby little paws on Ferrari's finest grand tourer, the 599 GTB.To begin with, the Hamann treatment does not augment the engine, exhaust or suspension in any way, instead leaving the 600+ HP, V12 to do its job as Ferrari's engineers saw fit.Hamann opted to focus their attention on the 599's bodywork, adding a chin spoiler, extending the side skirts and tacking on a new rear diffuser. Although down force is rarely a problem with Marnello motorcars, Hamann added a duo of wings: one gracing the edge of the bumper, while another sits atop the rear window.Naturally, wheel choice is where the tuner excels and in the case of the 599, 21-inch wheels are fitted at all four corners, with 245 tires up front and 345s in the rear.If you've got the coin, you could certainly do worse, but we think the 599 GTB speaks for itself quite well, right from the factory.More pics after the jump.
Ferrari At The 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show
In its North American auto show premiere, Ferrari unveils the stunning 599 GTB Fiorano at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show. The 599 GTB Fiorano completes a range entirely overhauled in a little over two years. During the development of the 599 GTB Fiorano we dedicated a great deal of attention to the North American market and especially to California where Ferrari has a high concentration of passionate clients, said Amedeo Felisa, General Manager of Ferrari S.p.A. The V12 mid-front engine 599 GTB Fiorano represents the best of Ferrari's current production. It is the highest performance production series Ferrari ever. At the same time it provides unmatched comfort and driving pleasure, continued Mr Felisa.
2006 has been a significant year for Ferrari in terms of company performance, continuing the positive trend of 2005.
General Assembly, considering Sixth Committee reports, adopts text ...
By one of more than 15 resolutions and decisions adopted today as it took up the reports of its Sixth Committee (Legal), the General Assembly decided to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to consider criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission.
In a day-long meeting, the Assembly also adopted resolutions on matters ranging from diamonds that fuel conflict, to cooperative arrangements between the United Nations and regional and other organizations, the culture of peace, return or restitution of cultural property and HIV/AIDS. All but one of those actions took place without a vote.
As it took action on the reports of the Sixth Committee, the Assembly authorized the Ad Hoc Committee to meet from 9 to 13 April 2007 to examine the legal aspects of a report by a five-member Group of Experts appointed by the Secretary-General to provide advice on how best to ensure, in accordance with due process, that United Nations staff and experts on mission would neither be effectively exempt from the consequences of their criminal acts, nor unjustly penalized.
No Stone Untuned: The Hamann Ferrari 599 GTB
Prancing horse purists may have to leave the room when they get a look at what Hamann's done with Ferrari's top-of-mast 599 GTB. The average fan of exotics, however, is best positioned to appreciate Hamman's judiciousness with the body kit action on this, the company's latest Ferrari-based tuning job. No over-the-top scissor-door action, no sicko engine refiguring, just a custom exhaust and relatively tasteful set of carbon fiber add-ons, including a front air dam, side sills, and an adjustable rear diffuser, and a jet-black paint job. Badabing. – Mike Spinelli
Related: Piece d' (Wind) Resistance: Hamman's M6 Body Kit [internal]
LA Auto Show: Audi TT Roadster
Amidst a group of somber-looking Germans and a duo of small screen stars, Audi unveiled its next generation TT Roadster. Deciding on a soft-top setup versus the en vogue hard top configuration, Audi maintains that driving dynamics have been enhanced by its lightweight construction. To make sure the center of gravity is optimally distributed, Audi employed the use of steel and aluminum in the top's structure and still allowed a nice amount of rearward visibility with the glass window.Push a button and the top folds down into a "Z" configuration in a mere 12 seconds. The front portion of the top lies flush into the roof's cavern, so a tonneau cover wouldn't be necessary to maintain the TT's clean lines. Additionally, the top can be folded down at speeds below 30 km/h (18 MPH). As a nod to its elder, Audi decided to utilize the same chrome hoops to protect occupants should the unthinkable occur.Tons of live and press pics are posted after the jump, along with Audi's full press release.PHOTO GALLERY:PRESS RELEASEIngolstadt, November 2006Sporty passionSheer sportiness, a genuine driving experience plus high power reserves – cue the new TT Roadster from Audi.
|
.jpg)
