Ferrari is considering using turbocharging in future engines, but it needs to improve the forced induction technology before it will make its cars available with the set-up. Ferrari engine developer Jean-Jacques His said the biggest problem the firm faced was lag.

“Turbocharging will come eventually, but we need to solve the issue of turbo lag,” he told Autocar. He went on to explain that a delay of any sort before the power arrived was unacceptable for a Ferrari engine.

It’s unlikely that Ferrari will be using Multiair, the Fiat Group’s variable valve technology, any time soon, though. His said Ferrari had tried applying the system to an F430’s V8 but couldn’t get it to work at the power outputs required.

“The main benefit from Multiair comes in torque,” he said, “and it is difficult to get it to work at high revs.”

His also said Ferrari’s dual-clutch transmission, currently only available in V8-engined Ferraris, was suitable for V12 cars and would work up to 10,000rpm.

Source: Autocar

These are some of the very first photos of the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park after the completion of the almost alien-like external structure. Set to be the world's largest indoor theme park and the first ever Ferrari theme park in the world when it opens in 2010, it comes complete with a racetrack that will host the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, shops, hotels, various attractions, rides and just about anything else to make it a gear-head's "Disney Land".

Talking about Disney Land, the Ferrari theme park which is located on Yas Island between the coast and city of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will include the world's fastest rollercoaster. Travelling at speeds in excess of 200 km/h (124 mph), it is said to emulate the feeling of being in a Ferrari F1 car as the passengers go over 62 m through the roof and back down again.

As for the theme park's now completed red roof, which is claimed to have been directly inspired by the classic double curve side profile of the Ferrari GT body, it covers a surface area of 200,000m² (2.15 million square feet) and features the largest "prancing horse" emblem in the world, measuring an astonishing 66 meters (217 feet) in diameter.

Source: CarScoop

This car needs to be put out of its misery.

Source: eBay

Now's your chance to pretend that you have the money needed to buy Ferrari's upcoming exotic. Then after you're done, you can close your browser like I did.

Source: Ferrari

A man narrowly escaped a catastrophic crash after his Ferrari F430 blew out a tire at 120 mph.

The driver had accelerated to 180 mph just seconds before, but a weird noise caught his attention and he immediately started slowing down. When his speed fell to 120 mph, the tire suddenly burst, destroying the rear quarter panel as shards flew in all directions.

Here at Wrecked Exotics, we've seen dozens of crashes resulting from igh speed tire blowouts. We were always surprised by the high frequency of crashes that resulted from this scenario, but now after seeing the amount of damage a high speed tire blowout can cause, it's no wonder.

In this case, if it had been the front tire to blow out, we don't see how the driver could have prevented a crash. Let this be a warning to those who think high speed driving isn't dangerous. Even if you're the only one on the road, a tire blowout could be devastating.

Source: Wrecked Exotics

Following a stunning début at the Frankfurt Motor Show, thanks in part to the unveiling by Michael Schumacher himself, Polyphony Digital created this beautiful tribute video using the GT5 game engine. Both Sony and Microsoft have now released videos of how that new Ferrari sex machine, aka 458 Italia, looks on their flagship games. Check them in the jump, make sure to watch them on YouTube in high quality!

We couldn't leave you without a proper photo album of the futuristic-looking Ferrari F458 Italia from the Prancing Horse's Frankfurt Motor Show booth, and well, just follow the jump to check it out. Ferrari also released full technical specs on the F430's successor that comes with a new 4.5-liter V8 with direct injection that punches out 570 horsepower at a screeching 9,000 rpm and a peak torque of 540Nm or 398.2 lb-ft at 6,000 rpm. All that grunt is sent to the rear wheels through a 7-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox.

With a dry weight of 1380 kg (3,042 lbs), the 458 Italia boasts a weight-power ratio of 2.42 kg, and according to Ferrari, the supercar can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in under 3.4 seconds and hit a top speed of over 325 km/h or 202mph.

While we seriously doubt that anyone cares that the new Prancing Horse model returns 13.3 lt/100 km or 17.7mpg U.S. and 307 g/km respectively in the combined cycle, we're pretty sure that you'll be interested to know the 458 Italia is only a tenth of a second slower than the almighty Enzo (1 min and 24.9 sec) on the Fiorano circuit with an official lap time of just 1 minute and 25 seconds.

Source: CarScoop

The Dutch tuning house made its reputation taking some of the most powerful road rockets known to man and tuning them even further. In the case of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano – widely acclaimed as one of the best driver's cars on the road – Novitec released a modified version packing twin superchargers for an astounding 808 horsepower last November. But in light of that being perhaps a bit too much machine for even Novitec's speed-crazed clientele, the tuner has now released a somewhat more reserved package for the V12 super-GT.

By tuning the engine management and fitting a new exhaust system, Novitec has squeezed an extra forty horses out of the Prancing Stallion for a total output of 660 horsepower. The exhaust has quad 90mm tips protruding from the rear diffuser and their pitch is controllable from the steering wheel-mounted Manettino switch. The adjustable suspension can be raised from inside the cockpit to clear curbs, and Novitec has fitted three-piece modular wheels – 20 inches up front and 21 in the rear. There's a full custom lighting kit, plus plenty of bespoke options for the interior.

As you can see, Novitec also offers a full range of aerodynamic enhancements, including a new lip spoiler up front, new wing around back and custom rocker panels along the sides, all available either color-keyed or in varnished carbon fiber.

Source: AutoBlog

Well, if there is something more you’d like to learn about Ferrari’s new 458 Italia, Michael Schumacher is here to help out. Check out this new video of the F1 champion talking about the latest Italian stallion.



Source: eGMCarTech

Ferrari has issued more pictures of the striking new 458 Italia, which will be displayed for the first time at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The new photographs on the road reveal a mid-engined sports car that looks immediately more modern than the previous studio shots. The climbing headlight design is unusual for a Ferrari, and we can now see banks of LED lights and horizontal strakes rising up the front fender alongside the aero vents.

It’s a compact-looking Ferrari, with more than a hint of Enzo at the rear end – complete with vents, diffuser and treble exhaust jewelery.

Source: Car Magazine

With Michael Schumacher now confirmed to have canceled his comeback due to a neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident, Ferrari has been left with no choice but to put one of its veteran test drivers into Felipe Massa's seat until the injured Brazilian is ready to return to active duty. The trouble is that while other teams use the test driver position to groom up-and-coming drivers for the race seat, Ferrari's approach has been to use older, more experienced drivers past their prime.

Rather than give the seat to Marc Gené, who continues to race actively for Peugeot at Le Mans and last raced in a grand prix in 2004, Ferrari has decided to award the seat to Luca Badoer, its senior test driver. While testing the Ferrari California last summer, we had a chance to talk with Badoer on his way to the season-closing Brazilian Grand Prix and found him to be a good-natured and affable individual. Still, while his development skills are unrivaled, his actual Formula One race experience leaves something to be desired.

It's been ten years since Badoer last started a race – the longest gap in F1 history – and he rejoins the field as the oldest driver on the grid, narrowly eclipsing his former team-mate Rubens Barrichello at 38. Although he moved to F1 after winning the Formula 3000 title in 1992, in his four seasons and 48 grands prix in the big league (all with Italian teams, incidentally), he failed to score a single point (let alone a race win) and famously broke down in tears alongside his car after it failed to take him to a fourth-place finish at the 1999 European Grand Prix.

PRESS RELEASE:

Maranello, 11th August 2009 - With Michael Schumacher now being unavailable to stand in for Felipe Massa, as from the forthcoming European Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro announces that car number 3 will be driven by Luca Badoer.

"I am very unhappy that a problem means that Michael cannot return to racing," commented Luca di Montezemolo. "In the past few days, I could appreciate his great efforts and extraordinary motivation which had spread through the team and fans around the world. No doubt his return would have been good for Formula 1 and I am sure it would have seen him fighting for wins again. In the name of Ferrari and all the fans, I wish to thank him for the strong attachment he displayed for the team in these circumstances. In agreement with Stefano Domenicali, we have therefore decided to give Luca Badoer the chance to race for the Scuderia after he has put in so many years of hard work as a test driver."

Source: AutoBlog

Now that Fiat has inherited control of the Viper brand (attempts by Chrysler to sell it resulted in a single bid of a paltry $5.5 million), buzz has been circulating about the fate of America’s other sports car. According to our sources, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has big plans for the Viper sub-brand. Marchionne thinks Viper has the potential to be to Dodge what Miata is to Mazda—a halo car that transmits the brand’s best attributes, and one that has tremendous marketing potential in car enthusiast/amateur racing circles.

Currently floating through the executive offices in Torino is a plan to fit the Dodge with a V-10 version of the next-generation corporate V-8. This 90-degree engine would be modular top to bottom as well as by cylinder, with a flat-plane crank for the Ferrari V-8, a conventional cross-plane crank for the Maserati V-8, and pushrod-actuated valves for the balance-shafted Viper V-10.

An interesting irony here is that Lamborghini, back when it was in Chrysler’s control, helped to develop the Viper’s aluminum V-10.

Source: Car and Driver

Michael Schumacher's spokeswoman has raised concerns over the fitness of the German legend ahead of his scheduled return to Formula 1 on August 23rd.

"It is not sure yet the neck will hold and the comeback can be started," said Sabine Kehm on Wednesday.

F1 drivers' necks must be strong enough to cope with high G-forces and Schumacher admitted after testing on Tuesday that his "pinches a bit".

He will now undergo routine medical checks to determine if he can return.

Schumacher is set to deputise for Ferrari's Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix in Valencia after the Brazilian suffered serious head and eye injuries during qualifying for the Hungarian GP on July 25th.

Source: BBC