Ferrari F430
October 12th, 2006
Ferrari is consider a leader in automotive styling and technology, and its new F430 will not be an exception. A replacement for the 360 Modena. This Ferrari F430 had its debut in a Paris Motor Show.
It continues the “new” Ferrari look that began with the Enzo, and incorporates multiple design elements lifted from its big brother. The F430 also boasts a new 4.3-liter, 490–hp engine, a unit based on the 4.2–liter V8 now found in all Maserati models.
STYLING—The basic look of the 360 Modena, itself an evolution of the F355, has further evolved in the F430, though it is less of a styling leap than the 360 was when introduced for the 2000 model year.
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2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
October 10th, 2006
The 2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is powered by the latest development of the V12 used in the discontinued 575M Maranello. More important, though, is the 612’s all-aluminum space frame and body-panel construction design, the first for a V12 Ferrari. At 4,056 pounds, the 612 is no lightweight, but it’s still 600-1,200 pounds lighter than competitors like the Mercedes-Benz CL65 and the Bentley Continental GT.
The Ferrari’s V12 is mounted rearward enough that the 612 can be considered a front-midengine car and as a result has a 46/54 front/rear weight balance. Ferrari claims that 85 percent of the car’s weight is between the axles.The 612 Scaglietti is equipped with a 5.7-liter V12 that develops 540 horsepower at 7,250 rpm and 434 pound-feet of torque at 5,250 rpm.
Fiat To Buy Back Ferrari Shares
September 14th, 2006
Fiat is increasing its stake in Ferrari, buying back the shares it sold to Italian investment bank Mediobanca during Fiat’s financial troubles in 2002. The Turin-based auto conglomerate is the undisputed Don of the Italian car business, controlling Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Iveco and Magneti Marelli (to name a few), and will exercise its option to buy back the 29% currently held by Mediobanca by the end of September.Together with the 56% it currently holds, this will bring Fiat’s stake in Ferrari up to 85%. Mediobanca sold 5% to Mubadala Development Company, a UAE crown corporation; shares which Fiat may or may not buy back. (Mubadala also owns stake in Spyker, fuelling rumors that the recently acquired Spyker MF1 team could switch to Ferrari power for next season.) The remaining 10% is still owned by the Ferrari family.
