Italian auto industry rocked by earthquake.

Northern Italy was rocked by yet another earthquake today. One that has literally shut down the Italian auto industry. At least for the next couple of days. The quake was centered about 40 kilometers north of Bologna Italy. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ducati, and Maserati all are either headquartered or have factories in that area. So far, Maserati is the only manufacturer that is showing damage at their factory. All have ceased operations for the day to allow workers to go home and be with their families. Details are still emerging, so we will keep you posted on this as more details come out.

Source: Autoblog.

Updated Scottsdale 2012: Lee Iacocca's Ferrari F40

This one slipped under my radar until it was pointed out on another blog that the 1991 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta being offered for sale at the RM Auctions sale this weekend was originally owned by none other than Lee Iacooca. This car when it was new was one of my poster cars along with the Lamborghini Countach in my bedroom. And it is still considered the ultimate by many car enthusiasts. This car has three owners, the first of which being Lee Iacocca, father of the Mustang and the K-car. And since 1991 has only covered 300 miles, making this car probably the lowest mile F40s in existence. The F40 was conceived by Enzo Ferrari to commemorate the company's 40th anniversary building cars and was the last car Enzo oversaw to completion. Powered by a twin turbo, 3 liter V8 with 471 horse power was unheard of at the time from a factory built car. 0-60 was 3.9 seconds and could reach 140 miles per hour in under 14 seconds. only 400 examples were ever produced with fewer ending up on American shores. 1991 was the last model year for the F40, and with the mileage and ownership lineage, makes this one special car. It has also never been registered or titled. That's right, this car is still on the Ferrari MSO. This car keeps getting better and better. RM estimates the value between $650 and $750,000 dollars. We'll be following this one for sure.

Update: This car sold for $710,000. 


Source & Photos: RM Auctions

Little known history of the Chevrolet Bowtie.

Some automotive brands are pretty clear about how their corporate logos have come about. Ford, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Porsche and Ferrari all come to mind. One that's not well known, but also shrouded with a bit of mystery is the bowtie logo of GM's Chevrolet division.

Several stories have emerged as to how the now famous logo originated. One from Billy Durant's daughter who says that it originated from her father's imagination one night at dinner. Another from Durant's widow saying that her husband found a similar logo while reading a newspaper while on vacation in 1912. Others say it is a stylized version of the Swiss flag cross as Louis Chevrolet was born in Sweeden.

The official origin from General Motors is that Billy Durant saw the logo as part of the pattern on some wallpaper in a Paris hotel that he would tear down and return to Detroit with in 1908. The earliest known use of the the bowtie logo dates to 1913. So who's to say which one is the true meaning behind the bowtie? Durant passed away in 1947, so the answer has certainly gone to the grave at this point. But there is no denying that it ended up being the right choice as now, 100 years later the Chevrolet brand is still in business making cars.

Press Release:

DETROIT, Sept. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Globally recognized today, the Chevrolet bowtie logo was introduced by company co-founder William C. Durant in late 1913. But how it came to be synonymous with the brand is open to wide interpretation.

Durant's version of how the logo came into existence is well known. The long-accepted story, confirmed by Durant himself, was that it was inspired by the wallpaper design in a Parisian hotel.

According to The Chevrolet Story of 1961, an official company publication issued in celebration of Chevrolet's 50th anniversary:

"It originated in Durant's imagination when, as a world traveler in 1908, he saw the pattern marching off into infinity as a design on wallpaper in a French hotel. He tore off a piece of the wallpaper and kept it to show friends, with the thought that it would make a good nameplate for a car."

However, conflicting accounts have emerged, each of which is plausible enough to deepen the mystery and suggest it may never be solved. Two of the alternate origins come from within the Durant family itself.

In 1929, Durant's daughter, Margery, published a book entitled, My Father. In it, she told how Durant sometimes doodled nameplate designs on pieces of paper at the dinner table. "I think it was between the soup and the fried chicken one night that he sketched out the design that is used on the Chevrolet car to this day," she wrote.

More than half a century later, another Bowtie origin was recounted in a 1986 issue of Chevrolet Pro Management Magazine based on a 13-year-old interview with Durant's widow, Catherine. She recalled how she and her husband were on holiday in Hot Springs, Va., in 1912. While reading a newspaper in their hotel room, Durant spotted a design and exclaimed, "I think this would be a very good emblem for the Chevrolet." Unfortunately, at the time, Mrs. Durant didn't clarify what the motif was or how it was used.

That nugget of information inspired Ken Kaufmann, historian and editor of The Chevrolet Review, to search out its validity. In a Nov. 12, 1911 edition of The Constitution newspaper, published in Atlanta, an advertisement appeared from by the Southern Compressed Coal Company for "Coalettes," a refined fuel product for fires. The Coalettes logo, as published in the ad, had a slanted bowtie form, very similar to the shape that would soon become the Chevrolet icon. Did Durant and his wife see the same ad – or one similar – the following year a few states to the north? The date of the paper was just nine days after the incorporation of the Chevrolet Motor Co.

One other explanation attributes the design to a stylized version of the cross of the Swiss flag. Louis Chevrolet was born in Switzerland at La Chaux-de-Fonds, Canton of Neuchatel, to French parents, on Christmas Day 1878.

Whichever origin is true, within a few years, the bowtie would emerge as the definitive Chevrolet logo. An October 2, 1913 edition of The Washington Post seems, so far, to be the earliest known example of the symbol being used to advertise the brand. "Look for this nameplate" the ad proclaims above the emblem. Customers the world over have been doing so ever since.

Many variations in coloring and detail of the Chevrolet bowtie have come and gone over the decades since its introduction in late 1913, but the essential shape has never changed. In 2004, Chevrolet began to phase in the gold bowtie that today serves as the brand identity for all of its cars and trucks marketed globally. The move reinforced the strength of what was already one of the most-recognized automotive emblems in the world. More than 4.25 million Chevrolets were sold in more than 120 countries and regions during 2010.

About Chevrolet -- Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly to gas-free" solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com

Source: GM

Thinking of Monterey

Well, it's Monterey Week. considered by many as the pinnacle of the collector car hobby. Events like the Quail, Concourso Italiano, Pebble Beach Councours d'Elegance and the Rolex Historics to name a few. Cars that are restored to better than new condition that rarely make it out of the garage, gather to strut their stuff for the world to see. Every year I am treated to parts of what I would call my PowerBall wish list if I were to ever hit the lottery and strike it rich. Many folks would lavish them self with new cars, where as I would build a nice new garage and fill it to the brim with automotive history. One such vehicle is the Ferrari 265 GT/B Daytona and the Shelby 289 Cobra. These classics are some of the most beautiful cars to ever be designed and this year in Monterey, RM Auctions has examples of each that I would love to call my own.


1971 Ferrari 365 Daytona coupe

1964 Shelby 289 Cobra

Picture source: RM Auctions

5 Things Your Car Should Say About You

A car speaks volumes about its owner.

A top Mercedes talks of a high powered and driven individual. A boy racer cover in stickers suggests learning difficulties.

You don’t have to own the most expensive car on the road, but here are five qualities your ride should say about you.

Style

A great looking car is like a beautiful woman. They turn heads and make every guy in the room (or in this case on the road) jealous with envy.

But it all comes to nothing if the man behind the wheel is unshaven and doesn’t use an iron, let alone own one.

Looking after your appearances doesn’t take much effort and the results are huge. Not only do you feel more confident as a person, everyone around you will respect you for it.

Power

A powerful car is going places, and so is the owner.

There is something incredibly exciting about powerful cars. Maybe it’s the roar of the engine, or the knowledge that putting your foot down will leave those around you in the dust.

Being powerful, and being around powerful people, is a thrilling experience. Powerful people are normally confident risk takers and prove to be very interesting company.

Fill your life with proactive people who are constantly empowering themselves and you’ll find that, as a person, you will grow considerably. They will challenge and test you, and you’ll be all the better for it.

Integrity

The most important quality of any car is the knowledge that every time you turn the key, the engine will start.

There is nothing more stressful or irritating then an unreliable car, the same goes for people.

If people know you will deliver on your promises time and time again they will love you for it.

Having integrity is important in all walks of life, from your career to your relationships and down to the knowledge that at the end of the day you can rely on yourself.

Confidence

Some cars just ooze confidence.

They’re powerful, stylish, over deliver every time and they dam well know it.

Being confident is such an admired trait, because it is so rare. Confident people are 1 in a 100 and they often provoke jealosy and admiration because they have something that everyone wants, yet is in such short supply.

No matter your job or income, if you know that you’re a good a person who tries to better themselves on a regular basis, you have every right to be confident.

Ambition

The mark of every great car, and person, is ambition.

Both are willing to take risks, try something new and push themselves to the limit.

They are often goal orientated, driven and know what they want from life.

This doesn’t necessarily mean being the fastest car on the road or climbing the corporate ladder. It means you are willing to push yourself, be constantly learning and stick to your beliefs.

In many ways without ambition, all of the other qualities listed here, will suffer.

McLaren MP4-12C 0-60mph Reported to be Under 3 Seconds

The performance of the McLaren MP4-12C have finally been unveiled, and boy does it look like Ferrari and Lamborghini amd all the rest of the supercar makers will have some hard competition from McLaren. Look at the performance numbers for the MP4:

• 0-60 mph in under 3 seconds (said to be 2.8 seconds)
• 0-125 mph in under 10 seconds
• Curb weight: 2,870 lbs — lighter than the Ferrari 458 Italia or the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.
• 3.8-liter V8
• 600 HP — highest HP to CO2 ratio in the world.
• Top speed: 230 mph

Fastest Cars 0 to 60 mph

This is a list of cars that reach 0-60 in the fastest time. No surprise Bugatti is on top of the list!

Bugatti Veyron
0 to 60: 2.6 seconds
Price: $1,500,000
Four Turbos!

Lamborghini LP670-4 Superveloce
0 to 60: 3.11 seconds
Price: TBA
Fastest Lamborghini yet

Koenigsegg CCX
0 to 60: 3.14 seconds
Price: $912,397
Boasts a top speed of 245mph.

Nissan Skyline GT-R
0 to 60: 3.41 seconds
Price: $76,840
Best value for your buck.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
0 to 60: 3.45 seconds
Price: $106,520
This is the fastest American production car ever produced, and its at $100k.

Ferrari F430 Scuderia
0 to 60: 3.50 seconds
Price: $257,456
One of the Fastest Italian Exotics; tested and tuned by Formula One ace Michael Schumacher.

Lamborghini LP 640
0 to 60 3.52 seconds
Price: $382,400
LP640 is a former champ of the Itallian bulls.
Porsche GT2
0 to 60 mph 3.60 sec
Price: $194,860
GT2 is rear wheel drive and its loads of fun at the track.

Dodge Viper SRT-10
0 to 60 mph 3.64 seconds
Price: $102,350
Strong 8.4L engine.

Porsche 911 Turbo
0 to 60 mph: 3.7 sec
Price: $130,860
The 911 Turbo offers all-wheel drive. This is the German engineering at its finest.

Mercedes-Benz SL65 Black Series
0 to 60 mph: 3.8 sec
Price: $299,000
The SL65 Black Series is the fastest Mercedes produced by DTM.

Ferrari 458 ITALIA - Ferrari’s innovative new V8

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a completely new car from every point of view: engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics, just to name a few.

A two-seater berlinetta, the Ferrari 458 Italia, as is now traditional for all Ferrari’s road-going cars, benefits hugely from the company’s Formula 1 experience. This is particularly evident in the speed and precision with which the car responds to driver inputs and in the attention focused on reducing internal friction in the engine for lower fuel consumption than the F430, despite the fact that both overall displacement and power have increased. However, Ferrari’s track experience makes its presence felt in the 458 Italia not only in terms of pure technological transfer but also on a more emotional level, because of the strong emphasis on creating an almost symbiotic relationship between driver and car. The 458 Italia features an innovative driving environment with a new kind of steering wheel and dashboard that is the direct result of racing practice. Once again input from Michael Schumacher - who was involved from the very start of the 458 Italia project - played an invaluable part.

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti by Imola Racing

To mess around with perfection should be a sin. So the moment "Imola Racing" even began to mess with the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, the heavens should've opened and swallowed whole the German Tuner.

At least it seems Imola was smart enough to not touch the engine. Instead this is likely just body enhancements. I don’t have much info on the kit. I do know its being considered a widebody because of the enlarged fenders and wider tires. There are also new front and rear spoilers as well as a two-tone paint job that is reminiscent of the first generation Corvette.

A Ferrari That Won't Hit the Streets

Ever wondered how Ferrari may do a competitor for the Rapide and Panamera? Well, that’s a question very few have asked, but its still fun to see what Russian designer Krasnov Igor thinks how a Ferrari sedan may look.

Although an official four-door Ferrari has never existed, the supercar firm has come close. Both today’s Maserati Quattroporte and the Lancia Thema 8.32 of the 80s and 90s have their engines and other components sourced from Ferrari. Pininfarina made a few speciality sedans for wealthy customers (like the 456 for the Sultan of Brunei.) There have also been a few official design studies of prancing horse sedans, but Ferrari has been smart enough to stay out of the family car market, so far.

Ferrari 250 GTO sold for $28.5 million!

A Ferrari 250 GTO just took the honor of being the world’s most expensive car after it was sold for $28.5 million (that's more than a Buggati). The car is now in England with its new owner, and you can imagine he wants the exact location of his new treasure to remain secret.

There were only 39 GTOs ever produced (most cars in its class have over 100 examples produced at the time,) and monay experts say that the 250 GTO is one of the most most desirable Ferraris ever.

The 250 GTO is powered by a 3 liter (180 cubic inches) engine, a version of the Gioacchino Colombo short-block designed V12. All engines were tested on a dynomometer and found to achieve between 290 to just over 300 horsepower, peaking at around 7500 rpm. The car is capable of a top speed of 174 mph and makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 5.4 seconds. Pretty good for such an old car.

Source: Top Speed

Ferrambo Up For Sale on eBay For More Than $500,000!

The Ferrambo, is up for sale on GP Imports for an undisclosed price. For those of you wondering what kind of money would get you behind the wheel of this custom made model that combines the body of a 1960 Nash Rambler Wagon with a Ferrari 360 V8 powertrain, we can now inform you that you’ll need more than $500,000 or €352,000 to sit your buttocks on its leather seats.

How do we know? Well, GP Imports has enlisted the Ferrambo on eBay and the first bid, $500,000, hasn’t met reserve. In eBay terminology, a reserve price is the minimum price a seller is willing to accept for the item. There’s still six days left before the deadline on September 21, so we’ll keep a close eye on the bidding to see if the there’s someone out there willing to offer more than half a million dollars to obtain this one-off vehicle. Until then, leave us a comment telling us how much money do you think the Ferrambo is worth.

Source: eBay & Carscoop

2008 Ferrari F250 Concept Design by Idries Omar

"The idea for this car was simple, fast, aerodynamic and beautiful, while taking styling queues from Ferraris old and new. Being a mid-engine rear wheel drive, I had the freedom to give the car a really aggressive stance. Low, pointy front and Muscular rear makes it look like its ready to pounce," - Idries Omar is describing his conception

"I designed this car originally as a Dino concept. But the name didn't compliment the design. So I went for something more Ferrari. Ferrari F250. I think it's works well with the car. The number 250 which comes from the legendary 250 GTO," - said Idries Omar.
Being a small car and very light Ferrari F250 Concept features 2.5L V6 engine (250) that runs on bio-fuel.

Ferrari 430 Scuderia Novitec Rosso

Making the world’s best sports cars even faster, more powerful and more individual is the specialty of NOVITEC ROSSO. The world’s leading tuner for the cars from Maranello now also offers a sophisticated tuning program for the new lightweight-design model Ferrari 430 Scuderia. At the heart is the NOVITEC ROSSO Supersport Bi-Kompressor engine that bumps power output from standard 510 hp/375 kW to 717 hp/527 kW and increases top speed from 198 to 216 mph.

There is no such thing as a too powerful sports car. The NOVITEC ROSSO specialists have developed a special twin-supercharger version of the Scuderia’s four-valve eight-cylinder engine.

Engine
Power bhp: 510
Torque nm: 722
Type: V8 Twin Supercharged

Performance
Acceleration 0-62 mph: 3.5 Seconds
Top Speed: 216 mph

Chromed Out Ferrari

We already know how crazy Arabians can be, with their drifting videos on you tube, and crazy cities, but they are even crazier when they buy a $200,000 car and don't think it's enough. They chrome it out, and plate it in gold. This chromed out Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorono is one of those crazy examples.

Edo Competition Ferrari Enzo

No one did this before. But guys from edo think that they can make better everything that has four wheels and V12 engine. Even the iconic Ferrari Enzo. They don’t care that hardly one of 400 owners will want to have tuned Enzo in his garage. edo just says “We did it!”

Specifications

Engine V12

Power: est. 700 hp (514 kW) at 8200 rpm

Max. torque: est. 715 Nm (527 ft-lb) at 5800 rpm

Performance

Top speed: > 370 km/h (230 mph)

0 – 100 km/h (0 – 62 mph) est. 3.5s

0 – 200 km/h (0 – 124 mph) est. 9.5s

0 – 300 km/h (0 – 186 mph) est. 22.0s

Features

• Power increased to about 700 hp thanks to new exhaust headers like on the Ferrari FXX, high-flow catalytic converter, performance muffler, modified intake with ram-air system, high-flow air filters and ECU recalibration

• Stainless steel muffler with adjustable remote-controlled butterfly-valve, new exhaust tips

• Exhaust sound level adjustable at the push of a button

• Wheels can be custom-painted on request

• Tire pressure monitoring system displaying air pressure and tire temperature for each wheel

• Sport suspension for the road with adjustable compression and rebound damping like on the FIA GT MC12. Nose lift functionality is retained.

• Special lightweight wheels with Michelin tiresFront: 10 x 19 with 265/35 ZR 19Rear: 13 x 20 with 335/30 ZR 20

• New high-performance clutch. Extremely lightweight. Two different friction compounds selectable (strada/pista)

• New transmission control unit. Same shift times as on the Ferrari FXX

source: http://www.tuningnews.net/

Ferrari FXX Evolution Wallpaper

High Resolution 1600x1200

2005 Ferrari by Novitec

Novitec's versions of the new Ferrari F430 Coupe and F430 Spider were displayed for the first time at the 2005 International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany.

Engine

Power bhp: 636

Torque: 471

Type: Supercharged V8

Performance

Accelleration 0-60 mph: 3.7 seconds

Top Speed: 216 mph

My Rating:****/*****

2008 Ferrari 430 Scuderia

430 Scuderia is the new high performance Berlinetta by Ferrari with an 8 cylinder engine. This new model based on the current f430, which is part of the actual range. Has some extraordinary characteristics, which make it stand out amongst other Ferrari models and that turn it into a unique super car.
Engine
Power bhp: 510
Torque lb-ft: 346
Type: V8

Performance
Acceleration 0-62 mph: 3.6
Top Speed: 198 mph

My Rating: *****/*****