logo
Video: The Ferrari 458 Spider flies at the Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb

Video: The Ferrari 458 Spider flies at the Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb

Ferrari showed the Goodwood Festival of Speed crowds the new 458 Spider this weekend.

Not only could people get up close to this new convertible but they were also shown its tremendous performance and heard the screaming V8 exhaust note as it raced up the hill outside Goodwood House.

The Ferrari 458 Spider

The new mid-rear engined two-seater 458 Spider features a fully retractable aluminium hard-top roof which is a world first for a sports car with this layout. The folding hard-top is 25kg lighter than a traditional soft-top while, according to Ferrari, being both quieter and more thermally efficient  Ferrari have used a very compact folding mechanism that, when raised, provide almost identical lines to the 458 coupe.

Also making its debut was the new lighter and more powerful Ferrari California 30. The front-mid mounted V8 now has 490hp, an addition of 30hp, with overall weight also being reduced by 30kg, which has been achieved through cutting-edge aluminium fabrication techniques and construction technologies.

Alongside these two UK debuts was the Ferrari FF, the V12-powered four-seater flagship of the Ferrari range. This is Ferrari’s first vehicle to feature the innovative 4RM four-wheel drive system which allows up to 30% of the V12’s 660hp engine to be transferred to the front axle in low grip situations.

The 458 Spider, FF and California 30 appeared on the track throughout the weekend where Scuderia Ferrari driver, Marc Gené, put the 2010 Ferrari F10 single-seater Formula One car through its paces up the famous 1.16 mile hillclimb course.

There were also several fine examples of classic Ferraris from the 1950s, 60s and 70s on display at the Festival of Speed, including a very rare 250 MM from 1953, the ex-Carrera Panamerica car still running in its original livery.

Stratstone Manchester help Alder Hey children’s dreams come true with Ferraris

Stratstone Manchester help Alder Hey children’s dreams come true with Ferraris

Stratstone Manchester, the Official Ferrari Dealership for the north west of England, helped out to support “The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power: Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Remount Charity Run” with a Ferrari California and 458 Italia.

The Charity Run was organised by The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power in support of the event’s official charity, Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Alder Hey is one of Europe’s leading specialist children’s hospitals, providing care for over 200,000 children and young people with cancer, heart, spinal and brain disease each year.

Children from the Oncology Unit were treated to a passenger ride in a range of supercars, including a Ferrari California and 458 Italia provided by Stratsone Manchester, from Alder Hey in Liverpool to the new Media City Salford Keys, where the children were given a VIP tour of the CBBC Studios.

Robert, age 7, from the Wirral, had an exciting ride in a Ferrari 458 Italia and he said: “It was the most amazing day I’ve ever had. Ferrari are now my favourite cars!”

Andrew Potts, Dealer Principal at Stratstone Manchester, commented: “It has been an honour and a privilege to support this event and the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital; riding in a Ferrari is a dream for most of these children, and we are delighted to have been able to make their dreams come true.”

Geneva Show more power and less weight for Ferrari California

Geneva Show more power and less weight for Ferrari California

 The Geneva Motor Show will see the official debut of the new updated version of the Ferrari California. This improved model is already in production and includes a reduction in weight of 30 kg and an increase in power output of 30 CV.

The Ferrari California’s GDI V8 now delivers 490 hp with maximum torque of 505 Nm at 5,000 rpm, thanks to new exhaust manifolds and engine mapping. The torque curve has also been modified and is higher across the engine’s generous rev range.

 

Cutting-edge aluminium fabrication techniques and construction technologies used by the Scaglietti Centre of Excellence in the manufacture of the Ferrari California’s chassis, have led to an overall reduction of 30 kg in the car’s weight without impinging in any way on its structural rigidity and performance.

These enhancements have improved the Ferrari’s California’s performance, reducing its 0-100 km/acceleration time to 3.8 seconds. This heightens its sporty feel without detracting from the mission and character of a car that has won universal acclaim for its performance and exceptional versatility resulting from its retractable hard top and 2+ seating.

To meet the needs of clients desiring a more dynamic, yet not overly extreme, driving experience, an optional Handling Speciale package has been developed which encompasses modifications to the suspension set-up that minimise body roll and make the car even more responsive to driver inputs.

The Handling Speciale package includes Magnetorheological dampers controlled by an even faster ECU (-50% response time) running patented Ferrari software. The package also features stiffer springs for more precise body control combined with a comfortable ride. Lastly, the California benefits from faster turn-in with smaller steering wheel angles thanks to a new steering box with a 10 per cent quicker steering ratio.

All these new features combine to underscore the California’s sporty prowess without affecting its high-performance grand touring vocation – an achievement very much in line with Ferrari’s DNA.

The technical features are matched by a new, even more extensive choice of colours developed by the Ferrari Styling Centre, including two-tone finishes, three-layer paint technology and modern re-interpretations of classic colour schemes which increase the  exclusive personalisation possibilities even further. In addition, the Ferrari California benefits from the free seven-year standard maintenance programme.

Ferrari Tailor-Made for customers to add that little bit more to their cars

Ferrari Tailor-Made for customers to add that little bit more to their cars

Now you can really make your Ferrari unique and have your car in your chosen specification with the new Ferrari Tailor-Made service.

Ferrari Tailor-Made is the exclusive new personalisation programme from Maranello developed specifically for clients wishing to create a truly bespoke car that will be a clear expression of their own unique personalities and tastes.

The Tailor-Made programme continues a longstanding Maranello tradition which began in the 1950s and 60s, a time when clients personalised their cars as a matter of course and enjoyed huge freedom when it came to materials, colours and finish. The result was genuinely unique cars tailored to suit the desires of each individual owner.

That prestigious past has now been revived through a programme that permits owners to specify every last detail of their Ferrari, from the exterior livery colour to the cabin trim, via a completely unprecedented choice of finishes, accessories, materials, treatments and colours. All of which are the fruit of the ongoing research and development by the Ferrari Styling Centre, taking inspiration from the company’s core values of innovation, elegance and passion.

The client’s personal wishes and aspirations lie at the very heart of the Tailor-Made Programme. Owners are assisted and guided through the selection process by their own Personal Designer who is charged with guaranteeing that the resulting cars are both unique and consistent with the Ferrari brand and its tradition. Once the car’s details have been defined, the client can then track all of the various processes involved in its creation, right up until they take delivery. Naturally, they are very welcome to come to Maranello to pick up their car in person if they so wish.

Creativity, research, original materials, superb craftsmanship and attention to detail are the cornerstones of the Tailor-Made programme which offers three collections inspired directly by Ferrari’s DNA: Scuderia, Classica and Inedita.

Scuderia takes its inspiration from Ferrari’s sporting history, offering a choice of racing-derived materials, finishes and liveries. The Classica collection, on the other hand, provides a modern twist on the styling cues and features of Maranello’s iconic GTs. Lastly, Inedita lives up to its name by introducing an element of experimentation and innovation in terms of styling, colours and materials.

Clients are given enormous freedom in their decision making, being able to select everything from traditional and luxury materials, of the likes of cashmere, to trendy ones like denim, and high-tech, innovative carbon-fibre, available to them. This allows clients to achieve a level of exclusivity that’s absolutely unprecedented in the automotive sector. In fact, this is the first time many of the materials offered have been adopted and homologated for use in cars.

Clients are invited to Maranello as part of the Tailor-Made programme. There they will find a dedicated area that looks and feels very much like a haute couture studio with a huge array of samples of materials, treatments and colours to browse. There is also a material scanner that will provide owners with a preview of the final result.

The Tailor-Made Collections

Maximum performance, tradition, innovation. These are the Ferrari brand core values that underpin all three collections created by the Styling Centre to inspire clients interested in the Tailor-Made programme. Scuderia, Classica and Inedita are the three different “worlds” to choose from to create bespoke Ferraris through unique combinations of the many options available.

Guided and advised by their Personal Designer, new owners can make their selections from the collections to reflect their own personal tastes. They are also welcome to suggest innovative, new solutions and materials which the Styling Centre will then assess for compatibility.

Scuderia

Racing has always been the lifeblood of Ferrari which has enjoyed unparalleled success on the world’s circuits since its earliest days. The Scuderia collection is therefore very much homage to the track, a fact reflected in the materials and finishes it includes. The list of options in the Scuderia collection ranges all the way from carbon-fibre trim to technical fabrics, chamois and rubberised leather, Alcantara, microfibres, Kevlar, satin-finish and matte metals. Clients can work with the Scuderia collection to ensure their Ferraris epitomise the very pinnacle of sportiness.

The 250 Testa Rossa, which sold at auction at Pebble Beach in August 2011 for a record $16.4 million, provided the inspiration for the 458 Spider sporting blue and white NART stripes over an historic Rosso Racing body colour. The latter’s seats are upholstered in the same leather used in the Formula 1 cars of the past – a trim that’s light, breathable and feels very much like chamois leather to the touch. The original 250 Testa Rossa had an aluminium dashboard which has now been given a innovative twist in the form of Alutex, an extremely tough, light fibreglass and aluminium material. The cabin is also trimmed with a diamond-quilted fabric inspired by the original Testa Rossa motif.

Classica

In the Classica collection, the styling cues and features of Maranello’s iconic GTs are given a more modern yet still classic look, through the use of the latest materials and production techniques. Elegant pastel colours of the past; the use of vintage leather, or wool, cashmere or velvet; special treatments for the hard areas of the cabin to match the exterior; chromed elements, stitching details and more natural leathers – these are just some of the options available from this collection.

Another icon that’s been given a modern reworking in the Classic collection is the FF inspired by the 250 Europa: it has three-layer Ingrid silver paintwork with dark grey sills and rims. The cabin is a hymn to classicism with a few unusual flourishes mixed in: pinstripe cloth and dark brown semi-aniline leather seats, cashmere roof lining, grey carpet mats, interior trim inserts in the same colour as the exterior, teak-trimmed boot. The overall result is a sublimely classic atmosphere harking back to the original 250 Europa without detracting in any way from its uniqueness and elegance.

Inedita

Inedita does exactly what its name suggests: it introduces novel, innovative styling cues which nonetheless respect the marque’s core values. This is the most experimental of the three collections and we feel it may well give rise to some of the classic trims and finishes of the future. Denim, bold leather upholstery, suit fabrics and technical fabrics are just a few of the innovative and intriguing options available to owners who choose to personalise their cars from the Inedita collection.

The denim-trimmed Ferrari California is a good example of what the collection offers: pale blue leather alternates with denim trim in certain areas of the cabin and seats as well as on the door panels and lower part of the dash. The areas of the cabin normally trimmed in aluminium are now dark blue carbon-fibre. The car sports a Blu Scozia livery, a historic Ferrari colour here given an all-new matte finish. The wheel rims are unusual too as their external surface is dark blue while the inside is pale blue in a nod to the contrast seen in the cockpit. A proposal that, from a point of view of styling, really does push the boundaries and sets a new benchmark in the automotive sector today.