Ferrari 458 Challenge at Vallelunga

The fine tuning of the newly born Ferrari 458 Challenge continues and, based on the production 458 Italia, is already undergoing testing to help get it ready for full competition. The test site: Vallelunga. The drivers: Maurizio Mediani and Jaime Melo.

No matter, considering any word on the latest challenge car from Maranello is worth noting. The lighter track model is based on the production 458 Italia, which 0-60’s Chris Harris recently called “a paradigm shift in the way Ferrari approaches the subject of performance cars.” Look for the first 458 Challenge to grace future rounds of Ferrari’s one-make championship series.




Press Release

The fine tuning of the newly born Ferrari 458 Challenge continues and, as from yesterday, it was at the Vallelunga circuit for a test, with two drivers, the Italian Maurizio Mediani and the Argentine Jaime Melo, taking on the role of test driver, as they took turns at the wheel of the Prancing Horse sports car. At the end of two days at the Roman circuit, both men were pleased with what had been achieved.

According to Mediani the 458 Challenge is “very quick and extremely good fun,” its handling inherited from the road going car from which it is derived, combined with modifications made for its specific use in racing. Melo, just back from the fifth round of the American Le Mans Series, in which he races a F430 GT2 run by Team Risi Competizione, highlighted how much the driving experience is enhanced by the electronics systems operated with the now classic manettino on the steering wheel, a first for a car used in the Ferrari one-make series. “I am sure that Prancing Horse competition owners will be very pleased with this car,” commented the Argentine before leaving the circuit to prepare for the next ALMS round, which takes place on 7 August at the Mid Ohio circuit.

Official: Porsche 918 Spyder Concept

Porsche has just announced that it's putting the 918 Spyder into production. First unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year,

The 918 Spyder offers the performance of a super sports car, with a top-end speed of 198 mph and acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in just under 3.2 seconds. Its high-revving V8 combustion engine pumps out more than 500 horsepower, and is paired with two electric motors: one on the front axle, and one on the rear, which add an additional 218 horsepower to the mix.

The petrol part of the 918's drivetrain is a 500bhp mid-mounted V8 engine that is shared with Porsche's RS Spyder race car. This is combined with a pair of electric motors that add another 218bhp to the 918's tally. One motor drives the front wheels while the rears are powered by both the petrol engine and the remaining electric unit.

The Spyder is planned to provide an outstanding 78 mpg, putting even your Prius to shame. What kind of price tag does a car with this unique combination of supreme performance and low fuel consumption come with? A starting price of $630,000.




Press Release

Decision taken by the Porsche Supervisory Board

Green Light for Series Development of the 918 Spyder

Stuttgart. In its session today, the Supervisory Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, gave the green light for series development of the Porsche 918 Spyder. Reflecting the overwhelming response from the public and customers to the Concept Study, the Supervisory Board gave Porsche's Board of Management the mission to develop a production model based on the car already presented. This concept version of an ultra-high-performance mid-engined sports car with plug-in hybrid technology made its debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and at Auto China in Bejing, hitting the headlines worldwide.

Michael Macht, President and Chairman of the Board of Management of Porsche AG: "Production of the 918 Spyder in a limited series proves that we are taking the right approach with Porsche Intelligent Performance featuring the combination of supreme performance and efficient drivetrain concepts. We will develop the 918 Spyder in Weissach and assemble it in Zuffenhausen. This is also a very important commitment to Germany as a manufacturing base."

The Concept Study of the 918 Spyder allows CO2 emissions of just 70 g/km, corresponding to fuel consumption of 3.0 litre/100 km (94.1 mpg imp) in the NEDC, on the one hand, and the performance of a super-sports car, on the other. This extremely efficient drivetrain technology then forms a symbiosis in the 918 Spyder with truly outstanding design and high-tech motorsport achievements. Further product details of the 918 Spyder will be disclosed in the months to come.

Ferrari 458 Challenge debuts at Maranello

Ferrari has officially unveiled today the 458 Challenge racing prototype that will compete in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli in the 2011 season.

Based on the 458 Italia, the Challenge features a modified dual-clutch F1 gearbox, an 'E-Diff' electronic differential, and an 'F1-Trac' traction control system with settings for wet / dry conditions. Other goodies include a race suspension (with solid aluminum bushings, stiffer springs, and single-rate dampers), high performance Brembo CCM2 brakes (from the 599XX), and 19-inch wheels outfitted with Pirelli tires.

The new 458 Challenge also has a specific suspension set-up with solid aluminium bushings, stiffer springs, single-rate dampers, centre-nut 19” racing rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 30mm all round. It is also equipped with the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes which debuted on the 599XX, Ferrari’s extreme experimental laboratory car, and which are integrated with an ABS system that features two configurations – low grip and high performance for dry surfaces.

The 458 Challenge is also much lighter than the 458 Italia, thanks to a thinner body shell and the extensive use of carbon fiber and Lexan.

The 458 Challenge will run alongside its 430 Challenge predecessor in the 2011 Series, while the latter is phased out. Ferrari also plans to expand its Ferrari Challenge series next year, adding a new series in the Asia-Pacific region.


Press Release

The 458 Challenge has made its world premiere debut in Maranello during the Annual Dealer Meeting, a traditional event that brings together the representatives of Ferrari’s international sales network.

The new berlinetta, which will flank the F430 Challenge in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli in the 2011 season, is the fifth model used by Ferrari in its one-make championship which, next year, will be extended to include a new Asia-Pacific series.

Coming just a few months after the Frankfurt Motor Show unveiling of the 458 Italia on which it is based, the 458 Challenge introduces a number of important modifications to adapt it for competition use.

The direct injection 4497 cc V8 remains strictly in production tune, with an output of 570 hp at 9,000 rpm. That said, modifications have been made to the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox to guarantee higher torque at lower revs. The 458 Challenge is also equipped with the E-Diff electronic differential already employed on the road-going version, a first for Ferrari’s track-only cars.

Significant work has also gone into cutting the car’s weight. This focused on both the exterior and interior with Ferrari’s engineers concentrating in particular on reducing the thickness of the bodyshell panels and on using lightweight materials, such as carbon-fibre and Lexan.

The new 458 Challenge also has a specific suspension set-up with solid aluminium bushings, stiffer springs, single-rate dampers, centre-nut 19” racing rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 30mm all round. It is also equipped with the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes which debuted on the 599XX, Ferrari’s extreme experimental laboratory car, and which are integrated with an ABS system that features two configurations - low grip and high performance for dry surfaces.

Another first for a Ferrari Challenge model is the adoption of the F1-Trac traction control system, the most sophisticated of its kind. Developed in-house by Ferrari, the F1-Trac system constantly monitors levels of grip for maximum high-performance road-holding. Two specific track-biased calibrations – wet and dry - have been developed for this application, with control logic and strategies derived from Ferrari’s extensive racing experience in the F1 and GT championships. The F1-Trac is completely integrated with the E-Diff to guarantee maximum acceleration out of corners.

The required ABS, F1-Trac and E-Diff calibration settings are selected via the manettino on the steering wheel, the first time this solution has been adopted on a model developed for the Ferrari Challenge series. The driver can thus either chose from the WET or DRY configurations. In high grip conditions it is also possible to select CT-OFF to de-activate the F1-Trac traction control.

In the course of the intensive development sessions involved in honing the 458 Challenge for the track, the engineers also managed to improve the car’s lap time at Fiorano by two seconds over that of its predecessor, resulting in a new record of just 1’16.5”. Equally impressive is the amount of lateral grip the new car generates – up to 1.6G.

With the new 458 Challenge, Ferrari is offering its sportier clients - professional and gentlemen drivers alike - a car that is extremely responsive, with great performance and superb handling. This mid-rear V8-engined berlinetta will allow Ferrari Challenge participants to enjoy to the full the exhilarating cut and thrust of the race weekends on the world’s leading circuits, as well as the passion that has always been an integral part of Ferrari’s one-make championship.

2010 Status Design Studio SD SU35 Ferrari 430

SD SU35 from Status Design Studio for Ferrari 430. The company says their SD SU35 body kit gives the car a look that is superior to other design changes.

SD SU35 for Ferrari F430 includes the following exterior parts: All body of the car colored by hands in factory material PPG, 2 decorative lines in grey color with black edging through the roof and carbon hood of the car. Lines add sporty character to the car, Front Bumper from Scuderia model with integrated carbon spoiler, Back Bumper from Scuderia with diffuser in carbon, Carbon mirrors, Carbon Spoiler, Carbon hood, Sideskirts in Carbon, Wheels from Scuderia model, colored in dark-blue “titanic” with red line and Installed a new brake system with ceramic brake discs.

Power for the Ferrari 430 SD SU35 has been increased to 518-hp allowing a top speed of 202 mph. Status Design points out that with a Novitec Rosso supercharger, output can be increased to 690-hp.

via:carscoop




Press Release

Tuning company "STATUS DESIGN" would like to present the new body-kit SD SU35 for Ferrari F430.

Original tuning-kit SD SU35 from STATUS DESIGN Studio for Ferrari F430 developed in the union of our designers and our client, who seek to realize their own creative ideas. The Name SD SU35 of the kit became a traditional analogy with military aircrafts; embody the power and the most advanced technology.

Ferrari became in Russia a symbol of exclusive design and displaying a bright character of the owner. Status design developed the Body kit, symbolically associated with the most modern Russian air fighter, worth in service in the Army and earned the good reputation all over the world.

SD SU35 from Status Design Studio for Ferrari F430 - is a bright Body Kit, which is require high technology skills and has no one looks like. While representing possibilities to the owner for creative implementation, since changes can be made for a specific appearance, which impress especially YOU.

SD SU35 for Ferrari F430

Exterior:

• All body of the car colored by hands in factory material PPG
• 2 decorative lines in grey color with black edging through the roof and carbon hood of the car. Lines add sporty character to the car
• Front Bumper from Scuderia model with integrated carbon spoiler
• Back Bumper from Scuderia with diffuser in carbon
• Carbon mirrors
• Carbon Spoiler
• Carbon hood
• Sideskirts in Carbon
• Wheels from Scuderia model, colored in dark-blue "titanic" with red line
• Installed a new brake system with ceramic brake discs

Power increase:

• Mounted sports exhaust system with sound regulation
• Set zero resistance filters
• Installed a new engine management software

As a result Ferrari SD SU35 525 h/p (use to be 490) and maximum speed increased to 325 km/h. Optionally could be set power increase kit - supercharging system from Novitec Rosso (till 700 h/p).