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Thursday, 30 July 2009

Novitec unveils twin-supercharged Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M

We're unsure about the logic behind messing with one of Ferrari's amazing creations, let alone a limited edition model like the Scuderia Spider 16M. But German tuning company Novitec Rosso has no qualms about putting their own creative mark on the cars from Maranello. Their most recent creation is this twin-supercharged Scuderia Spider 16M that puts out 696 horsepower at 8400 rpm and 503 lb-ft torque at 6300 rpm. Capable of hitting 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and topping 205 mph, it's easily one of the fastest convertibles in the world. The Italian drop top also gets larger wheels and tires, sport springs with a hydraulic lift system, black taillights, side markers and reflectors, a leather/carbon fiber steering wheel, and carbon fiber shift paddles. Full details in the press release after the jump.

Spy Shots: Ferrari F450 prototype caught with native body

Ferrari normally tests its future supercars wearing body panels from the prior version, and so earlier spy shots of the upcoming F450 have all been of mules wearing F430 body panels. Today that ends, as our snoops have caught an honest-to-goodness F450 prototype in its own skin. While still covered in camo that obscures the details, it's evident that the body is taking shape and close to finalization.

While we've reported that the F450 may feature a turbocharged, direct-inject V8 engine and possibly a mild hybrid system based on patents filed by Ferrari, Autocar is reporting that the Prancing Horse intends to launch the F430 successor without those advanced technologies. While Ferrari may unveil a hybrid F450 concept at the LA Auto Show later this year in order to be the first to establish a road-going version of the KERS system used in Formula One, the thought is that customers might not be ready for such a green version of the exotic automaker's best-selling model and that new European emissions standards can initially be met by substantially cutting weight and further developing direct injection for its current crop of engines. Stay tuned as we inch closer to the F450's unveiling later this year.

Ferrari F430 Spider by Inden Design takes the low-key approach

It's a risky game, trying to improve upon a Ferrari. There are a handful of tuners (Edo Competition, Novitec Rosso) that arguably manage to pull it off, and now German tuning house Inden Design is aiming to join the ranks with its own modified F430. Fortunately, they've kept the modifications reasonable, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel and turning an automotive work of art into a rolling atrocity.

Under the hood, Inden Design has only tweaked with the ECU and fitted a new stainless exhaust system - fairly standard mods - yielding a not insignificant 35-horsepower boost to bring total output up to 525 ponies. Sport springs were added behind the multi-spoke 20-inch wheels, while a lip spoiler, side skirts and carbon diffuser round out the aerodynamics.

Meanwhile, Inden has managed to find a few areas inside that weren't already covered in leather and saw to that with judicious application of cowhide. While we're not sure we would have the chutzpah to tinker with a Ferrari, if we were so inclined Inden Design's approach strikes us as a sound. Check out the slick high-res images in the big gallery below and let us know what you think in the comments.

One for the Fans: Ferrari launches new Lap Time Chronograph

Making sense of Ferrari's vast merchandising empire depends entirely on how you look at the brand. As an exclusive purveyor of supercars and GTs, it amounts - in some minds, at least - to sullying the brand name. As a sports team - one of the winningest in motorsport or any other sport for that matter - it makes perfect sense, just as it does for your local pro sports franchise to sell jerseys and baseball caps.

Few organizations are as cognizant of that schism as Ferrari themselves, which currently has not one, but two separate watch lines on the market. One is made specially for Ferrari owners (actual or wannabe) by Officine Panerai. Those are the watches that sell for the big bucks. But for racing fans who see the Prancing Horse as the mascot of their favorite team (as opposed to the marque of eminently desirable exotic sportscars), Maranello has a more economically priced and sportingly styled watch line, the latest of which is the subject of this post.

The Ferrari Lap Time Chronograph is built around a Swiss anadigit movement and is housed in a 44mm stainless steel case coated in black PDV. It features a digital display for two secondary time zones, tachometers and chronometer timing functions, alarm, date display and split-second timer. It's secured to the wrist with a rubber strap emulating a grooved racing tire and is of course emblazoned with little cavalinnos all over.

Available from the Ferrari Store starting at the end of this month for €245.83 (about $350), the Lap Time Chronograph is decidedly more accessible to the average racing fan than the high-priced Panerai timepieces.