Ferrari’s Website Celebrates Italy’s 150th Anniversary with Special Wallpaper

Internet users visiting Ferrari’s official website today were greeted by a modified home page with a special wallpaper featuring a green FF, a white 458 Italia and this year’s F1 race car in red, which combine to make a motoring version of the Italian flag. This is Ferrari’s online way of celebrating the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification. In addition, the automaker said that the window displays in the forty Ferrari Stores spread around the globe were decked out in the colors of the Italian flag.

“Representing Italy on the race tracks and the car markets around the world is a reason for all the men and women who work at Ferrari to feel proud,” commented Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo. “We chose to dedicate the name of our Formula 1 car, the 150° Italia to this anniversary and this makes all of us feel even more motivated as we go about our daily work. We hope that everyone in our country is living through today in the same spirit.”

Link: Ferrari

1965 Shelby Cobra 427 vs 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia in a $400,000 ¼ Mile Race Bet; Can You Guess Who Wins?

A no-nonsense, classic American muscle car from the 1960s going head to head with a high-tech, thoroughbred Italian supercar in the ultimate quarter mile race. What more could you ask to make this battle more interesting? Well, how about a $400,000 wager?

The story has it that Dan Bilzerian, owner of a ‘tricked-out’ 1965 427 Shelby Cobra, placed a bet that his American muscle car can beat his friend Tom Goldstein's 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia in a quarter mile race.

On March 9, 2011, the two men brought their cars down to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway racetrack and put their money where their mouth is. And no, we won’t spoil the surprise by telling you who won the bet. Video follows after the break.

Link: Clubcobra

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Geneva 2011: Mansory's Ferrari 458 Italia-based Sicilian, the Siracusa

Mansory's products are always eye-catching (if not necessarily attractive), whether they be a clear coat carbon Aston Martin named Cyrus or that silly pink Bentley. Beauty, after all, is in the eye of the beholder. That being said, allow me to introduce you to the Siracusa. Rant and rave in the comments below.

Underneath all the new and revised carbon fiber body panels (now with more louvers!) is a Ferrari 458 Italia. Named after a Sicilian raceway, the Siracusa has received a respiratory performance boost to 590 horsepower / 434 kW and 560 Nm / 413 lb-ft representing gains of + 20 hp and + 20 Nm / 15 lb-ft over the standard model.

Thanks to the bump in power and drop in weight, Mansory claims the car will hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.2 seconds and attain a top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph).

The Siracusa rides on 20- and 21-inch wheels (f/r) sheathed in Michelins, while inside is the same old tuner car song: carbon fiber, leather, and ultra-suede. Also, a new suspension setup lowers the car 20 mm. Next!

By Phil Alex

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Ferrari to Show Greener 458 Italia with HELE System in Geneva

The new Ferrari FF won't be the only model from Maranello to make its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Salon, as CoolPictures has learned that the Italian supercar maker will also introduce a greener version of the 458 Italia equipped with the company’s HELE (High Emotion, Low Emission) technology, which improves CO2 emissions and reduces fuel consumption.

Even though the average Ferrari 458 Italia customer probably won’t care about their supercar's CO2 output, the new system that incorporates stop/start technology helps reduce CO2 emissions by around 11 per cent, from 307 g/km to 275 g/km. It is expected that the HELE system will be offered as an option to 458 Italia buyers.

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Geneva Preshow: Novitec Rosso Gives the Ferrari 458 Italia 39 More Ponies

Upgrading a Ferrari is a tricky job, but the guys at Novitec Rosso seem to be pretty good at it, judging from their latest interpretation of Ferrari's thoroughbred sportscar, the 458 Italia. The German aftermarket specialists offer a complete package that includes engine tuning, aerodynamic tweaks and styling upgrades, inside and out.

The 4.5-liter V8 engine gets an extra 39 horsepower by means of intake adjustments, ECU mapping and by adding a high-performance lightweight exhaust system. Not only the power, but the torque as well has gone up, from 540 Nm to 569 Nm at 5,400 rpm (398 to 419.7 lb-ft of torque).

This means the Novitec Rosso 458 Italia can now reach a top speed of 330 km/h (199 mph), 5 km/h more than the standard car. No details have been offered yet about the sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100km/h), but it should be slightly faster than the regular model.

The Novitec Rosso conversion also adds a modified suspension with front lift system that lowers the car by 35 millimeters and carbon fiber aerodynamic components including a front spoiler, rear wing and rear diffuser.

On the inside, clients can spec the car to their taste, choosing from an endless number of colors and leather upholstery designs. To mirror the exterior tweaks, the center console, scuff plates and longer shift paddles on the steering wheel are all made from carbon fiber.

The Novitec Rosso 458 Italia will be officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show.

By Dan Mihalascu

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Ferrari 458 Black Carbon Edition by Anderson Germany Goes to the Dark Side

Challenging the notion that a true Ferrari has to be red, Anderson Germany has whipped up a murdered out 458 Italia with both styling and mechanical upgrades. Starting with the visible modifications, Anderson Germany's Ferrari 458 is finished in a black color and features a carbon fiber package that includes a pair of vents on the front hood, spoiler lips, rear diffuser and exterior mirrors. The German tuner also tinted the Italian supercar’s windows, headlamps and taillights.

The exterior look is rounded off with a new set of 21-inch alloy wheels in a carbon finish that are shod in tires size 245 up front and 345 at the rear, and brake calipers finished in a contrasting yellow color.

The carbon fiber theme is continued inside with the lightweight material making its appearance on the air vents, center console, door handles, door sills, steering wheel, instrument panel, shift paddles, and even the seat adjustment handles. The tuner also dressed the seats and the door panels in mixture of black carbon leather and black alcantara with diamond seams. A high-end entertainment system completes the interior upgrades.

Few will complain about the 570 ponies and 540Nm offered up by Ferrari’s run-of-the-mill 4.5-liter V8 engine, but for those that do, Anderson Germany offers a performance programme that includes an ECU optimization and a custom exhaust system with special manifolds and Rennkats boosting output to 623HP and 636Nm (469 lb-ft).

The German tuner did not release pricing information on the 458 Italia Black Carbon package.

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