Two of Ferrari’s latest
supercars will be making their UK public debuts at this
year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed: the
beautifully-styled and innovative mid-engined 458 Italia
and a technologically-advanced V12 flagship which
carries one of the most evocative name badges in
automotive history, the 599 GTO. Also appearing in the
Sunday Times Supercar Run will be a very special Ferrari
California with a unique “bi-colore” roof and a
personalised interior, while the Scuderia Ferrari will
be represented by the 2009 F1 car which will be driven
by Marc Gene throughout the weekend.
The Ferrari 458 Italia
represents a genuine evolution of Maranello’s mid-rear
engined V8 sports cars and it has won a host of
international awards, including BBC Top Gear’s “Supercar
of the Year” and even more coveted “Car of the Year”, GQ
Magazine’s “Supercar of the Year” and MSN Cars UK’s
“Supercar of the Year”.
The Ferrari 458 Italia
introduces a number of innovative technologies, such as
the reduction of internal friction losses inside the
engine as well as significant aerodynamics development
on the exterior design, including the aeroelastic
winglets at the front that generate downforce and, as
speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the
radiator inlets and cut drag.
The new 4,499 cc V8
engine is a veritable powerhouse, punching out 570hp,
and, combined with the 7-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox
and a dry weight of just 1380 kg, the 458 Italia boasts
a weight-power ratio of 2.42 kg (a power-weight ratio of
413hp per ton), and can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in
under 3.4 seconds and hit a maximum speed of over 325
km/h.
The Ferrari 599 GTO
recreates the evocative “GTO” moniker which previously
appeared on two of the Prancing Horse’s most iconic
supercars, the race-bred 250 GTO and the 288 GTO which
defined the term “supercar”. The 599 GTO is an extreme
V12 berlinetta which has been designed to fulfil a
specific performance-oriented brief and is the company’s
fastest ever road car. It is an exclusive limited
edition special which is based on the 599XX, the
advanced experimental track car, and is reserved for
just 599 clients who seek the maximum expression of
high-performance driving. The 599 GTO benefits directly
from the technological transfer from racing and set a
record lap time at Fiorano in 1’24”.
The Fiorano lap time
provides just one indication of the potential of this
car. Just as significant are the technical
specifications – 670hp in a 1495kg car represents a
weight-to-power ratio of just 2.23 kg/hp, and ensures a
0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 3.35” as well as a
top speed of over 335 km/h.
The Ferrari California
is the Prancing Horse’s first front-engined V8 which has
been classically styled to echo one of the greatest
designs from Ferrari’s history, the 250 GT California.
The new California, however, is packed with the latest
technology and includes Ferrari’s first dual-clutch
7-speed gearbox, a direct injection 4.3 V8 engine with
460hp, the latest F1-Trac traction control system, a new
multi-link rear suspension, and, of course, an
innovative retractable folding hardtop that opens or
closes in only 14 seconds. The California has already
received the critical acclaim of the automotive press
around the world, with Top Gear claiming it is
a “proper God’s honest, marrow-deep Ferrari”, and
Autocar describing it as “absolutely bloody
marvellous!”
The particular Ferrari
California on display at Goodwood features a “bi-colore”
roof, with the car painted in Argento Nürburgring
(metallic silver) and the roof and A-pillar in Nero
(black) to echo the tradition of bi-colore berlinettas
of the 1950s and 1960s. The car on display in the
Supercar Paddock also features several items from the
Genuine Ferrari Accessories range, such as forged 20”
matt black wheels with titanium wheel bolts, as well a
host of “extra-campionaro” factory-fit options from the
Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalisation Programme such as
diamond-stitching on the rear seats and Cavallino
stitching on headrests in Nero.
Ferrari is also
represented by the Scuderia Ferrari team who will be
demonstrating the 2009 F1 car, driven by Marc Gené,
throughout the weekend. Additional fine examples of
Ferrari’s illustrious racing heritage can also be seen
in the Cathedral Paddock, with the following
privately-owned cars entered in this year’s event:
1953 Ferrari
375MM Berlinetta (La Carrera
Panamerica)
1959 Ferrari
246 Dino (Front-engined
Grand Prix Cars)
1959 Ferrari
250 TR59/60 (Classic
Endurance Racers)
1964 Ferrari
158 (Pre-winged
Grand Prix Cars)
1968 Ferrari
312/68 (Pre-winged
Grand Prix Cars)
1970 Ferrari
512S (Sportscar
Legends)
1972 Ferrari
312 BB “Spazzanove” (Be-winged Grand Prix
Cars)
1972 Ferrari
312 PB (Open Racing
Prototypes)
1972 Ferrari
365 GTB/4 “Daytona” (Grand Touring
Greats)
2010 Ferrari
F430 (Modern
Endurance Racers)
The Prancing Horse
will also be represented by a selection of iconic and
beautiful designs and concepts in the "Cartier Style et
Luxe" paddock
1955 Ferrari
375 MM Sport Speziale (The Riviera Set)
1962 Ferrari
400 Superamerica (La Dolce Vita)
1980 Ferrari
Pinin (Bella
Berlina)
1993 Ferrari
FZ 93 (Far-fetched
Fantasies)