THE NEW MASERATI GRANCABRIO TO PREMIERE IN FRANKFURT

The Maserati GranCabrio, the first four-seater convertible in the Trident carmaker’s history, will make its world wide debut on September 15 at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. The introduction of the GranCabrio – the Trident’s third prong – completes Maserati’s product line-up that now consists of three different families of models: Quattroporte, GranTurismo, GranCabrio.

The GranCabrio represents the very essence of Maserati in terms of open-top cars. It’s a Maserati in the purest sense of the word: from the unmistakable style by Pininfarina to the spacious interior, from the craftsmanship of each detail to the driving pleasure and performance. The Maserati GranCabrio enriches all five senses in a shared open-air experience, without sacrificing comfort and performance. A dream car designed and built for men and women who love to live life in an understated – though sophisticated - manner. Like all the made in Maserati open-top convertibles: special cars aimed at refined connoisseurs.

Barum Rally: Rossetti finishes 10th - Basso grabs European Championship points

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During the second leg of Czech Republic's Barum Rally, round eight of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, Luca Rossetti and Matteo Chiarcossi were delayed by a puncture three stages from the finish and hence the Abarth works crew dropped to 10th overall.

Despite not scoring points, Giandomenico Basso, alongside co-driver Mitia Dotta, remains third in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge standings. After yesterday's retirement, Basso was back in the event for the second day to try and collect European Rally Championship points, which are allocated to legs winner. Mission accomplished! This allows him to target the continental title.

The next round of the IRC will be the Rally Príncipe de Asturias in Spain, which is scheduled for 10-11 September. The event also counts towards the European Rally Championship.

Barum Rally Classification: 1. Kopecký-Stary (Skoda Fabia S2000) in 2hr 24min21.1s; 2. Meeke-Nagle (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 1min00.4s; 3. Hänninen-Markkula (Skoda Fabia S2000) + 2min00.8s; 4. Kresta-Gross (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 2min10.8s; 5. Prokop-Tománek (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 2min39.6s; 10. Rossetti-Chiarcossi (Abarth Grande Punto S2000).

Intercontinental Rally Challenge standings after 8 rounds: 1. Kris Meeke (GB), Peugeot, 42 points; 2. Jan Kopecký (CZ), Skoda, 39; 3. Giandomenico Basso (I), Abarth, and Freddy Loix (B), Peugeot, 27; 5. Juho Hänninen (FIN), Skoda, 20.

Ferrari 458 Italia

While it’s true that every Ferrari is innovative by definition, it’s equally true that in the course of the Prancing Horse’s history, certain cars have marked a genuine departure from the current range. This is very much the case with the Ferrari 458 Italia, which is a massive leap forward from the company’s previous mid-rear engined sports cars.

The new model is a synthesis of style, creative flair, passion and cutting-edge technology, characteristics for which Italy as a nation is well-known. For this reason Ferrari chose to add the name of its homeland to the traditional figure representing the displacement and number of cylinders.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a completely new car from every point of view: engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics, just to name a few.

A two-seater berlinetta, the Ferrari 458 Italia, as is now traditional for all Ferrari’s road-going cars, benefits hugely from the company’s Formula 1 experience. This is particularly evident in the speed and precision with which the car responds to driver inputs and in the attention focused on reducing internal friction in the engine for lower fuel consumption than the F430, despite the fact that both overall displacement and power have increased. However, Ferrari’s track experience makes its presence felt in the 458 Italia not only in terms of pure technological transfer but also on a more emotional level, because of the strong emphasis on creating an almost symbiotic relationship between driver and car. The 458 Italia features an innovative driving environment with a new kind of steering wheel and dashboard that is the direct result of racing practice. Once again input from Michael Schumacher - who was involved from the very start of the 458 Italia project - played an invaluable part.

The Ferrari 458 Italia’s Pininfarina design provides further evidence of the complete departure from the past that this new car hails. The Ferrari 458 Italia has a compact, aerodynamic shape, underscoring the concepts of simplicity, efficiency and lightness that inspired the project. As with every Ferrari, the car’s styling has been very heavily influenced by the requirements for aerodynamic efficiency, as can be seen from the downforce of 140 kg at 200km/h generated by the new model. The front features a single opening for the front grille and side air intakes, with aerodynamic sections and profiles designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody. The nose also sports small aeroelastic winglets which generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator inlets and cut drag.

The new 4499 cc V8 is the first Ferrari direct injection engine to be mid-rear mounted. It has a very low piston compression height typical of racing engines which contributed to achieving its compression ratio of 12.5:1. Equipped with the traditional flat-plane crankshaft, the engine delivers 570 CV at 9000 rpm and, with an outstanding power output of 127 CV/litre, sets a new benchmark not only for the whole Ferrari range and the history of company, but also for the entire market segment. Maximum torque is 540 Nm at 6000 rpm, over 80 per cent of which is available from 3250 rpm. Specific torque is a record 120 Nm/litre. However, what is truly extraordinary is the amount of torque available while still maintaining high levels of power at low revs.

The car’s soundtrack is also typical Ferrari, with an exciting, powerful growl emerging from the engine before it channels through to the exhaust’s three rear tailpipes.

The 458 Italia is equipped with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which increases performance whilst providing very smooth shifts even at full throttle. The engineers have developed specific, sportier gear ratios to match the power and torque curves of the new V8, guaranteeing high torque even at lower engine speeds and allowing the car to reach its maximum speed in top gear.

This new Ferrari is also a major leap forward when it comes to cutting emissions. Despite the fact that the new engine is significantly more powerful than the V8s that preceded it, the Ferrari 458 Italia produces just 320 g/km of CO2 and fuel consumption is 13.7 l/100 km (combined cycle), the best in the entire segment.

The engineers also focused on weight reduction during the design phase for similar reasons. Consequently, the Ferrari 458 Italia has a dry weight of 1380 kg with a power-to-weight ratio of 2.42 kg/CV. Weight distribution is also optimal with 58 per cent over the rear axle. The result of the engineers’ endeavours can be summed up in to two simple statistics which together perfectly encapsulate the Ferrari 458 Italia’s exceptional performance: 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 3.4 seconds and a maximum speed in excess of 325 km/h.

For the new chassis, once more in aluminium, Maranello’s engineers incorporated various types of advanced alloys along with aerospace industry-derived manufacturing and bonding techniques.

With regard to vehicle dynamics, the Ferrari 458 Italia’s suspension features twin wishbones at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear tuned for maximum roadholding and superlative handling. Along with a more direct steering ratio, the 458 Italia thus offers extremely rapid turn-in and body control whilst maintaining superior ride comfort.

The integration of the E-Diff and F1-Trac (now controlled by the same ECU) and their respective mappings is even greater, resulting in a 32 per cent increase in longitudinal acceleration out of corners compared to previous models. The evolution of the control logic, with even faster and more accurate calculation of levels of grip, ensures even greater roadholding, better handling and ease of control on the limit.

The same ECU also governs the high-performance ABS, providing even more precise control over the logic threshold and greater efficiency. The brakes also feature a prefill function whereby the pistons in the callipers move the pads into contact with the discs on lift off to minimise delay in the brakes being applied. This combined with the ABS has cut the 100-0 km/h braking distance to a mere 32.5 metres.

The Ferrari 458 Italia’s interior is another area of the car that exalts its sporty personality. The driver is welcomed by a new layout and a revolutionary ergonomic interface where the main controls are all clustered on the steering wheel.

With the Ferrari 458 Italia, Maranello has brought a highly distinctive new car to its 8-cylinder range. The company now offers two models that share a common, race-derived DNA, both exceptionally sporty and fun to drive in true Ferrari tradition, but aimed at two very different kinds of client. While the Ferrari California was created for owners requiring a more versatile sports car with a practical edge, the 458 Italia is designed for owners for whom the priority is uncompromising on-road performance with occasional track day capability, but who still demand a car that is useable in day-to-day driving like all Ferrari’s recent models.



Ferrari 458 Italia – Technical specifications

Dimensions
Length 4527 mm (178.2 in.)
Width 1937 mm (76.3 in.)
Height 1213 mm (47.8 in.)
Wheelbase 2650 mm (104.3 in.)
Dry weight 1380 kg (3042 lbs)*
Weight/power ratio 2,42 kg/CV (7.16 lbs/kW)
Weight distribution fr/r 42%/58%

Engine
Type V8 – 90°
Displacement 4499 cc (274.5 cu in.)
Maximum power 570 CV (425 kW)** @ 9000 rpm
Maximum torque 540 Nm (398 lbs/ft) @ 6000 rpm
Specific power output 127 CV/l
Compression ratio 12.5:1

Tyres
Front 235/35 ZR20 8.5”
Rear 295/35 ZR20 10.5”

Performance
Maximum speed >325 km/h (>202 mph)
0-100 km/h <3.4 s

Fuel consumption + emissions
Fuel consumption*** 13.7 l/100 km
Emissions*** 320 g CO2/km

Gearbox
Dual-clutch, 7-speed F1

Electronics
E-Diff3, F1-Trac, high-performance ABS

* With forged wheels and Racing seats
** Including 5 CV of ram effect
*** Combined cycle (ECE+EUDC)

Latest news from Brazil

Image by varlen via Flickr

"Felipe is in excellent form and his recovery is going very well!” These are the latest news on Felipe Massa’s health directly from Brazil given by Stefano Domenicali. The Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro’s Team Principal visited the Brazilian driver at Sao Paulo today. "I’m very happy about Felipe’s state,” Domenicali told www.ferrari.com over the phone. "The medical checks, which have been carried out over the last two weeks continue to be very encouraging. Now it’s important to be patient and take one step at a time, without any hurry.”

While Felipe is recovering in Brazil, tomorrow the Scuderia will take up its work after a two-week break, which had been agreed with the other teams. Over the next three days the team will concentrate on the preparations for the races in Spain and Belgium, which will be held on the last two weekends in August. Next to Kimi Raikkonen Luca Badoer will start into the races, debuting as an official Scuderia driver. Tomorrow and Tuesday Luca will be part of a video shooting for promotional purposes behind the F60’s wheel at the Fiorano race track.

Schumacher: “Badoer is the best choice”

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It was a long and difficult press conference with Michael Schumacher at the Hotel Intercontinental at Geneva today. Accompanied by his personal doctor Johannes Peil and his legendary manager Willi Weber, Michael explained the reasons for his decision to interrupt his physical preparation for the European GP, where he should have raced with Felipe Massa’s single-seater sporting number 3.
Michael thanked everybody at Ferrari who helped him during this programme and all the fans, supporting him over the last days.

How are you feeling?
“Obviously I’m very frustrated and disappointed about what has happened,” Michael said. “We were preparing in a very tough way and we’ve done everything possible, but from the start Ferrari and I have always said that I would have raced for Felipe if I had been ready. It’s a pity that we didn’t reach this goal. I’m not interested in getting back in Formula 1 as a full-time job, but I wanted to help Ferrari and my friends under these special circumstances. When I went to Maranello Wednesday after Felipe’s accident I knew what were going to talk about with Stefano and Chairman Montezemolo. In the beginning I was more tending towards a ‘no’, but you all know Montezemolo and how good he is in convincing people. He’s a great friend of mine and we really agree on most things: so he managed to convince me. Furthermore my wife Corinna said that I should do what I think is the right thing to do.”

So why weren’t any exams carried out before Monday night?
“There’s only one way to see if your body is able to cope with the forces generated by a Formula 1 car: try it out. I did some simulations and I used many test cars, but none of them was able to reproduce the stress and the forces you have to deal with on board of a single-seater. So we had to drive one to understand what was going on. My doctor had told me that we could do this test and then, after a short break, add some more stress to see how the situation developed. In the end we’ve done everything we could do, but it didn’t go as we wanted.”

Would it have been possible to prepare any better?
“First of all nobody could expect that Felipe would have been victim of such a terrible accident. So obviously we couldn’t plan anything. And then I think that we couldn’t have done things in a different way.”

There are rumours that they want you on the track at Monza or even next year…
“Speculations are part of the world of motorsport. Many people have their ideas as far as this topic is concerned, but the truth is, that I am very unhappy that I can’t do what I wanted to do, which is helping Ferrari in this difficult moment. This is what I can tell you right now and I have to live with it.”

What do you think about Luca Badoer?
“First of all I have to say that Luca is a great friend of mine. Over all these years he has always prepared himself in the best possible way to be ready to race; this is his work: being ready for the tests and in case something happens. He’s not someone just sitting there and waiting foor something to happen. He’s always ready and has obviously worked very hard after Felipe’s accident. We’ve always said that I first need the confirmation that I’m physically ready, so it’s normal that he is ready now. Knowing him and the team, I think that he is the right choice, the best choice Ferrari could make. It’s true that he hasn’t raced for a while, but a driver never looses his competitive spirit. I wish him well for this difficult task.”

Have you spoken to Felipe recently?
“Yes, I’m always in contact with him, because we’re great friends, which is one of the reasons I accepted to try to get back on the track. I’m glad that he is recovering so well: he’s extremely motivated, although he can’t prepare in such an intense way as he wants, because the doctors still don’t allow it.”

Ferrari 458 Italia Photos

Rally over for Raikkonen

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Kimi Raikkonen's adventure at the Finland Rally came to an abrupt end this afternoon when the Abarth Grande Punto S2000 with the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver ended up in a ditch during the 19th special test, a couple of minutes after the Subaru Impreza with Mads Ostberg went off the road in the same spot. What a pity, because Kimi had a great race and was on the 15th overall position and the third in his class despite the engine problems which slowed him down in the morning and a suspension's broken spring.

Michael Schumacher in Felipe Massa's car

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Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro intends to put Michael Schumacher in Felipe Massa's car until the Brazilian driver will be able to race again. Michael Schumacher said he is ready and, over the next few days, will undertake a specific training program at the end of which confirmation will be given of his participation in the Championship with effect from the European Grand Prix on the 23rd of August.