+27 64 504 1406

info@ferriscars.com

Tag: automotive passion

Cars Needed!

MY CURRENT STOCK IS LOW!
AS YOU CAN SEE, I REALLY NEED SOME MORE.

If you are interested in selling your car, we are actively looking to buy or consign it, so please give me a call:

PAUL 082 851 3300

Newsletter 61 – FERRARI 355 SPIDER

There’s no such thing as a cheap Ferrari, but the Ferrari 355 Spider is – whisper it – a bit of a bargain. They are now around half the price of a new 296 GTS, for starters.
OK, the F355 does offer less than half the power (380hp vs. 830hp) of a more recent Ferrari, but it really isn’t half the car. Not by, um, half. Launched in 1994, the F355 was the shot in the arm Ferrari needed.
Maranello needed to up its game, and it did so with svelte styling, F1-inspired aerodynamics and a red-blooded V8.

With a modest 268lb ft of torque, the Ferrari’s flat-plane-crank V8 doesn’t fully come alive until 5,000rpm.
Then, show pony turns to stallion, as hedgerows become a blur in an intoxicating, head-spinning rush for the redline.

Ferrari 355 Spider engine

And the noise! Drive it with brio and the 355 howls with the hard-edged intensity of a racer – a mechanical cacophony amplified further in this example, by a freer-flowing Capristo exhaust. It’s feral, ferocious and borderline anti-social, just as you’d expect.

Close up of the engine

Without doubt, one of the most beautiful modern Ferraris ever created.
No one is ever going to argue that there’s no bad angles on  355 spider. From wherever you look, the lines, shapes and shadows are absolutely sublime.

Collage of the 355 Spider

This 1996 Ferrari 355 Spider Manual is in pristine condition, has covered only 16,000km’s and comes with a complete service history, recent cambelt service, new tyres and all the associated books, tools and documentation.

Full front of the Ferrari 355 Spider

R2 800 000
Call us now!
Paul 0828513300

Ferrari Stock

Newsletter 59 – FERRARI SF-23

The Ferrari SF-23

F1 car on black background

Ferrari’s 2023 Formula 1 Challenger may look like a natural development of the previous year’s fast but underperforming car, but the team describes it as a complete redesign. There are major aerodynamic and mechanical changes to improve performance and achieve the characteristics the team needs.

The new car is designed around more vertical downforce, adapting further to the new rules that came in last year, and also suspension changes that have been made to improve the aero and give the team more set-up options.

It’s impossible, at this stage, to say if Ferrari have achieved its objectives, but given the speed of last year’s car an improved version of its visually distinctive concept, combined with a reliable power unit package, it could be enough to make Ferrari a genuine Championship contender. 

The Ferrari sf-23 follows the same aerodynamic template of the 2022 car, rather than going with the trend of others in copying Red Bull’s design. The radiator intake and the undercut at the front corner of the side pod have been optimized but have not significantly changed.

2 red car pieces

 

Ferrari has compacted the side pod under the radiator inlets and extended the upper shoulder, moving some of the radiator area upwards and rearwards to create that space.

two red f1 cars

All of that coupled with the vortex shedding front Wing slot Gap separators, suggests they are trying to feed the inlets more aggressively than before.

two silver grids

The radiator rearrangement is not so extensive however, as to require the rear exit cooling cannons, seen on Red Bull last year and many others this year.

red bull logo

The side pod front corner undercuts are a bit more aesthetically pleasing than last year. It’s not quite as vertical, which will be more sympathetic to airflow direction changes.

Shell logo red car

The SF-23 also retains a distinctive scallop shape of the top surface of the side pods. The top surface shape is not quite as dramatic as last year, the exit louvers just beyond the top section of the radiator will improve the efficiency of the cooling in this area.

rayban logo

The front suspension is a pushrod configuration, where the wishbone pickups mount to the chassis. There’s a small amount of anti-lift to help support the front of the car and reduce the ride height change, under braking loads. The steering track rod is low down Infront of, but slightly higher than the forward leg of the lower front Wishbone.

car with yellow circle

What also stands out is the amount of unpainted carbon fibre on a few of the surfaces, to save a few crucial grams of weight. That shows the 798-kilo minimum weight limit is still very difficult to hit.

ceva logo 

Given last year’s engine problems, new Ferrari team principal Frederick Vasseur has declared reliability to be the top priority for 2023, above even strategic improvements and gains on tyre management.

Ferrari already had potentially the most potent engine in F1 last year. If its reliability problems have been solved it will finally be able to make the most of that performance, with an improved version of a concept that proved stunningly fast last year and better reliability, Ferrari could be a formidable team in 2023, that’s why there’s a real sense of optimism at Ferrari

forza ferrari

If you enjoyed this article read our Formula 1 rant here.

Buy a car with Cryptocurrency

Buy a car with Cryptocurrency

The future is here! We live in a world that is digital and automated. Development in this sector shows no signs of slowing down, in fact, it is growing at a record pace. People are talking to automated bots more than their partners, demonstrated recently when Open AI’s ChatGPT registered 1 million users in 5 days, a feat that took Netflix, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram months to achieve. Savvy tech entrepreneurs understand the power of networks and the universal power of blockchain technology, and the term Bitcoin is amongst the top 100 Google searches for 2022.

We have all heard of “cryptocurrency” or “crypto” by now. Be it on the news, around the braai, or in a conversation with your local barista. If you have not, where have you been hiding? It is said that there is not one industry that Blockchain technology will not completely disrupt, or at least dramatically expand and enhance.
But, what is it? What problems will it solve? What are some of the real use cases, and how can it be used in the real world?
Can you realistically use it as a means of exchange? Perhaps even
buy a car with cryptocurrency or some other tangible asset, and if so, what is the process?

Cryptocurrency is a term used to describe a form of “digital currency”. It relies on a combination of technologies for it to operate i.e. as a means of exchange, a reward, or store of value across the digital world.
Another word that gets thrown around is “decentralized”, meaning no central authorities like governments and banks can control cryptocurrency. Each cryptocurrency is built on its own peer-to-peer (P2P) network which means that the computers on the network follow a list of protocols on which transactions are validated and stored on a distributed ledger (the official term for this is the blockchain).
This allows people to have total control of their money with zero involvement from centralized authorities. It makes cryptocurrency borderless and permissionless. In certain countries, cryptocurrency is now considered a financial asset that is allowed to be held as an alternative investment.

This begs the question of a use case for crypto. Can you use crypto in the real world? The answer is yes, you can! Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto’s whitepaper for the cryptocurrency describes it as:

“…electronic cash that would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution.”

If we can translate that, it would mean:

“Allowing digital transactions using digital money around the world with another person without the need for a bank.”

Now that you can transact digitally using a digital currency, how do you do it? It’s as easy as downloading and registering a free crypto wallet on trading platforms such as Altcoin Trader, Luno or VALR, available on the App Store or Play Store. You will then need to sign up and follow a KYC/FICA process which will require you to send through some documentation. The next step would be to deposit any fiat value into your wallet. It can be done by electronic bank transfer or credit card payment. Once the funds reflect in your wallet, follow the instructions provided to purchase the amount of cryptocurrency you would like. This “crypto” will then be stored securely in your wallet.

CONGRATULATIONS! You are now part of the cool kids’ crypto club and have digital money to spend.

cryptocurrency cell phone

So how can we use this in the real world? As mass adoption of the technology occurs, many online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores now accept payments in crypto through payment service gateways and providers for their goods and services. This allows you to purchase anything from your weekly groceries, to space travel tickets and even the latest and greatest PC gaming computers. NEWS Flash, you can now even use it to buy tangible assets, like luxury watches, boats, cars and even property.

Luxury cars are a great example of how to spend your crypto profits in the real world. Buying a “Lambo” with crypto has become an internet meme across forums and social media.
In 2017, American Entrepreneur Peter Saddington became the first person ever to buy a $200,000 2015 Lamborghini Huracan for 45 bitcoins. Saddington stated that he bought the 45 bitcoins for $115 back in 2011. Ever since then, articles have been published across the internet about crypto holders using their profits to buy luxury cars.

But it is possible to buy a car with cryptocurrency in South Africa?

Ferris Cars are proud to be the first South African car dealership to publicly and directly accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment for a car.
In April 2021, Ferris Cars sold a 2012 Red Ferrari California for 2.08 bitcoins and has since helped numerous fintech-savvy crypto holders buy cars with digital currency.

Buy a car with Cryptocurrency


Ferris Cars provide a facility that enables a crypto holder to purchase any physical asset through their crypto payment portal. The facility is FIC sanctioned, safe, secure and includes no transaction fees.
Ferris Cars currently accept BTC, USDT, xZAR, or any altcoin on the Ethereum blockchain.

The payment facility to buy a car with cryptocurrency includes a 3-step process.

  1. Identify your dream car at Ferris Cars, or any other dealership or private seller.
  2. Request a written quotation/OTP from the salesperson. Email this quotation/OTP to info@ferriscars.com along with your invoicing details.
  3. Go to www.ferriscars.com/cryptopayments. Identify the cryptocurrency that you want to use. Speak to a Ferris Cars representative to verify the correct ZAR transaction value. Send the equivalent cryptocurrency value to the wallet address provided.

Once the payment is verified on the blockchain, take delivery and drive away in your next car, bought with crypto.

This facility allows you to purchase any vehicle or luxury asset in South Africa, or even from anywhere in the world as long as the correct commercial documentation is in place. From boats, planes, cars, bakkies and just about any tangible assets from any dealership, broker or private seller.Ferris Cars have been successful at helping numerous fintech-savvy investors and crypto holders to buy a car with cryptocurrency.

With more and more businesses accepting crypto for goods and services, there is more confidence in digital currency. The future is here, and it consists of a digital and decentralized world where potential is only limited by your imagination.

Wheres Lambo

monkeys

Newsletter 56: FERRARI RED BOOKS

FERRARI RED BOOKS,
WHY DO THEY EXIST AND WHERE CAN I FIND THEM?

So, you’ve found a Ferrari. But wait, how do you know that this particular car is the real deal? How can you tell what the history is without someone telling you or you doing hours of research? These are challenging questions to address.

You’ll have to go back to the source, Ferrari, and it’s not cheap, like anything with a prancing horse on it.

Ferrari Red Books

Ferrari can certify that your vehicle and all of its elements fit the original specifications from the time it left the factory. And if it does, they will issue you a ‘Certificate of Authenticity,’ also known as ‘The Red Book.’

Ferrari first used the Red Book process in 2016. And they have a dedicated division called the Classiche that is in charge of providing it. This division operates through a global network of centers based at various Ferrari dealerships worldwide.

A professional committee in Maranello inspects your car and decides whether it deserves to gain the prestigious certification. If it fails, they can organise for your automobile to be fully restored to its original factory default settings. Specialist engineers will send your car through a time machine and return it to the day it rolled off the assembly line.If necessary, they will disassemble the car and replace all non-authentic parts. And if the components are no longer in existence, they can re-manufacture them for you.

Red Ferrari in workshop

If necessary, they will disassemble the car and replace all non-authentic parts. And if the components are no longer in existence, they can re-manufacture them for you.

According to Ferrari, “the goal of any restoration is to keep as much of the version of the car and its parts as possible, even if this is usually not the best cost-effective alternative.”

Since the procedure began, Ferrari has rebuilt over 120 cars and certified roughly 5,000. According to Italian reports, there is a long waitlist for what is most likely an incredibly expensive service.

They’ve also implemented a passport system, in which they’ll re-inspect your vehicle regularly to guarantee that the certification remains relevant.

As you can imagine, only a limited number of Ferrari vehicles have ever been issued with the Red Book. If you’re in the market to purchase a certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle, you’ll soon learn that the Red Book is just as important as a panel tool.

Why?

Owning a Ferrari is quite the accomplishment, and because classic Ferrari purchasers are parting with eye-watering amounts of money, which may reach seven figures, for an old Italian supercar, they need it to be just perfect, if not flawless.

Top-tier purchasers want total peace of mind, the finest, and are prepared to pay for it. Excellence always has a cost.

So, someday, if you want to sell that gorgeous classic car in your driveway for premium prices, you may need to make a significant investment. Alternatively, you might simply enjoy it for exactly what it is: a high-performance car worthy of driving.

Newsletter 51: GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS HELD BY FERRARI

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS HELD BY FERRARI.

Here are just 10 titles of the many Guinness World Records currently held by Ferrari.

1 Fastest average speed in a Grand Prix

The fastest overall average speed for a Grand Prix race is 247.585 km/h (153.842 mph) by Michael Schumacher at Monza in the Italian Grand Prix on 14 September 2003.

2 Most Formula One Grand Prix wins by a constructor

The most Formula One Grand Prix wins by a constructor is 238, achieved by Scuderia Ferrari, between 1951 and 2019.

Ferrari competed in its first Formula One race at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix. Its first victory came at the 1951 British Grand Prix, held on 14 July at Silverstone, with Argentinian driver Jose Froila n Gonza lez behind the wheel. Win no.238 came at the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix on 22 September, courtesy of driver Sebastian Vettel.

3 Most expensive car ever sold

The most expensive car sold in a private sale is the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO (4153 GT), selling for $70,000,000 (R1 433 Billion), purchased by David MacNeil (US) in May 2018.

Built in 1963, the Ferrari 250 GTO model is one of the rarest and most desirable cars in the world, with only 36 ever built.

This particular model (4153 GT) in 1964, won the famous Tour de France with team mates Lucien Bianchi and Georges Berger behind the wheel.

The 250 GTO has a 3-litre V12 engine, pushing the car from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, and a max speed of 174 mph.

This 250 GTO model has been based in Germany for year but has been showcased around the world.

The purchaser, David MacNeil, the CEO of WeatherTech, a company that produces vehicle accessories. David is an experienced car racer, as well as an avid car collector, with more than 8 other Ferrari models in his possession.

Silver Ferrari Side front view

4 Biggest LED display at a circuit

The Italian brand used its Fiorano test track to create a mega light show and a new world record.

The LED light show was part of the ongoing celebrations, in June 2022, to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the iconic manufacturer. More than 55 miles worth of dynamic strings were used in the creation of the display with 1,039,280 LEDs covering 1,215,872.7 square feet of real estate.

Light Display Ferrari Guinness World Record

Two cars featured in the display, the Mondial 3.2 Cabrio, used for a visit by Pope Jean Paul 2, in 1988, and the Daytona SP3, as it was built to celebrate Ferrari’s dominance at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona, where it came first, second, and third.

The lighting show set new Guinness World Records for the Largest LED-illuminated Racetrack.

To see the full video, click here

5 Most Formula 1 Constructors Titles

The most Formula One Constructors’ World Championship titles is 16 by Ferrari in 1961, 1964, 1975-77, 1979, 1982-83, 1999-2004 and 2007-2008.

6 Most consecutive Formula One Grand Prix points finishes (by constructor)

Ferrari has recorded the most consecutive Formula 1 Grand Prix points finishes by a constructor. The team enjoyed 71 successive points finishes from the German Grand Prix on 25 July 2010 to the Chinese Grand Prix on 20 April 2014.

7 Most Formula One Grand Prix starts by a constructor

The most Formula One Grand Prix starts by a constructor is 1,010, achieved by Scuderia Ferrari (Italy) between 21 May 1950 and 18 April 2021.

Ferrari entered its 1,000th Formula One race on home soil at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix, staged at the Mugello Circuit in Tuscany, Italy.

Ferrari competed in its first Formula One race at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix, held on 21 May, and took its first victory on 14 July 1951 at the British Grand Prix. As of its 1,000th race, it had won more races – 238 – and championship titles – 16 – than any other constructor.

8 Largest indoor theme park

The foundation stone for Ferrari World, just next to the Yas Marina GP circuit, was laid on 3 November 2007. It took three years to develop the park until it was officially opened to the public on 4 November 2010.

At the time it was the largest indoor theme park in the world, at a whopping 925,000 Sq feet, surpassed by Warner Brothers World, also in Abu Dhabi, at 1,623,000 Sq feet in 2019.

Ferrari Largest Indoor Theme Park

9 Fastest rollercoaster in the world

Formula Rossa

Whether you’re a Ferrari aficionado or a roller coaster enthusiast, it should come as little surprise to learn that the fastest roller coaster in the world is found at Ferrari World.

The Formula Rossa is capable of accelerating up to 240 km/h (149.1 mph), can travel 52 meters upward in just 4.9 seconds, and will subject you to 4.2G, earning it a place in the Guinness World Records as the fastest roller coaster in the world.

The Formula Rossa has held the title of world’s fastest roller coaster since it opened to the public in November 2010.

Guinness World Record Roller Coaster Ferrari

10 Largest parade of cars in the Guinness World Records

The largest parade of Ferrari cars consisted of 944, and was achieved by Ferrari North Europe Ltd. at the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit, on 15 September 2012.

The previous record was set in 2007, with 385 Ferraris, at the same Circuit.

In addition, Ferrari North Europe donated £5 (approx. R100) to BEN, (the automotive industry’s own charity) for every Ferrari taking part in the record-breaking attempt.

Guinness World Record most Ferrari's on track

BONUS RECORD

Largest speeding fine

The largest speeding fine is a $290,000 (R5 800,000) ticket given to an anonymous Swiss motorist who was caught driving 137 km/h (85 mph) in a 80 km/h (50 mph) zone in a village near St. Gallen, Switzerland, in January 2010.

The man in question was driving a red Ferrari Testarossa and made it into the Guinness World Records. The fine was calculated based on his wealth, which the court assessed at $22.7 million (R454 million) – it was also increased because he was a repeat offender.

Don’t mess with the Swiss !!!!

Ferrari with sunset in background

 

As always, we are looking for stock to buy or consign.
We specialise in Ferrari, but all high end, luxury, sports and supercars are welcome.

Contact Paul 082 851 3300
or
paul@ferriscars.com
or
info@ferriscars.com

 

Ferrari Logo

Newsletter 41: FERRARI ICONS 250 GT LUSSO

WELCOME TO 2022

Ferris Cars has some exciting things lined up for the year ahead.
More events.
Some exciting social media content.
Revolutionary new cryptocurrency options.
More fun Rhino stuff.
Watch this space!
In the meantime, you know you are always welcome, so pop in for a coffee and a chat ………….even if it is just to talk about cars and shit!!!!

Ferris Offices Outside view

FERRARI ICONS: 250 GT LUSSO

When it made its debut at the 1962 Paris Salon, the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso was unveiled as the final iteration of the 250 GT series of cars.
The Lusso, which means “Luxury” in Italian, was positioned between the more hardcore racing models and ultra-luxury variants within the Ferrari lineup.
It aimed to offer the experience of top-tier Ferrari sports car performance while being well-appointed with an arsenal to combat the demands of daily use.

The 250 Lusso is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cars to be adorned with the prancing horse badge.
Its sporty nature is derived from the use of a Short Wheel Base (SWB) chassis, shared with some of the previous competition cars, and a V12 engine fueled by three Weber carburettors.
The overall design elements of the car were ground-breaking for their time, and the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso would soon become one of the most recognisable automobiles in the world.
Exquisitely proportioned, the GT/L had an elegant silhouette which comprised of its elongated profile, curvy fenders, slim pillars, truncated rear and charismatic three-piece front bumper.

Ferrari 250 GT Lusso side view

The Ferrari 250 GT Lusso was imagined by Pininfarina and brought to life by Carrozzeria Scaglietti under the direction of Enzo Ferrari.
While the GT/L was intended to be a road-going grand tourer in every sense of those words put together, many owners ended up outfitting their cars for racing anyway. This is because the GT/L inherently possessed race car DNA, which is shared with the 250 GTO, including its SWB, disc brakes, suspension, and engine, making it a viable track toy when the latter was not an option.

Engine of a red Ferrari

Though well-received and sought after, the GT/L would ultimately have a brief production run spanning just 18 months, between the years 1962 and 1964, with only 350 examples made. At the tail end of 1964, the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, and by extension, the entire 250 GT line, would be succeeded by the incoming Ferrari 275 GTB.
This would by no means signify the end for the GT/L, as it has become a hot collector’s item in recent times.

The Ferrari 250 GT Lusso is the quintessential 60’s sports car.
Driving any Ferrari from the same era is a tremendously special experience, of which few of us have had the privilege.
The 250 is rare, expensive and highly collectable, but its value is based on the engineering, remarkable style and elegance, coupled with the exceptional performance and handling of that particular era, all of which made it ahead of its time when the car was launched in 1962
.

Red Ferrari 250 GT Lusso

THE FERRIS CLINIC IS NOW OPEN FOR 2022, AND
THE DOCTOR IS READY TO HELP!

We don’t have a PhD, nor any formal medical training, but we do have a vast experience and understanding of your condition.
The bad news is that your illness is not curable, not terminal, but not curable, and is something you are going to have to live with ……….. probably for the rest of your life.
Some of our clients claim different ailments related to their illness. Some speak of a feeling of petrol running through their veins. Some talk of sweaty palms and accelerated heartbeat when visualising or being in close proximity to certain items of a mechanical nature.
Some patients, who are currently being treated, claim to have a much more fulfilling life, a sense of contentment and, in some cases, a better sex life, all due to the therapy and treatment we have prescribed.

Ferrari driving in the Sunset
Some of our patients enjoying their therapy!

This illness, unlike many others, has taken on various names over the years.
An extreme case is called, “Mechanophilia”. The most common is called, “Paraphilia”.
Locally, the most common term for this illness is
“Motor” or “Petrol” Head.
The best news of all is that our mission is to make living with your illness, as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
Over the years we have developed some proven therapies to help alleviate the many varied symptoms.
If you think you may be experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, don’t delay, call Ferris immediately, and get professional help in dealing with this terrible illness.

Ferris Doctor Help Line

Did you enjoy reading about this Ferrari Icon? Read about another one here.

Newsletter 29: FERRARI 458 ITALIA – TIME TO BUY?

The Ferrari 458 Italia, launched in 2009 (South Africa receiving their first one in 2010) was a complete redesign for the company and the last V8 model to be completely designed by Pininfarina.

4.5 litre, normally aspirated V8, 0-100 Kmh – 3.4 Seconds. 

Impressive figures, considering it is now over ten years old. Even pitting it against today’s turbo and hybrid offerings, it’s pretty competitive. The Bugatti Veyron  Supersport, for example, is only 1 second quicker, and that costs one hundred and seventy hundred and forty million hundred……… (listen carefully), more! 

The 458 represents Pininfarina’s discovery of the optimal aerodynamic shape, which many supercar manufacturers copy aspects of to this day.  

When Luca di Montezemolo was shown the mock-up of the 458, he looked at the exterior, the interior, and the engine, and said this is the perfect car to represent  Italian motoring, its style, its speed, its power, its grace, it’s looks, and that is why it’s called the 458 Italia. – This is Italy’s car!

Ferrari 458 Italia Front View

The Ferrari 458 Italia isn’t just beautiful to look at, its design has a purpose. The two wings situated in the front grill, deform at speed to improve aerodynamics and reduce drag. Air flows down the body of the car into a vent just behind the rear side window, where it cools the dual-clutch transmission, the result of that though, warm air is forced out the back, and reduces drag in the car – It’s all rather clever!  

It’s also one of the slipperiest Ferrari’s ever made. It’s drag coefficient, or how easily it slices through the air as it goes, is just 0.330, which is a very small number, but the thing is, it’s not just how it cuts through the air, it’s how it uses it to improve airflow aerodynamics and reduce drag. Someone put a lot of thought into this! 

A certain Mr. Schumacher had a lot of input in the interior cabin, everything is driver-focused, within easy reach, and that’s because he wanted it to be like a Formula 1 car,  so it becomes second nature just to fiddle with your controls, you don’t have to take your eye off the road, which is really smart, because in something like this, you really don’t want to take your eye off the road. 

As a driver you have loads of information at your fingertips, the steering wheel has got everything you need. The engine start button, the suspension adjust, the indicators, and all the rest, there’s the manettino switch, which is a wonderful little invention,  allows you to switch instantly between the traction control modes.  

It’s basically derived from Formula 1 tech, and there are five modes to choose from; Wet,  for when it’s raining, Sport, which is Ferrari speak for normal, then you have Race,  which turns the traction control off a little bit, (Ferrari speak for….just a leetal beet crayzee), CT off, which turns it off quite a lot, (Ferrari speak for…. starta to aloosa de plota), and then you have to press and hold it for ESC off, which turns everything off  (Ferrari speak for…. youa fuckina inasayna).

There’s two screens in this binnacle, as well as the rev counter. The one on the left gives you lots of information about the car tyre pressure, oil pressure that kind of thing, also there’s a little speedo, odometer and the fuel gauge. And on the right-hand side, well, when you’re not using the Sat-Nav or the phone or anything like that, you have a giant speedo, nice big numbers you can see just out of the corner of your eye,  which is really quite handy.

The big question …. “What’s it like to drive?”  
Well, when you look at it you think, will it be heavy, light, wayward, slippery, tricky – none of the above, thankfully, – it’s awesome! 

If you drive like a saint, you can get up to 22 miles per gallon out of it. The gearbox in this thing is an absolute masterpiece, – it is once again derived from Formula 1  technology, so a dual-clutch. There’s one clutch always resting on the even gears, and one clutch always resting on the odd gears.
 
Everyone wants to know, just how long is the transition between the changes? If you ask a Ferrari rep, the response will be, “We’ve really stopped measuring that because well, it’s pretty instant.” – And they’re right, it really is! – You flip the paddle, down! Flip the paddle, down! Flip the paddle, down! – It’s just bang, bang, bang, – it is that instant, – it’s absolutely incredible, it really, really is! 

The steering in this thing is absolutely incredible, it is just so direct you just pop the nose in and well, away you go, there’s no hint of understeer, and there’s no threat of nasty oversteer, with you spinning into a forest. It’s absolutely incredible, and you can get it out of shape if you drive like a bit of a numpty, or you really don’t know what you’re doing; – but as a car for a normal person, it’s really, really, good. Comfort-wise,  you’d expect a car like this to be very uncomfortable, very hard riding, so you sit on the freeway and go, “God! I regret spending so much on this, oh it’s so uncomfortable, oh for the love of God, make it stop!” – But in actual fact, no, there are lots of suspension modes to choose from, so you can have a nice cosseting comfy Ferrari. 

The 458 Italia is as Ferrari intended, a dream, it causes a stir wherever it goes, it has a  visual drama that other cars struggle to match. It combines performance, agility and style in a way that few will ever see, let alone experience! – It’s a true Italian thoroughbred! – It’s the definition of desirability, of a dream! – 
It is Italy’s car!

We are proud to be able to offer this 

2012 Ferrari 458 Spider 

20,000km’s

R3 449 990.00

Newsletter 24: FERRARI, THE FUTURE, WHAT TO EXPECT!

These are interesting and exceptional times for all supercar manufacturers.
The political and public persecution of small-volume carmakers with ignorant, broad-brush legislation, threatens to destroy the things we most value about these types of cars. Forcing a company like Ferrari to produce electric cars is pointless and will do absolutely nothing to assist in saving the planet. For one thing, companies like Ferrari only make 10,000 vehicles a year, and 95% of them are, at most, driven a couple of times a month. It is therefore mindless and moronic to force Ferrari, and other small-volume supercar manufacturers, to adhere to EV (Electric Vehicle) regulation.
To put this into perspective, one single cruise liner will produce 10,000 times more harmful greenhouse gases than the entire yearly output of Ferrari, when was the last time anyone heard of the government putting the thumbscrews on the cruise line industry?

CURRENT FERRARI LINEUP

Ferrari splits its models into four separate categories:

Current line up of 4 groups of Ferrari

What can we expect from Ferrari in the short to medium future?

We recently heard about the 812 Competizione and Aperta, these being the “hot” versions of the 812 and 812 GTS. Rumours abound, as they usually do, that these will be the last of the naturally aspirated V12’s to be produced, but then Ferrari has said that a few times in the past!
Last week, Ferrari announced the 296 GTB, a 3 litre, V6 Hybrid boasting over 800Bhp, the first V6 Ferrari since the 246SP, launched in 1961.

Most of us thought the 296 would be the replacement for the F8 Tributo, but in actual fact, will sit alongside in the model range. The powertrain of the 296 will, of course, replace all the current V8’s and become the standard for new models.

The 296 GTB concept Ferrari

Scheduled for 2022, Ferrari will be launching their “FUV” – Ferrari Utility Vehicle. It’ll be called the Purosangue, which means thoroughbred in Italian. Most Tifosi want to run away and weep at the thought of this vehicle, but it is coming!
Whilst most of us are appalled at the thought of this car, we can at least understand the need for it. People laughed and scoffed at Porsche when they released the Cayenne and then the Macan, but these cars account for over 50% of the company’s sales, and that means more money coming in to spend on other special models. So, let’s not be too hard on the Purosangue, rather than looking at it as an affront to everything we love about Ferrari, we should actually look at it as the cash cow that will enable the company to develop all the cool cars to come.

Ferrari Utility Vehicle Side View

The above are the new cars we know about, but let’s take an educated guess as to what might be coming in the medium future.
Ferrari’s proven formula would dictate that there will probably be a “hot” version of the F8 Tributo, a Speciale if you like. It would make sense, as the F8 is Ferrari’s swan song and what better way to say goodbye to the V8 era than with a super special version.
Ferrari has stated that there will be a number of Icona models being released in the next few years.
Rumours are also around of ………. wait for it …………. an F40 tribute, yes you read correctly, an F40 tribute. What an absolutely amazing prospect that would be! Of course, you would have to have purchased the first Icona model in order to be eligible for this one!

F40 Concept side and front view

As if the F40 tribute isn’t exciting enough, when the Icona division was launched to a select group of VIPs, the rumour was that Ferrari would be producing a manual tribute to the 250 GTO.

250 GTO different angles

And now we get to something extremely exciting, – the LaFerrari replacement.
Yes, that’s right, it’s been nearly 10 years since the LaFerrari was launched, and we are expecting to see another super high-end, ridiculously fast Ferrari hypercar in the next 2 years.
2022 is Ferrari’s 75th anniversary, but, there’s an awful lot going on in that year; – so, we can bet that this new LaFerrari replacement will not arrive until at least 2023, or possibly 24.
It will not be fully electric and instead, it will use an evolution of the SF90’s hybrid system, with a V12 generating over 1100 brake horsepower, still be a limited production car, and possibly numbered, so it will be the most exciting Ferrari that’s arrived for nearly a decade.

3 photo's of LaFerrari Concept

A few years ago, the possibility of a fully electric Ferrari would have been the stuff of a mad man’s dreams, it was never a possibility, and it was never going to happen, but at the recent AGM, temporary CEO John Elkann, announced that in fact there would be a brand new all-electric Ferrari launched in 2025.
This creates some real problems for Ferrari, not least, the Ferrari sound, which is a bit like the Detroit sound, but a bit louder and more shrieky. The way a Ferrari sounds is sometimes as important if not more so than the way it handles and how fast it goes; – and the march of electricity will rob all of us of the soundtrack of these wonderful cars. Yes, the sound could be synthesized as it is in the Lexus LFA, but honestly, who wants that?

Front of a Ferrari

But there is some good news… the LaFerrari and the SF90 powertrain shows that Ferrari can successfully embrace hybridization and electrification. – These are bonkers fast technological marvels, that bring F1 gizmos to the road, and no one can really argue that they aren’t proper Ferrari’s.
The Roma and the forthcoming “hot” Roma’s are usable daily with less emphasis on outright speed and sound, it’s a stealth Ferrari, and one that you won’t care about the mileage. You could hybrid or electrify the Roma, and no one would bat an eyelid.
And the Purosangue, love it or hate it, it’s coming, and it’s coming hard. If you don’t mind the GTC 4 Lusso, then you’re probably more than halfway to accepting the “sang” into your life, and it probably won’t be the huge SUV that we all thought it would be.
So there we are then, a reasonably detailed look at the future of Ferrari.
What can we take away from this?
Well first of all Ferrari is increasing its production to over 10,000 units a year. Get used to it! Over the next 5 years, we’ll see a steady increase to at least 15,000 units.
Second, an all-electric Ferrari is coming in 2025.
Third, Ferrari has no idea how to combat the loss of the Ferrari sound when electric cars come along.
Fourth, there are plenty of exciting models on the way, not least, the new A12 Competizione and the new Icona.
Fifth, V8 cars will be replaced with V6 hybrids, it’s already happening.
And finally, sixth, one would expect synthetic fuel to allow us all to drive our classic Ferrari’s in the future.
With the market at the bottom of the curve, there has never been a better time to pick up a classic Ferrari, in the reasonably secure knowledge that it will increase in value, and you’ll be able to drive and enjoy it for many years to come.

Black and white Ferrari Badge

This article was made possible with the kind permission of:
Damian Butt from The Car Guys.
To see the complete video, “The Future of Ferrari,”
watch below, and do yourself a favour, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.


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