RideLust

The Targa Newfoundland is one of a select group of events that is on my automotive bucket list. A cross between off-road rally racing and open road racing, the Targa is a true test of not only your machine, but your wits and skill as a driver. Sure the car matters, but quite honestly, it’s the drivers nerve behind the wheel that matters more. The following video shows what happens when the owner of a Ferrari Enzo FXX replica looses control of the car on an uneven section of road and pitches the car into the drink. It’s not pretty, but does show you how fast things can go wrong, even when you think you’re doing everything right.

Source: Youtube.com
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The Ferrari 458 Italia may be both the best looking and most drivable sports car in the world. Its new sibling, the 458 Italia, ups the ante by going topless but retaining a folding had top for chassis rigidity. Unlike some cars that simply look wrong in ragtop form (like the 370Z, for example), the 458 Italia is even better looking in its Spider variant. It’s the first Ferrari since the 288 GTO that’s made my hormones sit up and beg, and I suspect that Ferrari will sell all the 458 Italia Spiders they can build. Read More…

I have to say that while I like convertibles, I don’t think that I’d ever actually go out and buy one. You see for me drop-tops are always a compromise. With the top down they’re wonderful and will provide you with some great open-air fun. Once that top goes up however it seems that everything changes. On some cars you loose structural integrity, on others you’re blown out of the cabin by interior wind noise, but perhaps my biggest complaint is the sacrifice you make in the styling department. Some manufacturers are better then others but most simply make a hash of it – that is, until now. This is the Ferrari 458 Spider and my God, if it isn’t the best looking drop-top I’ve ever seen. How they did it I simply don’t know, but Ferrari has managed to keep the lines of the 458 Italia intact by incorporating a seemingly perfect retractable hardtop. Ladies and gentlemen, the Italians should be patting themselves on the back because they hit this one right out of the Coliseum. Click through for the video.
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The problem with absolutes is that they’re, well, absolute. I’m quite certain at some point in Ferrari’s history, perhaps Enzo Ferrari himself was asked about Ferrari building cars with automatic gearboxes. I’m quite certain his reply would have been along the lines of “Ferraris are cars for the driver, and you’ll never see a Ferrari with an automatic gearbox.”

Times change, technologies evolve, and the only Ferrari still available with a manual transmission today is the California. That’s why I have to chuckle at Ferrari’s president, Luca di Montezemolo when he says, “you will never see a Ferrari electric because I don’t believe in electric cars.” Never is a long time, and technology changes in a heartbeat. We’d be the first to admit that electric cars lack practicality today, but their performance potential keeps us intrigued. At some point in the future, assuming technologies like smart roadways and inductive charging progress, electric cars will be lighter and more powerful than their gasoline counterparts. That’s why you never say, “never.” Read More…

The words “Ferrari,” “driving” and “winter” had probably never been uttered in the same sentence, at least before the launch of Ferrari’s Grand Tourer station wagon, the all-new FF. The FF is unique in a several ways: it’s the first “shooting brake“ (station wagon) body style that Maranello has ever built, and it’s the first prancing horse to feature all-wheel-drive. Ferrari even launched the car atop a glacier, just to prove you really could drive it on surfaces other than asphalt. Read More…

It’s the worlds largest indoor theme park dedicated to one of the most iconic brands in automotive history. It’s Ferrari World of Abu Dhabi and saying it’s a sight to behold would be an understatement. Ferrari World is a car enthusiasts adventure like no other that provides the visitor with not only 20 Ferrari themed rides, but a priceless collection of Ferrari automobiles. This automotive playground is as much for adults as it is for kids and melds together a grand combination of Italian culture and Ferrari technology under a structure that is a marvel of architectural design. Click through for the video.

Source: Youtube.com

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Free scheduled maintenance has helped manufacturers like BMW and Volkswagen sell cars for years. In most cases, the “free service” offer is more hype than substance, since manufacturers drag out service intervals to 10,000 mile, requiring the motor savvy (or paranoid) among us to buck up for every other oil change. Worse, there’s all sorts of absurd restriction on most plans, so that manufacturers don’t have to pay for wear items like brake pads or rotors. Still, the idea of free anything is enough to make most buyers feel warm and fuzzy, and now buying a Ferrari can give you the same warm and fuzzy feeling of satisfaction. Read More…

Many argue that the Ferrari 458 Italia is the sexiest Ferrari ever built, and few dispute that the car is among the highest-performance road-going Ferraris to ever leave the Maranello factory. At the heart of the 458 Italia is its 4.5-liter V-8 engine, which puts out a healthy 562 horsepower and 398 ft-lb of torque. To ensure that you don’t need to drive the 458 like an F1 car, the engine makes 80 percent of its peak torque at just 3,250 RPM. That’s good enough to get the 458 Italia from 0 to 60 in just 3.3 seconds, on the way to a top speed of over 200 miles per hour. Read More…

I’ll be honest, if I could park my 1968 Dodge Charger in my living room I absolutely would. You see I love my car to no end, which is why it doesn’t surprise me that Jon Ryder of Sheffield, England did just that. John is the proud owner of a yellow Ferrari 355 Spider and it was his goal to enjoy his baby 24 hours a day. For car guys our rides are pretty much an extension of our personalities, so it seems only right that we’d want to take care of them in the same way we take care of all of our prized possessions. Ryder, a steel worker by trade, gains entrance into his living room by means of a specially designed garage door that’s hidden from view with a few curtains.

“I’ve owned the Ferrari for more than three years and the novelty still hasn’t worn off. I still smile every day at owning my ultimate dream car. It’s my favorite piece of Italian art and it takes pride of place in the house.”
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Recently, I attended the Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals show at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania. Held every May, this show features a vast array of meticulously maintained classic British, European and Japanese cars, exemplary examples of their more modern kin, as well as a beautiful collection of kit cars.  As far as sheer variety in makes, models and years, hands down, this show can’t be beat.

This has become something of an annual treat for me as I can think of few better ways to spend a weekend than by gazing at a gleaming sea of jaw-droppingly stunning automobiles, many of which I guarantee you won’t find at other shows. Plus, participation is open to anyone with an import or a kit car – all you have to do is register, make your car pretty and show up. It’s a great opportunity to display your cherished ride and meet other aficionados of your favorite marques.

I used to come down to show my Saab and hang out with the Saab contingent that makes it out every year. But even though I have a Subaru now, it’s just so much fun that I continue to make the trip to Carlisle (my WRX was parked over by the lone DeLorean, if you happened to be there). Volvo, BMW and Audi clubs also traditionally have a large showing so the weekend is packed with the cars you love, cars you haven’t seen before, your friends from the forums, barbeques – it’s a good time for everyone.  So, if you’re not too far out from Pennsylvania, I definitely recommend heading out there next May to check out the Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals. To tide you over, provided for your viewing pleasure are some of my favorite cars of the weekend. Enjoy!

 

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