Auto blog

New Ferrari F1 car looks like a big step up, says Sebastian Vettel

SILVERSTONE, England — Ferrari's new SF71H Formula One car already looks a big step up from last year's before it has turned a wheel in anger, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel said at Thursday's unveiling. The sport's oldest and most successful team is hoping the car, with more red and less white in the livery following the departure of sponsor Santander, will take it to a first championship in a decade. Vettel won five races last season but finished runner-up to Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, who is now also a four-time world champion. "Now is the time when you see the car, it's all ready and you want to get in and go out on the track and have a go," the German told guests at the Italian team's Maranello factory. "To stand here now is very special for all of us. I think they are all waiting for us to say how it feels. So we can't wait to get out on track to see how the car performs, how it behaves. "I think that's the answer that we all want to hear, and we go from there. For sure, the amount of effort that has gone in and the attention to detail in so many areas is impressive." The presentation, online and through social media channels, came on the same day that Mercedes was showing off its new F1 W09 car. In an act of sportsmanship, the British-based team made sure reporters attending their event at Silverstone could watch the Ferrari unveiling on television screens during a break for lunch. Ferrari technical head Mattia Binotto said the car, narrower and with a slightly longer wheelbase as well as more aggressive sidepods, was an evolution of the 2017 car, which performed well on slower speed circuits but lacked reliability. "Every little detail matters, every part can make a difference, and I think this year's car is a big step from last year's," declared Vettel, whose four titles were with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013. Finnish teammate Kimi Raikkonen, who is now 38 and out of contract at the end of the season, said it looked good despite the addition of the now-mandatory halo head-protection device. "When it looks nice, the speed is also there. But obviously we will see that next week," said the 2007 world champion who will be testing the car with Vettel at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya next week. Reporting by Alan BaldwinRelated Video:

Lamborghini Countach, Ferrari 512M and more immortalized as Lego sets

Lego has announced a slew of new Speed Champions sets, the ones based on actual licensed cars, for 2022. The latest batch includes a smorgasbord of supercars, from beloved classics like the Lamborghini Countach to yet-to-be-released promises like the long-awaited Mercedes-AMG One. There are seven cars in total, released in five sets.  Our favorite is probably the 262-piece Lamborghini Countach, based on a later LP500 variant. Not only does it tick the box of a childhood dream machine, but the angular shape of the real-life Countach lends itself well to being recreated in Lego bricks. Also, it's modeled in white rather than the typical red. Lego Speed Champions Ferrari 512M 1 View 6 Photos We also really dig the Ferrari 512M. It marked the last of Ferrari's V12 endurance racers, and even though it was soundly spanked by the Porsche 917, the cars are undeniably beautiful. The 291-piece Lego set does a great job of capturing its brutal wedge silhouette in brick form. Lego Speed Champions Lotus Evija 1 View 5 Photos Rounding out the single-car sets is the 247-piece Lotus Evija. The electric Lotus has a bit of a generic supercar look about it, but that's not entirely the fault of the Lego kit. Its dramatic vents can't really be replicated with the limited "resolution" of the Lego bricks. Its rear, with unique taillight-encircled air tunnels, is a bit more distinctive. Lego Speed Champions Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR & Vantage GT3 1 View 7 Photos In addition to the single car sets, there are two larger sets of two cars each. One is a 592-piece Aston Martin-themed pack that includes the Valkyrie AMR Pro and Vantage GT3. Again, it's a bit difficult to sculpt the cars' curvaceous lines out of straight-edged bricks, but the effort is admirable. The Valkyrie is probably the more successful of the two, as the Vantage would resemble a Corvette or Viper if it didn't have stickers to clarify the details. Lego Speed Champions Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance & Project One 01 View 9 Photos Last but not least is a twofer comprised of 564 bricks to build the Mercedes-AMG One and seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton's W12 racer. In Lego's official product description the driver is not mentioned by name, but the number 44 gives it away. The model of the One indeed looks like a sharp supercar, but the blocky pieces don't exactly replicate the lines we've seen on camouflaged test mules.

The first $2.5M Ferrari F60 America arrives in Palm Beach

There's a rather happy-looking individual in Palm Beach today. And well he should be. After all, he just took delivery of the very first Ferrari F60 America. Can't remember the F60 America? We can hardly blame you, seeing as how it has been well over a year since Ferrari first unveiled it in Beverly Hills back in October 2014. It's not the successor to the F40 and F50 as the name might suggest – that role having already been taken by the Enzo and LaFerrari – but rather a special take on the F12 Berlinetta. It features a unique roadster bodystyle, an evocative (if not downright retro) blue and white NART livery, and the 6.3-liter V12 in 730-horsepower spec that would later appear in the F12 TdF. It's a worthy successor, in short, to previous front-engined V12 roadsters from Maranello, like the 550 Barchetta, 575 Superamerica, and 599 SA Aperta. The Prancing Horse marque set out to build only ten examples, each destined for these shores, in celebration of Ferrari's 60 years in the US market. Despite the shocking $2.5 million sticker price, all of them were spoken for before it was even unveiled. The first was finally delivered on Monday to its eagerly awaiting owner during the 25th annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic, in front of some of the country's top Ferrari collectors and aficionados. The first F60 America consigned Palm Beach, 25th January – The first F60 America was delivered this weekend to the delight of a discerning crowd of Ferrari collectors and enthusiasts during the 25th annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic. This strictly limited-edition car, which was produced to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Ferrari in America, is the first of just ten to be delivered nationwide. The car pays homage to American clients' great passion for both the V12 engine and open-top driving. The F60 America's bodywork adopts the classic North American Racing Team livery, and the special Ferrari 60th Anniversary Prancing Horse badge on the wheelarches appears on the tunnel in the cockpit. This beautiful example in Blu Nart livery – Bianco Italia looked instantly at home under the azure Florida sky. Featured Gallery Ferrari F60 America: First Delivery News Source: Ferrari Ferrari Car Buying Convertible Supercars ferrari f60 america