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Ferrari profits rise 46 percent in 2018

MILAN — Italian luxury sports car maker Ferrari says profits last year rose 46 percent, driven by a surge in V12 sales and vehicle personalization. Ferrari on Thursday reported 2018 net profit of 787 million euros ($904 million), up from 537 million euros the previous year. Shipments rose 10 percent to 9,251 vehicles, while net revenues were flat at 3.4 billion euros. Ferrari set a forecast for 3-percent revenue growth to over 3.5 billion euros. It did not provide a shipment forecast. Sales of 12-cylinder models surged 20 percent, led by the 812 Superfast, while sales of 8-cylinder models rose 8 percent. Sales rose across the globe, with double-digit increases posted in Europe and greater China. The carmaker said fourth-quarter profits rose 40 percent to 191 million euros.Related Video:

Chris Harris brings together the 918 Spyder, LaFerrari, and P1

The Porsche 918 Spyder, Ferrari LaFerrari, and McLaren P1 show that a hybrid powertrain can make for blistering performance despite its electric assist. This trio doesn't arrive on track together very often, but Chris Harris assembled these three stars at the Portimao circuit for a nearly hour-long demonstration of their amazing capabilities. So, which one is quickest around the track? Harris provides an answer with in-car video of all three contenders. His team also goes out of its way to even the playing field by sourcing tires independently from Pirelli for the P1 and LaFerrari. With the technical part out of the way, Harris can start having fun by doing his usual slides during the driving comparison. Tiff Needell and Marino Franchitti also eventually show up to provide the perfect recipe for a track battle in these hypercars. If you don't have the time, skip about 14:25 into the clip just to see the lap times. However, those numbers only tell a tiny part of the story. The whole video is definitely worth a watch.

2014 Ferrari FF

Ferrari announced a panoramic roof option for its all-wheel drive FF at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, promising the new full-length glass panel would offer its well-heeled clientele "a genuine open-air driving feeling, while providing thermal and acoustic insulation." That statement was intriguing, as my experience with glass roofs usually ends abruptly after I close the opaque shade - as a Southern Californian, I always find tinted glass panels too hot during the day and too cold at night.
While the FF I reviewed in August was fitted with a solid aluminum roof, I was fortunate to catch up with a brand-new silver Ferrari FF (it only had about 160 miles on the odometer) with the optional panoramic roof at the Formula One race at Circuit of the Americas just last month. It was my lucky day, as I was about to spend about six hours with the four-place Italian, blissfully enjoying it during the warm day until long after the sun had set on the Texas horizon.
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