2010 Ferrari 458 Italia Coupe 2-door 4.5l Original Msrp 273k on 2040-cars

Auto blog

1959 Ferrari 250 GT California sells for nearly $18M, exceeding expectations

RM Sotheby's just wrapped up its auction in New York, where it sold off a pair of gorgeous silver roadsters, with one of them selling for the incredible price of $17.99 million. That car was a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California that we covered previously, and Sotheby's was only expecting it to go for between $14 million and $17 million. Apparently someone felt the car's rare aluminum construction and racing history was worth the extra cash. View 11 Photos The other roadster went for considerably less money but was notable because of its previous owner, late Apple CEO Steve Jobs. The car is a 2000 BMW Z8 that the tech mogul had for around three years. The final sale price only met expectations, though, at $329,500. The original auction estimate was between $300,000 and $400,000. Related Video: Featured Gallery 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione by Scaglietti View 30 Photos Image Credit: Diana Varga courtesy of RM Sotheby's, RM Sotheby's Celebrities BMW Ferrari Auctions Convertible Racing Vehicles Performance Classics bmw z8 ferrari 250 gt california

Ferrari SUV is probably happening

Just a few weeks after another report that Ferrari has some sort of SUV or crossover in the works, Bloomberg releases its own report of the same thing. The news outlet spoke with anonymous sources that said the plan is to release an SUV in 2021. The sources said that it is still in the early days of development, and it could have either two or four doors, but it will be more spacious than the most capacious Ferrari on sale now, the GTC4 Lusso. It also will likely be aimed at the Asian market, and could sell as many as 2,000 units a year, which would make it easy for the company to continue increasing its sales, possibly past the 10,000-unit mark that exempts the company from some U.S. and European emissions regulations. The previous report from Car about the Ferrari utility went a little further in its predictions. Supposedly the utility will share the GTC4 Lusso's platform, which makes sense as it's the only all-wheel-drive platform in Ferrari's lineup. It will also likely have a V8 and possibly a hybrid variant. A hybrid version would fit in with Bloomberg's report that Ferrari is also planning on more hybrids in addition to the crossover for both more sales and to help meet emissions regulations if the company exceeds 10,000 units a year. Considering that Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne famously said he'd have to be shot before building a Ferrari SUV, it's a little surprising that Ferrari is headed this way. But if a company wants to expand sales, there's no easier way to do so than to offer some kind of crossover. Porsche learned that a long time ago, and now Lamborghini and Aston Martin are following suit. And if this Ferrari utility launches in 2021, it will be right about the same time that Marchionne plans to retire from Ferrari, so he'll sort of be able to keep his word. Related Video: Related Gallery Ferrari GTC4Lusso T: Paris 2016 View 17 Photos News Source: Bloomberg, CarImage Credit: Lorenzo Marcinno Ferrari Crossover SUV Future Vehicles Hybrid Luxury Performance

Will Ford's SUV blitz include the Bronco?

Ford announced this week it will add four sport-utility vehicles in the next four years, an ambitious bet on a segment the industry once shunned. This led to wild speculation about what form these utes will take. Here's what we know: They will be new nameplates, and Ford is thinking globally. That means at least one might not be a product with US intent. They will also be in segments where the company does not currently compete, Ford said. The Blue Oval isn't specifying exactly what's it's doing, so here are some of our theories. We think one will be called the Bronco, which is great news for enthusiasts. We hope it follows the Mustang playbook with some heritage styling, but a thoroughly modern execution. Ford needs an off-road Jeep Wrangler-fighter. Fuel prices are low and it's been 22 years since the infamous O.J. Simpson white Bronco chase. This is the best chance Ford will ever have to bring back this iconic name. Our man on the ground at the Chicago Auto show, Sebastian Blanco, reported that Ford sales and marketing vice president Mark LaNeve said a "mini utility" will also be one of the utes. This could be primarily an overseas play. We've also seen lots of spy shots of the EcoSport, a small crossover that Ford sells in India and other overseas markets, being tested on American roads. That is an existing nameplate. Maybe Ford adds a small ute related to the EcoSport in the United States, but calls it something else. We think Lincoln gets a three-row SUV out of the deal. It could slot between the MKX, which was new last year, and the Navigator. Lincoln is leaving money on the table by not being in this segment. The platform could be used for a Ford at some point, too. The Blue Oval brand does actually have a tweener three-row vehicle, the Flex, but this chassis might underpin a replacement. Or maybe Ford makes one of these a hybrid. The company laid out ambitious plans in December to ramp up its electrification strategy, something that could mean a dedicated hybrid SUV (Kia unveiled one of those right after LaNeve's speech in Chicago). It's also possible hybrid technology will be integrated into this new portfolio. The Escape used to have a hybrid sibling. Whatever form they ultimately take, Ford is betting heavily on SUVs. The company thinks they are what Baby Boomers and Millenials want and expects the segment will continue to grow. It's important to note: this will be a diversified strategy.