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2016 Ferrari 488 GTB First Drive

After The Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, after recording their first album, Iggy and the Stooges released the brilliant Fun House. Not every second creative attempt has to bomb like The Strokes' second, Room On Fire, and not every new car model has to be heavier and uglier like the Mustang II. Or at least that was the hope as I arrived in Italy for the launch of the 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB (Gran Turismo Berlinetta, if you're wondering). The new car traces its lineage back through 40 years of mid-engined V8 supercars, one that started with the 1975 308 GTB that replaced the V6 Dino series. But the 488 is also the follow-up to the 458 Italia, which is generally considered to be the zenith of all things Ferrari. With sublime handling and a yowling V8 that made you question how fast you could really travel on public roads, the Italia was an Italian missile wrapped in voluptuous aluminum. When the 488 GTB debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the portents weren't good. As well as having fewer curves and a turbo engine, trouble was brewing inside the stronghold. Last fall, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) chairmain Sergio Marchionne sacked Ferrari president Luca de Montezemolo. And Marchionne's plan to sell 10 percent of Ferrari on the stock market raises fears of hedge fund guys calling the shots at this archetypal Italian sports car maker. What's more, there's already talk of increasing annual production from the current cap of 7,000 units to 10,000. But back to the 488 GTB. The new car is based on the same aluminum underbody as the 458, but with less dramatic looks. The source of those looks is not the design department, however. "We gave them [the design department] the shape...they started with that shape." explained Matteo Biancalana, Ferrari's aerodynamics chief. So wind tunnel data penned the GTB's lines, mainly because of an ambitious target to achieve 50 percent more downforce than the outgoing model with no increase in aerodynamic drag. "We had to touch every millimetre of the car apart from the carried-over roof," says Biancalana. The front grille channels air through the radiators, cools the brakes and denies air access to the underbody, which consequently develops low pressure areas that suck the car to the road. There's a moveable spoiler under the body at the rear to reduce drag at high speed in a straight line.

Ferrari revealed the LaFerrari Aperta, and yeah, it's already sold out

We saw this one coming as far away as the mid-engine Corvette: The LaFerrari is getting a convertible version. Publically revealed Thursday at the Paris Motor Show, the LaFerrari Aperta promises the same performance as the regular LaFerrari – with an open-air design. We had seen it already, actually, but today brought confirmation that it will be called Aperta, not Spider. It's already sold out (duh) and will be limited to 209 copies. Two hundred of those go to regular people, or Ferrari customers anyway, and nine will be held back by the company to show off at events in 2017 as the automaker celebrates its 70th anniversary. Ferrari says the LaFerrari Aperta maintains the torsional rigidity and aerodynamics of the hardtop. The powertrain is the same: a V12 paired with an electric motor and KERS technology to generate 949 total horsepower. Meanwhile, Ferrari revealed details on five liveries to celebrate its 70th anniversary based on its current product line with a total of 350 units set to be produced. They are: The Steve McQueen, which takes inspiration from SMQ's iconic 1960s 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso. The Green Jewel, a green scheme based on the 365 P2 from Le Mans competition. The Stirling, which evokes a 250 GT Berlinetta SWB from 1961 driven to victory by Stirling Moss. The Schumacher, a red color scheme based on Ferrari's 2003 Formula One car piloted to seven victories by Michael Schumacher. The White Spider, a tribute to the 375 MM Pinin Farina Spider. The company also showed the rear-wheel-drive, turbo V8-powered GTC4 Lusso T for the first time at an auto show. As you can tell, the Paris show is a busy one for Ferrari. That's fine with us. Related Video: Featured Gallery Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta: Paris 2016 View 21 Photos Related Gallery Ferrari LaFerrari Spider Related Gallery Ferrari 488 Spider 70th Anniversary Edition: Paris 2016 View 10 Photos Image Credit: Live photos copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / Autoblog Design/Style Paris Motor Show Ferrari Convertible Performance ferrari laferrari 2016 paris motor show ferrari laferrari spider ferrari laferrari aperta

Seven-figure cars highlight day one of RM's Monterey auction

RM Auctions is one of several houses holding auctions during the Monterey weekend, and Friday night's festivities got quite pricey. Seven-figure vehicles were not at all uncommon during the first day of the two-day event, with the 1953 Ferrari 375 MM Spider, seen above, crossing the block for $9,075,000.
Other big earners included a pair of rare Ferraris, a 1950 166 MM Barchetta and a 1955 750 Monza Spider, which took $3,080,000 and $4,070,000, respectively. Outside of the red Italians, a 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special captured $7,480,000 while a stunning, color-appropriate 1955 Jaguar D-Type took $3,850,000. We've got images of these vehicles, and a few other stunning examples of last night's auction, in the gallery above.
Thought it seems impossible, tonight's auction is expected to see even more high-dollar action. The winner of the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours, a 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Roadster is expected to command over $10 million. Also crossing the block will be a car we reported on a few weeks back - a supremely rare 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder. One of only 10 in the world, it's expected to take anywhere from $14 to $17 million when it hits the stage tonight.