2022 Ferrari Roma on 2040-cars

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Christopher Ward chrono has actual metal from a Ferrari 250 GTO

We've seen watchmakers use all sorts of methods to make their timepieces more attractive to automotive enthusiasts, from carbon-fiber dials and titanium cases to the logos of partnering automakers and racing series. Some have even designed all-new watches to go with a specific make or model. But Christopher Ward has taken things a step further with its latest chronograph.
The new Christopher Ward C70 3527 GT chronometer eschews all the usual gimmicks and goes for a more interesting one: it actually includes in its construction metal taken from the restoration of a Ferrari 250 GTO - namely chassis number 3527 GT that belongs to one Irvine Laidlaw, a Scottish nobleman and one of the wealthiest individuals in the UK.
When Baron Laidlaw bought his GTO in 2005, he sent it in for a thorough restoration that involved replacing some corroded and damaged exterior body panels. The discarded metal was acquired by TMB Artmetal, which specializes in that sort of thing, and partnered with Christopher Ward to create this limited-edition timepiece. The metal was used to make the back plate on which the number 6 - in homage to 3527's iconic 6 GTO license plate - is etched by laser and placed under museum-grade sapphire crystal.

Ferrari Roma: More details and new photos from every angle

We got a preview of the new Ferrari Roma yesterday afternoon, but now the official reveal is over and all the details are out. The British outlet Autocar was at the event in Italy, where it managed to learn a bit more about the coupe. We also have additional photos from the event itself where you can get a better look at the gorgeous car in a few different colors. It doesn’t disappoint. The 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 is a massaged version of the power unit in the Portofino. This engine makes 592 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque in the convertible, but it makes 611 horsepower and 561 pound-feet of torque in the Roma. The 0-to-62 mph time improves by 0.1 second compared to the convertible, coming in at 3.4 seconds this time. Top speed is approximately 199 mph. The Roma shares a wheelbase length of 105.1 inches with the Portofino and California T before it, but the Roma is slightly longer in overall length. Ferrari says the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission in the Roma weighs about 13 pounds less than the seven-speed gearbox in the Portofino. ItÂ’s also said to offer quicker shifts, smoother operation around town and helps to reduce fuel consumption. A redesigned exhaust system incorporates the necessary particulate filters, but Ferrari opened up the rest of the exhaust to retain its beautiful exhaust note. Engineers did this by removing the silencers and adding bypass valves, according to Car and Driver. The Roma is also equipped with FerrariÂ’s Side Slip Control technology, steering wheel-mounted manettino mode selector and the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer first seen on the 488 Pista. ItÂ’s not visible in the reveal photos, but thereÂ’s an active rear wing that deploys at high speeds for added downforce — there are three levels of deployment with each providing different amounts of downforce. Wide, staggered tires also help with grip. The Roma has 285/35 ZR20s in the back and 245/35 ZR20s in the front. As we noted in our previous post, the interior is revolutionary. ThereÂ’s a 16-inch digital cluster and an 8.4-inch vertical central infotainment touchscreen display. The cabin is separated with a tall central tunnel, and even the passenger has a touchscreen directly in front of them. Good luck reaching it when the driver lays into the throttle. Ferrari also says the steering wheel is a completely new design, but it continues to house every possible control right on the wheel itself. Since the Roma is a GT, Ferrari is giving folks some trunk space.

ATS rises from the ashes with its gorgeous GT supercar

Here's a name we haven't heard from in a while: Automobili Turismo e Sport is throwing its name back as an entrant in the war of the supercars with its new GT, a coupe that serves as a successor to a never-produced gran turismo car from the 1960s. True to its rarified segment, just 12 models will be produced starting at about $1.33 million, each highly customized to the purchaser's tastes. The coupe is a successor to the 2500 GT, which was revealed at the 1963 Paris Motor Show but never went into production before the entire company shut down in 1964. ATS was launched by Carlo Chiti and Giotto Bizzarrini after leaving Ferrari in 1961 due to a dispute with Enzo Ferrari. The initial aim was to beat Ferrari, and the company managed to produce a Formula One racer and the mid-engine 2500 GT. Despite teasing several models in recent years, the GT will be the company's first new production supercar in nearly half a century. Today's version of the company is being run by ATS's design chief, Emanuele Bomboi, and Daniele Maritan, a former race car driver turned importer and distributor of fast sports cars. The company insists this rebirth "is not a 'nostalgia' operation" and says it has other ideas it plans to develop beyond the GT. Bombi formerly worked for Fiat and Bertone, and it shows in the GT's styling. "The side silhouette of this new Gran Turismo is charged with energy, with clean lines framing arched surfaces," the company says. "The outlines above the wheel are evocative while a clean flowing line divides the car's upper and lower halves. As with the original car's design, the windows provide a focus for the flanks of the car." The new car also borrows its predecessor's front spoiler, which runs the whole width of the car with the same blue Dragon of Bologna logo, with two stripes running along the bonnet. It gets a carbon fiber body and chassis for a curb weight of 2,866 pounds. Powering the GT is a 3.8-liter, twin-turbo V8 mounted behind the cabin that does 650 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. Or, buyers can upgrade to a 700-horsepower version with 553 lb-ft of torque. Either is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the rear wheels. Zero to 60 time is around 3 seconds, and top speed is around 206 mph. Three driving modes are offered — Viaggio, Sport and Corsa — with each configuration changing the colors of the cockpit controls from blue, to yellow and red, respectively. Does that sound a lot like the McLaren 650S to you?