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Ferrari 812 Superfast: It looks like it sounds

Ferrari has been on a roll with its recent mid-cycle refreshes. Last year at the Geneva Motor Show, the prancing horse brand unveiled the significantly updated replacement for the FF and named it the GTC4 Lusso, reviving a name last used on the 1971-72 365 GTC4. Now, at this year's Geneva show, the Maranellites lifted the silk on a revised version of their omnipotent F12 Berlinetta and rechristened it the 812 Superfast, utilizing a suffixed moniker that originated in a proto-muscle car Enzo concocted back in 1957 when he stuffed a big V12 into a car originally meant for a smaller one and baptized it the 4.9 Superfast. At least the capitalization and compound wording in this honorific finally makes sense, giving respite to the Spell Check programs worldwide. "The name Superfast belongs to the Ferrari history," says Flavio Manzoni, head of the Ferrari Design Center. "When we finish a project, we always create a list of names and this one just seemed to fit." Ferraris have always, or almost always, been lovely objects to behold, but it still amazes us that a brand that so often nails its design language the first time around finds means and actualization for improvement when it comes time to spruce things up. We were obsessed with the appearance of the first FF, but the heart-stopping GTC4 Lusso wiped our memory of that hatchback like some process out of a Philip K. Dick story. Similarly, this 812 Superfast obviates our Total Recall of its predecessor, and not just because the slightly larger naturally-aspirated V12 in its aquiline front makes nearly 60 more horsepower. The design is less encumbered that of the F12, with smoother flow, fewer disruptive channels and voids, and additional streamlining that give the new car a more balanced profile and proportion. A thicker, and more sailing C-pillar in the back also raises the tail, providing an elegant and functional (Super)fastback design that echoes famed Ferraris of yore. "Compared to its predecessor, we have made huge steps in performance, so it is necessary to develop very strong aerodynamic solutions or the car wouldn't reach our objectives," says Manzoni. "The rear reminds us of the Daytona, not because of the shape but because of the form. The cut volume at the tail is typical of many Ferraris of the Sixties, like the 250 Lusso, the 275 GTB4, the 288 GTO.

Who are Mike Manley, Louis Camilleri, and Suzanne Heywood?

MILAN – Fiat Chrysler aid on Saturday that boss Sergio Marchionne, 66, would not be returning to work because he was gravely ill. In addition to being FCA chief executive, Marchionne was also CEO and chairman of luxury sports car brand Ferrari and chairman of truck and tractor maker CNH Industrial, which were spun off from FCA in recent years. Following is a brief summary on the executives who have been appointed to replace him in the various roles: MIKE MANLEY The 54-year-old Briton picked to become the FCA's new CEO has been leading the group's top brand Jeep since 2009, first as Jeep President and CEO at Chrysler and then as FCA's Jeep head. In 2015 he was also appointed head of the Ram brand. Under his tenure, Jeep turned into a global brand becoming, together with Ram, FCA's profit engine. Jeep sold nearly 1.4 million cars last year compared with less than 338,000 in 2009. Manley had worked as DaimlerChrysler's head of network development in Britain since 2000, having earlier worked for several years in car dealership. At Chrysler, he headed product planning and all sales activities outside of North America and then became the group's chief operating officer for Asia and the lead executive for the international activities outside of NAFTA. LOUIS CAMILLERI The new Ferrari CEO was already a board member at the luxury sportscar maker before his latest appointment. He is also the chairman of Philip Morris International, where he also held the job of CEO from 2008 to 2013. Born in 1955, Camilleri had joined Altria Group, which controls Philip Morris, in 1978 holding various positions until he became chief financial officer in 1996 and then CEO in 2002. Camilleri was also chairman of Kraft Foods from 2002 to 2007. Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat wished Camilleri luck on Twitter saying he was proud to have "a bit of Malta in Ferrari" thanks to the new CEO, who was born in Egypt to Maltese parents. SUZANNE HEYWOOD The new, British-born chairwoman of CNH Industrial has been since 2016 the managing director of EXOR, the holding company through which the Agnelli family controls FCA. Heywood, 49, started her career at the British Treasury and then joined McKinsey in 1997, leading for many years the consultancy firm's global service line on organization design. She eventually became a senior partner there. Heywood sits on the board of The Economist, which is controlled by EXOR, and the board of the Royal Opera House, where she is also deputy chair.

Seeing Red: 70 Years of Ferrari at the Petersen Museum

When the Petersen Automotive Museum completed its extensive 14-month renovation and reopened its doors in December of 2015, automotive enthusiasts were treated to a refreshed 95,000 square feet of exhibit space boasting 25 separate galleries. At the time of opening our favorite of those was the Precious Metal exhibit in the Bruce Meyer Family Gallery, featuring some of the world's most desirable cars all painted in silver. While we're sad the Precious Metal exhibit is no more, the gallery is now filled with something perhaps even better - an exhibit celebrating the 70th anniversary of Ferrari called "Seeing Red". The theme of a single color has been maintained (red, of course), and the gallery features eleven of the most significant road and race cars built by the Prancing Horse in the last seven decades. Leading the herd is a stunning 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, one of just 39 built and widely considered to be one of if not the most desirable collector car in the world. The last one that sold at auction brought a record $38 million. Following up the 250 GTO is an achingly gorgeous 1958 250 Testa Rossa and then a 1965 250 LM that won Le Mans outright in 1965. A Mille Miglia winner, a 1949 166 MM Barchetta, is also on display. Perhaps the most historically significant car in the collection, however, is a 1947 Ferrari 125 S. Although this particular vehicle's history is difficult to trace, with many early race cars being wrecked, cut up, or combined with other cars, many believe this example, chassis 010I, to be the very first car to carry the Ferrari badge. Not surprisingly, the 125 S was a successful race car, winning six of the thirteen races in which it competed. The rest of the gallery is a celebration of belle macchine, which includes a 1955 Ferrari 857 Sport, a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder SWB, Michael Schumacher's 2006 Ferrari 248 F1, a 1976 Ferrari 312 T2 driven by Niki Lauda to victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, and a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari. "We're so thrilled to bring some of the world's most beautiful Ferraris to the Petersen," said Bruce Meyer, founding chairman of the Petersen's Board of Directors. "Seeing that Rosso Corsa paint and the beautiful curves of the body work is always enough to make your heart skip a beat.