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You've seen the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2, now hear them in action

The moment the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 debuted in 2018, they became instant classics. They're exclusive, they're powerful, they're stunningly gorgeous, and they incorporate hints of past Prancing Horses. It's a rare blend that guarantees collector status. But until now, only still photos have been released. A new video shows the speedsters in action and plays a tune that will make gearheads weep. The SP1 and SP2 are the first vehicles of a new class of Ferraris called "Icona." These icon cars bring the past into the present in the form of limited-edition specialty craftworks made for high-status clients and collectors. The SP1, a single-seater, and the SP2, a two-seater, evoke the spirit and design of Ferrari's barchettas of the '40s and 50s. The battle cry heard throughout the video comes from the Monzas' massive heart, the most powerful naturally aspirated V12 engine Ferrari has ever created. Using technology taken from Formula 1 engines, it makes 799 horsepower at a hair-raising 8,500 rpm and 530 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm. Based on the 812 Superfast, the Monzas use extensive carbon fiber bodywork to create a sultry shape that will look good in any era, past, present, or future. Watch these timeless beings in motion in the full video above. Related Video:

Hot Wheels loses Ferrari diecast contract to Chinese company

If you're anything like this writer, chances are you've got a diecast model or two kicking around the house. And if one of those models replicates a Ferrari, chances are it's made by Hot Wheels. The Mattel brand secured an exclusive contract from the Maranello automaker in the late 1990s, but the latest word from Hemmings has it that Ferrari has ended its partnership with Hot Wheels and awarded it instead to the May Cheong Group. Unless you're an avid diecast collector, you may not have heard of May Cheong, but you may have heard of its brands Maisto and Bburago. Both brands are longtime players in the model car market, but it's the Bburago part of the deal that's particularly interesting. Founded in Italy, Bburago made a name for itself largely due to the scale Ferrari models it made back in the day. But when the Prancing Horse marque awarded the exclusive contract to Mattel, and with increasing competition from the Far East, Bburago collapsed. May Cheong swept in and scooped it up, and now the Italian model brand, along with its onetime rival Maisto, will be producing diecast Ferraris once again. Whether Bburago will use any of its old tooling to resume production of Ferrari scale models or start from scratch with all-new equipment remains to be seen, as does the matter of whether either it or Maisto will be able to produce the same quality of models as Hot Wheels has with some of its higher-end offerings. Like most collectors, this writer's looking forward to finding out. Looks like it's time to buy another display case.

2015 Ferrari 458 Italia to go turbo?

Forced induction has definitely hit trend status when it comes to performance cars. Whether it's the supercharged Hellcat V8 in the Dodge Challenger SRT, the latest twin-turbocharged M3/M4 or even the entry-level speed of the Ford Fiesta ST, if you want the fastest car in any given segment, in all likelihood it has a turbo or supercharger. Even Ferrari hasn't avoided the bandwagon with the latest iteration of the California that replaces the original 4.3-liter V8 with a 3.9-liter turbo V8 offering 552 horsepower for more power and better fuel economy. If recent rumors prove true, it might not be the only Prancing Horse to use this engine for long.
According to Car in the UK, Ferrari is planning to boost the 3.9-liter V8 up to around 670 hp and place it in a refreshed 458 Italia in 2015. If true, that is an astounding increase over the version from the latest California and a roughly 70-hp improvement over the current 458 Speciale.
The extra power would come with a serious challenge of how to maintain the 458's delicious exhaust note. Turbocharged engines are often quieter than their naturally aspirated counterparts, modern Formula One cars serving as a prime example. The California may get a pass because it's more of a GT, but the 458 is the brand's bread-and-butter sports car. It needs to sound like a proper Ferrari V8. However, Car claims Maranello is a step ahead and has a complicated exhaust layout - as is the case with the California T, we might add - ready to keep much of the characteristic yelp in tact.