on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Race Recap: 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix follows the template of this year and last [spoilers]

The sand, the wind, the penalties, the contact and the one crash - all of them collided to make the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix a surprise affair from day to day and lap to lap. Oh, and did we mention the tires? Pirelli made a last-minute swap after the amusement park ride that the Chinese Grand Prix turned into with the soft compound tire, and brought medium and hard compounds to the desert. That didn't stop things from falling apart for some teams - literally - and that didn't stop the one team that seems to love the hard compound Pirelli tire.

Ferrari to introduce a V8 hybrid supercar this year

Ferrari is bringing a new mid-engine V8 supercar to the market this year — but with a hybrid drivetrain this time. Last year, then-Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne told Auto Express that a hybrid V8 was coming, and Automotive News is now reporting that a hybrid supercar will debut later this year. According to Automotive News, the new Ferrari won't be displayed at the Geneva Motor Show next month, but it will have an unveiling event of its own later on. It will sit above the 488 Pista, as it will have more power. Automotive News quotes Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri as having confirmed the car on an earnings call in late January, saying that it will be more profitable than for example the 812 Superfast and that deliveries will start a year from now. The hybrid V8 supercar marks a step ahead for Ferrari, as it means hybrid tech will no longer be reserved to limited-edition specialties like the KERS-boosted LaFerrari, but that the technology will feature in a "regular lifecycle" model. Camilleri also stated that 60 percent of the Ferrari lineup will have a hybrid variant by 2022; this means that there will be pure gasoline variants for petrolheads shunning electric assist, but that Ferrari can also move ahead with the times. The electrified technology that Ferrari is developing is also expected to trickle to Maserati's upcoming Alfieri model that replaces its GranTurismo; that car will also be made in Ferrari's hometown of Modena. Related Video:

Ferrari 250 California fit for Ferris may sell for millions

Planning on playing hooky for a day of adventure in, say, Chicago? You're going to need the right set of wheels. Something like the Ferrari you see here ought to do the trick. Coming up for auction at Amelia Island, this 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider is one of just 56 made – only 37 of which have those highly sought-after covered headlights. The short-wheelbase model followed the previous long-wheelbase version and featured a number of upgrades, including timeless coachwork by Scaglietti, a more nimble chassis, and four-wheel disc brakes. This particular example – bearing the VIN 2871 GT in classic red over black – starred alongside Sophia Loren in the film Ieri, Oggi, Domani. It was sold new in 1961 to Italian industrial designer Giangranco Frattini, who owned it for 17 years before selling it to one Terzo Dalia in 1978, who in turn sold it to its current owner in 1985. This represents the first time it's being offered for public sale. Gooding & Company anticipates it will fetch a good $16 million (give or take) when it crosses the auction block on March 11. That would, according to the records at Sports Car Market, put it right in the range of what California Spiders have been selling for in recent years – the record currently standing at $18.6 million paid for the Baillon barnfind example in Paris a year ago. If you have the means, to paraphrase our childhood hero, we highly recommend picking one up. Related Video: Gooding & Company Unveils Iconic 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider To Highlight Amelia Island Auction The Quintessential Ferrari 250 GT with Limited Ownership from New and Cinematic History SANTA MONICA, Calif. (February 12, 2016) – Gooding & Company, the auction house acclaimed for selling the world's most significant and valuable collector cars, is privileged to announce the addition of a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider (estimate $15,000,000-$17,000,000) to be sold at the Amelia Island Auction on March 11, 2016. This highly coveted Ferrari is the 22nd SWB California Spider built and one of only 37 covered-headlight examples produced. Remarkably, it has been in the loving care of the current owner for over 30 years. "We are thrilled to present this California Spider to our clients," states David Gooding, President and Founder of Gooding & Company.