Ferrari Telemetry Is the Answer to Corvette's Performance Data Recorder

Following Chevrolet’s presentation earlier this month of the Performance Data Recorder available on the Corvette Stingray, Ferrari has unveiled a similar system called Ferrari Telemetry.

Available for the F12berlinetta, 458 Speciale and LaFerrari sports cars, Ferrari Telemetry is a real-time telemetry system aimed at improving driving skills and helping owners re-live their on-track and off-track exploits.

The technology allows drivers to monitor the car’s position and analyze its performance by recording driving sessions and displaying the main data on the instrument binnacle. However, unlike the Corvette’s PDM, a high-resolution camera kit is only offered as an option by Ferrari Telemetry, adding simultaneous video recordings of the route and driving technique.

Ferrari says the system provides drivers “exactly the same technical support” as F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen get during test sessions on the track and in the actual grands prix themselves.

Thanks to the huge amount of data available and a special Ferrari Telemetry App, drivers can compare their car’s performance over a series of different laps or even the same road route driven several times. You can see how the gadget works in Ferrari’s official video presentation posted below.

By Dan Mihalascu

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1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spyder Driven by Michael Jackson Up for Auction

If you’re experiencing a feeling of déjà vu after seeing these photos, it’s because this car was featured in 2012 on our website. The Ferrari Testarossa Spyder was not built by Ferrari, although the carmaker did commission Pininfarina to build a one-off model for the late Gianni Agnelli.

The silver-colored one-off really attracted a lot of attention at the time, with coachbuilders seeing a business case for converting Testarossas into convertibles. One of these companies was R. Straman of Costa Mesa, California, which converted a black Ferrari Testarossa for the 1987 Pepsi commercial “The Chopper”, which featured Michael Jackson behind the wheel. The conversion work cost $40,000 at the time.

Available for no reserve at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona (January 12-19), the 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spyder had a major service done in February 2013 by factory-authorized L.A. dealer The Auto Gallery that set the owner back $17,680. The car’s service history dates back to 1998.

Powered by a 4.9-liter flat-12 engine producing 390 horsepower and 361 lb-ft (489 Nm) of torque, the Testarossa coupe was able to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) from a standstill in 5.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h).

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

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Ferrari F12 N-Largo by Novitec Has Wide Body Kit, Extra Power and Sound

The Ferrari F12 is for all intents and purposes, a supercar. Sure, it’s engine is not behind the driver, but it's behind the front wheels and only powers the rears. Should you need more from your F12, though, there are kits like the N-Largo by Novitec to help you achieve that, at least visually.

The most noticeable part of the package are the wider fenders which are very noticeably flared and filled by wider wheels measuring 21 inches at the front and 22 inches at the back. There’s also a new front bumper, different bonnet and a rear spoiler all of which are made out of carbon fiber so as to not add much more weight.

Power is slightly upped too, reaching 770 hp (781 PS) via an ECU remap and a new exhaust that makes it sound sweeter and louder than stock, as the video posted below proves; official photos are also attached.

By Andrei Nedelea

PHOTO GALLERY

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Japanese Tuner Visibly Rivets Widebody Kit onto Ferrari 458 to Great Effect

Taking a supercar and modifying it is a bit crazy, and you really have to know what you’re getting yourself into, as most components are engineered to within very small tolerances to maximize performance, and whenever you alter them, you run the risk of ruining it if you’re not careful.

However, if you don’t like your Ferrari 458 in its stock form, then Japanese tuner LB Performance, a subsidiary of Liberty Walk, may have the unique kit you were looking for.

Applied here to a white Spider model and a dark grey coupe, the kit is meant to enhance the stance by adding extra cladding around both of the wheelarches, cladding which is fastened on with visible rivets that Enzo Ferrari might not have liked, but I sure do…

There are also custom side skirts that give the design continuity, as well as a front splitter and rear spoiler, as well as a lowered ride height and new wheels complete the look.

No performance mods are offered, but aside from a straight exhaust, I personally wouldn’t do anything else at all to it. The complete kit costs around €18,000 or $24,700.

Check out the gallery and flame-spitting video after the virtual jump.

By Andrei Nedelea

PHOTO GALLERY

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Ferrari Discusses New 1.6-Liter Turbo F1 Engine and Regulations Changes for 2014

As you may have heard, the 2014 Formula One season is promising to be one of the more interesting ones in recent year, if only due to the regulations changes that have been enforced that not only require very different engines than previously used, but also new tactics to make the best of it.

Ferrari will want to stay at the forefront of the sport, naturally, as it’s to date their best marketing strategy.

Below we attached an official video put out by the Prancing Horse brand that goes into detail regarding the new 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, its KERS system (which can offer an advantage of up to 3 seconds per lap, now!) and the emphasis on fuel efficiency – cars will need to be 30 percent more efficient to still be competitive.

Scroll down, check it out and share your thought in regards to how all of it will affect the sport. Do you think it’s for the best?

By Andrei Nedelea

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Ferrari's Christmas Show with Mark Gene Dressed as Santa Driving a Sleigh in F138

Ferrari, the same company that won't let 99 percenters touch its cars with a ten-foot pole at auto shows, is wearing its friendly and socially responsible mask for the holiday season with the release of "Merry Christmas" video.

The two-minute long clip from Scuderia Ferrari stars team test driver Marc Gene dressing up as Santa Claus and hooking up a sleigh onto a Ferrari F138 racer to deliver presents around the world.

While the video starts promising, we go from mildly interested to facepalm faster than you can spell Gene's name; but don't take our word for it, do check it out for yourself right below the break.

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