Ferrari’s latest track-only machine, the 599XX, has finally made its debut on the tarmac, at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit in Spain. Driving the car for the first time was F1 pilot Felipe Massa, who commented: “I really enjoyed testing this car, I think it’s extremely powerful and has an exceptional stability. Considering that it has been planned for the track it’s really easy to drive.”

That is quite a testament to the car’s capabilities, especially considering it makes an unwieldy 700-hp at 9000 rpm, from its 6.0-liter V12 engine and runs on racing slicks.

Ferrari debuted the car ahead of its first official 2010 season Formula One test at the Valencia track, and brought out all the 599XX owners to participate. Ferrari will organize a series of track events for 599XX owners over the course the next year in Europe, America and Asia.

GALLERY: Ferrari 599XX Track Debut in Valencia

See after the jump for video of the first official track test of the 599XX

Ferrari will show a hybrid concept at the Geneva Auto Show, based on the Italian automaker’s 599 flagship. Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo made the announcement while unveiling the company’s latest Formula One race car. Di Montezemolo also stated that this prototype is slated for production but did not give any timeline.

Ferrari has been known to be working on hybrid technology, a fact the automaker couldn’t deny when patents for a hybrid drivetrain surfaced last year, however, company representatives have said hybrid F-Cars are not in the automaker’s immediate plans.

The 599 Hybrid concept is expected to use a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) setup similar to the ones designed for Formula One, including a lithium-ion battery pack with electric motors built into the rear transaxle. This setup would allow for regenerative braking, a start-stop function and an electric boost capability to add even more acceleration to the 599’s already impressive 620-hp V12 engine. Under city driving it would also help improve mileage by 30 percent. That will be particularly noticeable on such a gas-hungry beast as the 599, which currently only gets 8.7 mpg, bringing it up to 13.8 mpg.

Di Montezemolo made it clear that that while in the past Ferrari lead the charge in getting race car technology to street cars, it now wants to be a pioneer in transferring the efficiencies found at the pinnacle of motorsport to the street.

[Source: AxisofOversteer]

We have been following the ASI Ferrari F430 design since its initial concept stages and we were excited to finally spot a finished product in person. ASI is famous for some very wild creations, includig a matte-white widebody Bentley Continental GT, which debuted at the SEMA Show several years back.

Unveiled in the Forgiato booth at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon, the ASI Ferrari F430 is certainly more impressive in person than in any photos we’ve seen up until now. The aggressive yet clean styling further accents the already curvaceous lines of the Ferrari F430, while some of the more wild parts of the aero kit lend a race car-like feel to the car. Plus, there’s a nice set of Scuderia stripes to add to the package.

With the F458 Italia on the horizon, believe it or not, the F430 will soon begin to look dated and so tuners like ASI are eager to produce parts that will help owners stand out – for better or worse.

GALLERY: ASI Ferrari F430

In stark contrast to the Dodge Caliber, just a few feet away at the Chrysler booth at the Detroit Auto Show is the ultra-rare and even more ultra-expensive Ferrari 599XX. Ferrari claims to have no official presence at the show, with the Ferrari a part of a three-pronged Fiat, Maserati, Ferrari display within the Chrysler booth. This setup is designed to draw crowds to the Chrysler booth, a company which doesn’t have much in the way of exciting new models.

Fiat took control of Chrysler as a part of Chrysler’s bankruptcy exit.

As for the 599XX, it is a special track-only model and isn’t homolgated to compete in any racing series, meaning owners can only drive it on track, but can’t compete in racing. The car’s 6.0-liter V12 engine has been reworked to produce 700-hp at 9000 rpm, while new aerodynamics help to deliver 612 lbs of downforce at 124 mph and almost 1,400 lbs of downforce at 186 mph!

One particularly important innovation on the 599XX is Ferrari’s new “Actiflow” technology, that adjusts downforce and drag depending upon how the car is operating. This is achieved through the use of a porous material in the diffuser and two fans in the trunk lid that work to channel air from under the car out through two grilles next to the tail lights. Rather noticeable winglets have also been added to the the are just behind the winds, where the buttresses are located.

The 599XX also uses what Ferrari terms a, “Virtual Race Engineer” that essentially uses all the onboard computers to calculate what the maximum level of performance the car can achieve on a race track. To do this it takes every bit of data available, including tire temperature, tire pressure, engine and coolant temperature (as well as many other variables) and determines what the maximum level of performance capable by the car under those conditions is.

Unfortunately, if you’re not Michael Schumacher, getting the car to go that fast is impossible… but here’s where the fun part comes in. The 599XX’s computer can then rate you (the driver) on your performance and tell you how close you are coming to the car’s maximum potential – a humbling experience no doubt.

The car will make its official track debut at Homestead in Florida in March.

Ferrari is rumored to be working on a street legal version of the 599XX called the 599 GTO.

GALLERY: Ferrari 599XX

***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here***

Ferrari will have no official presence at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, but it will showcase the ultra-rare 599XX model in Chrysler’s booth to help celebrate Fiat’s partnership with Chrysler.

Only 20 599xx models will be made for special track-only use by a select few lucky enough, and rich enough, to own one. The car’s 6.0-liter V12 engine has been reworked to produce 700-hp at 9000 rpm, while new aerodynamics help to deliver 612 lbs of downforce at 124 mph and almost 1,400 lbs of downforce at 186 mph!

One particularly important innovation on the 599XX is Ferrari’s new “Actiflow” technology, that adjusts downforce and drag depending upon how the car is operating. This is achieved through the use of a porous material in the diffuser and two fans in the trunk lid that work to channel air from under the car out through two grilles next to the tail lights. Rather noticeable winglets have also been added to the the are just behind the winds, where the buttresses are located.

The 599XX also uses what Ferrari terms a, “Virtual Race Engineer” that essentially uses all the onboard computers to calculate what the maximum level of performance the car can achieve on a race track. To do this it takes every bit of data available, including tire temperature, tire pressure, engine and coolant temperature (as well as many other variables) and determines what the maximum level of performance capable by the car under those conditions is.

Unfortunately, if you’re not Michael Schumacher, getting the car to go that fast is impossible… but here’s where the fun part comes in. The 599XX’s computer can then rate you (the driver) on your performance and tell you how close you are coming to the car’s maximum potential – a humbling experience no doubt.

The car will make its official track debut at Homestead in Florida in March. Ferrari is rumored to be working on a street legal version of the 599XX called the 599 GTO.

GALLERY: Ferrari 599XX

Official release after the jump:

Ferrari is preparing to launch an ultra-high performance version of the 599 GTB, based on the 599XX that debuted at last year’s Geneva Auto Show. According to a report in EVO magazine, the car is set for production and will get a revised version of the standard 6.0-liter V12 engine with no less than 700-hp! It will also get a new name, the 599 GTO, making it the first F-Car to wear the GTO badge since the iconic 288 GTO.

Recently Ferrari changes the classification of the 599, from a GT car to a “Sports Car.” That might not mean much on it’s own, but it allows Ferrari’s development team to build this GTO version of the car in the same manner that it built the Scuderia version of the F430.

That being said, expect quicker shift times (60 milliseconds, down from 100 milliseconds) as well as a significantly lower curb weight and a revised suspension setup. We expect the new 599 GTO to hit 60 mph in roughly 3.2 seconds (down from 3.7) with a top speed well above 200 mph. In fact, the car’s new performance characteristics might make it the fastest road-going Ferrari ever!

GALLERY: Ferrari 599XX

[Source: EVO]

While Ferrari has claimed hybrid F-Cars are several years off, a recent report suggests that a hybrid version of the company’s 599 GTB flagship will debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March. This hybrid will likely be performance based and use a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) setup similar to the ones designed for Formula One.

The 599 Hybrid will use a lithium-ion battery pack with electric motors built into the rear transaxle. This setup would allow for regenerative braking, a start-stop function and an electric boost capability to add even more acceleration to the 599’s already impressive 620-hp V12 engine. Under city driving it would also help improve mileage by 30 percent. That will be particularly noticeable on such a gas-hungry beast as the 599, which currently only gets 8.7 mpg, bringing it up to 13.8 mpg.

See our review of the old school gasoline-powered 599 GTB below:

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Review

[Source: Quattroruote]

It seems like only yesterday that Ferrari unveiled the Enzo as the pinnacle of all that an automobile could stand for and achieve. It was thought untouchable, both in terms of competition and modification. Oh how times have changed.

Dedicated Porsche tuner Gemballa has decided to try its hand at the ultra-exclusive world of Ferrari tuning, and we have the first images of what is known as the MIG-UI Enzo. The car was built for brothers Mustafa and Illyas Galadari of The Illyas and Mustafa Galadari Group – Gemballa’s Middle East distributor. The Gemballa Enzo is named after the brothers, with Mustafa’s name coming first because he donated his personal Enzo to the project.

We have to say the Star Wars-inspired body is definitely extreme (just how they like it in Dubai). Inside the cockpit gets a luxurious overhaul, a significant upgrade from the Enzo’s basic factory equipment. The car is scheudeld to be officially unverield at a private event in Dubai and hopefully then we’ll have some info on what (if any) modifications were made to the 6.0-liter V12 engine. Normally we’d say such a powerplant is untouchable, but there is the lone example of of the Edo Competition/ZR Auto Enzo, which is powered by an 840-hp FXX motor.

GALLERY: Gemballa MIG-UI Enzo

[Source: BespokeVentures]

Michael Schumacher has all but traded in his Ferrari red for the silver and black of Mercedes-Benz. According to Ferrari team president Luca di Montezemolo, the retired Formula One superstar told him in a recent phone conversation that there is a, “very, very, very strong possibility,” that he will be behind the wheel of a Mercedes F1 car next season.

Di Montezemolo even said that he had released the seven-time F1 World Champion from any remaining commitments to the Ferrari team, in order to facilitate a seedy and problem free transition to Mercedes.

Reports indicate that the only thing preventing Schumacher from joining Mercedes right now is the condition of his neck, which he injured last year in a motorcycle accident. Fractures from that accent prevented Schumacher from racing in place of Filipe Massa after he was hit in the head by a piece of debris during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Mercedes has said that an official announcement is expected early in the new year.

[Source: AutoCar]

Ferrari has just announced the second vehicle to come out of its in-house Special Projects program, a modified 599 GTB now known as the P540 Superfast Aperta. The P540 Superfast was built for Edward Walson, the son of John Walson, who invented cable TV. Walson commissioned the vehicle with inspiration coming from the Fantuzzi-designed Ferrari which appeared in the 1968 film Toby Dammit.

We have to say the lines of this car are both original and classically beautiful. It was designed by Pininfarina and built in-house in Maranello, with Walson taking part in the entire design process.

Much of the car remains the same as a standard 599, including the 612-hp 6.0-liter V12 engine. Amazingly, while the car was transformed into a convertible, only 44 lbs of weight were added to the chassis thanks to the use of copious amounts of carbon fiber.

There is no word on what Walson paid for the one-of-one gold Ferrari, but we are intrigued by the fact that a convertible 599 model is now most certainly a possibility for Ferrari.

GALLERY: Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta

Official release after the jump: