When the Ferrari P4/5 Competizione was first revealed to the world decked out in full carbon fiber, there was hardly any doubt in anyone’s minds that James Glickenhaus had a real winner with the bespoke Ferrari.

And now the P4/5 Competizione has set a new record, clocking in the fastest lap time by a Ferrari model at the Nürburgring during a qualifying session at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. With a lap time of 6:51, the Competizione bested the Ferrari FXX’s time of 6:58.16, which is impressive considering the FXX is a special-order race car as well.

Of course this isn’t an apples to apples comparison considering the FXX did it in arguably more ideal conditions. But it’s hard to argue against what Glickenhaus and his team have done in building the F430-based Competizione into one hell-bending, track machine.

And of course Glickenhaus was proud to see all his hard work come to fruition. As for the lap time? He only had one thing to say: “If Ferrari wants to come here and challenge it…”

We’re excited to see how the Competizione does in in the 24 Hour race.

[Source: Jalopnik]

The Ferrari 599XX Evoluzione took its bow at the Bologna Motor Show in November, and shows off arguably the most track focused car that Ferrari produces. 

The Evoluzione adds new styling to the Ferrari 599 which capatlizes on aerodynamics and produces up to 52 percent more downforce while cornering. A fresh exhaust system helps to boost the already monstrous amount of power by 40 horses for a total 740 hp out of the 6.0L V12 engine. Ferrari also managed to trim the cars overall weight down by 77 pounds, surprising when you consider the new large rear spoiler the 599XX Evo sports.

Watch the video below of the Ferrari 599XX Evoluzione doing some hot laps on a wet day at Japan’s Suzuka Circuit.

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The list of the Top 10 most expensive new cars is even more shocking that you might expect. Released by Forbes, you can forget the Ferrari 458 or the $300,000 Lamborghini Aventador because even at the low end of the scale these models start at right around the one million mark.

In 10th place, at $845,000 is Porsche’s upcoming flagship, the 918 Spyder. When it does arrive later this year, it will come powered by a high-revving V8 engine making more than 500 hp, mated to a plug-in hybrid system that adds over 218 hp. Porsche claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds, with an incredible 78 mpg rating.

One of the most prestigious cars any Ferrari fanatic can own is the 599XX. Originally sold in very limited quantities to the most loyal Ferrari customers, one has surfaced for sale on JamesList with a price tag of $1.9 million including VAT taxes.

The 599XX was built by Ferrari and is based on the 599 GTB platform as a test bed for future road cars. It features an upgraded 6.0L V12 powerplant that pushes out 700-hp. Ferrari also lightened the entire body and enhanced the aerodynamics in order to make it a more formidable car on the race track. The result is a 6:58.16 time at the Nordschleife circuit, the second fastest time recorded for a production-derived sports car.

This particular one for sale sports 932-miles on the odometer and features a black on black color scheme. It’s currently located in France, but we’re going to assume the location of the vehicle doesn’t really matter if you can afford it.

GALLERY: Ferrari 599XX

[Source: JamesList]

As though the Ferrari 599XX isn’t mean enough looking, a few owners have decided to turn the car’s badass dial up to 11 with matte-gray and matte-black paint jobs. The photos were taken by Sevan Calians are from a private event at the world famous Paul Ricard circuit where owners were able to fully test the car’s 700-hp V12 engine and incredible aerodynamics.

Also of interest from the photos are two shots, the first showing what appears to be Horacio Pagani, and the second showing the Pagani Zonda R on track with the 599XX. What makes this so interesting is that Ferrari and Pagani have a bit of a rivalry going on right now, with Ferrari claiming a production-based Nürburgring record of 6:58, which was promptly annihilated by the Zonda R with a 6:47 time. It’s nice to see that the rivalry is a friendly one.

Check out plenty of pics of the matte-black and matte-gray 599XX at the links below.

[Source: Sevan Calians Flicker Photo Stream via  JonSibal]

You may not be able to afford to get him the real thing this Father’s Day, but the next best thing is within your grasp – and your budget. Hot Wheels and Matchbox have the perfect present for the die-cast car collector in your life – say hello to the Speed Machines car collection.

Appealing to your husband’s inner child (but don’t expect him to share them or play nice with any of your kids), these 1:64 scale cars come in an assortment of luxury vehicle minis, such as the Ferrari 599XX, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Audi TTS, Corvette C6.R, Ferrari California, Porsche 914, Ford Shelby GR-1 and Jaguar XJ220. These ones cost a little bit more than their average counterparts, but they do come with much more accurate paint and detailing, as well as better wheels.

These Speed Machines should hit stores in mid-May – just in time for Father’s Day. Fun to play with, great to display and good on gas. Dad couldn’t ask for much more than that… except for another tacky tie and cool macaroni art placemat.

[Source: Autoblog]

Ferrari has just announced that it can now lay claim to a record lap at Germany’s famed Nürburgring Nordschleife, being the first “production-derived sports car” to ever run a sub 7-minute lap. The 599-based supercar lapped the Green Hell in just 6 minutes and 58.16 seconds – but there’s a catch.

That’s right, the 599XX isn’t really a production car and it’s not street legal (especially not with racing slicks), so while Ferrari can now lay claim to some sort of a record, the production car record isn’t the property of the prancing horse. As for exactly who holds that record, one can argue numerous cars. The fastest street-legal “production car” is the Radical SR8LM with a time of 6:48 (10 seconds faster than the 599XX), but it isn’t street legal everywhere (like in North America). Then there’s the Gumpert Apollo with a 7:11.57 – but an argument can easily be made that with so few produced its not a “production car” either. Then, there’s the Dodge Viper ACR – which may have a giant silly wing – but is production and street legal. And its time of 7:22 has the most legitimate claim to the record in our minds.

GALLERY: Ferrari 599XX at the Nürburgring

See after the jump for a VIDEO of the sub-7-minute run:

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PRESS RELEASE

The Ferrari 599XX sets a new record on the legendary Nürburgring

Maranello, 23 April – The Ferrari 599XX is the first ever production-derived sports car to break the 7-minute barrier on the classic 20.832 km Nordschleife circuit, lapping in 6 min 58.16 sec.

The 599XX, which inspired the 599 GTO, is an extreme berlinetta designed for track but not official competition use, and is a veritable technological laboratory incorporating a number of innovative solutions. Some of these will remain the exclusive preserve of the 599XX while others have already filtered down to the 599 GTO, introduced today at the Beijing Motor Show. These include the wheel doughnuts of F1 derivation which serve two purposes – to reduce turbulence and thus drag, and improve brake cooling.

Powered by a development of the V12 engine used by the 599 GTB Fiorano, the 599XX features Ferrari’s High-Performance Dynamic Concept, a novel integrated design and chassis set-up that uses sophisticated electronics to govern the mechanical limits of the handling for maximum performance.

On the aerodynamics front, the car sees the introduction for the first time of the Actiflow™ System that increases downforce and/or cuts drag depending on the car’s trim during cornering. This, together with other careful detailing, ensures that the 599XX boasts extraordinary levels of downforce – up to 630 kg at 300 km/h.

Fundamental to the performance of the car was the development of specific components undertaken together with our technical partners: Brembo for the carbon-ceramic brakes, Michelin for the tyres and Shell for the fuel and lubricants.

Here it is, the first image of Ferrari‘s upcoming 599-based supercar. The team at Fast Lane Daily claim that this single photo is the very first official pic of what is reported to be called the 599 GTO.

Inspired by the 599XX, the GTO will get an upgraded version of the same 6.0-liter V12 engine that powers the Enzo. With output rated at 620-hp in stock form, the 599 GTO should produce anywhere from 650 to 700-hp. Following after the F430 Scuderia, the GTO will get a considerable weight reduction (around 200 lbs). It’s also slated to get a quicker shifting transmission, although it’s not yet clear if Ferrari will stay with the current F1 transmission and increase shift times to 60 milliseconds, or the Italian engineers will swap out the old six-speed box in favor of a seven-speed dual-clutch unit, borrowed from the 458 Italia.

With this image leaking, we expect to get some concrete details on the car in the coming weeks and months, although its not slated to be officially unveiled until the Paris Auto Show this fall.

[Source: FastLaneDaily]

According to the latest reports, the much-rumored Ferrari 599 GTO model will make is world debut at the Paris Auto Show this Fall. Using many components from the track-only 599XX, this new GTO (Gran Turismo Omolagato) will be the first car to bear the badge since the 288 GTO in 1984.

According to an article by AutoWeek, the new car will shed 132 lbs from the standard model, thanks to carbon fiber bodywork, a striped-down interior and special light weight allow wheels. Power has been rumored to be as high as 700-hp, but AW now suggests a more reasonable 650-hp – a boost of 30-hp from the standard model and just 10-hp shy of the Enzo. Also eppected is a version of the Ferrari 458 Italia’s 7-speed dual-clutch transmission to replace the current 6-speed unit, allowing for a slightly faster 0-62 mph time of 3.5 seconds.

Suspension upgrades will also be a part of the package with a lower overall height and a slightly wider track. We also expect a more hard-core race program on the steering-wheel-mounted Manettino.

[Source: AutoWeek]

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

Ferrari is reportedly taking pre-orders for an ultra-high-performance version of the already impressive 599 GTB. The vehicle, referred to as the 599 GTO on Ferrari’s ordering information, is rumored to be inspired by the 599XX track-only model that launched earlier this year at the Geneva Auto Show.

Not only would the 599 GTO get a more powerful V12 engine with anywhere from 680 to 700-hp (up from the standard car’s 611-hp rating), but it would also weigh anywhere from 100 to 150-lbs less. We expect a more light-weight race-inspired interior as well as carbon fiber body parts to help reduce the weight.

With just 500 models set for production the asking price would be closer to the $400,000 mark.

Expect to see the production version debuted at next year’s Geneva Auto Show in March.

GALLERY: Ferrari 599XX

[Source: Autogespot via WorldCarFans]

While Ferrari doesn’t techniclly participate in the New York Auto Show, that doesn’t mean they aren’t going to grab some of the limelight, hosting a private event at the Italian automaker’s ritzy Park Avenue dealership. (As though there are any Ferrari dealerships that aren’t ritzy…)

Making their U.S-debuts were the 599 HGTE and the truly awesome 599XX. Both models were first unveiled in March at the Geneva Auto Show in Geneva, Switzerland, but this more intimate setting allowed us to get some additional details on the track-only 599XX. Besides… do we really need another reason to stare at the meanest-looking Ferrari since the Enzo first came out.

What we already know is that the 599XX is powered by the standard model’s V12 engine, but the internals have been reworked to produce 7o0hp at 9000 rpm. To achieve this Ferrari engineers significantly modified the engine with a new, lighter, crankshaft. Carbon fiber is also used for the intake plenums.

Due to the new aerodynamics of the 599XX it now gets 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 materia 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.

One of Ferrari’s top engineers was on hand discussing the Actiflow technology and commented that it was actually designed for use in Formula 1, but that the FIA wouldn’t allow it. 

One new bit of info that we learned about the 599XX is what Ferrari terms a “Virtual Race Engineer.” This system 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.

GALLERY: Ferrari 599XX