#599Gto

Rumors are heating up all over the Internet (when are they not) that Ferrari is possibly working on a limited edition 599 Fernando Alonso edition to pay tribute to their star Formula One driver.

Ferrari’s 599 has had plenty of special edition variants, ranging from the GTB Fiorano to the China Edition to the awesome 599XX. But it looks like the 599 will go out with a bang with a 599 Fernando Alonso edition, rumored to be lighter than any of the previous models, possibly making it the fastest.

Rumor has it that this lightweight special edition 599 is set to be released in January with a very limited production of just 40 vehicles. But this could all just be rumors started by the fact that Ferrari released a video of Fernando Alonso taking a F10 Tribute Edition 599 GTO for some laps around Fiorano. We’ll just have to stay tuned to see whether or not this is another Internet myth.

Check out the video of Alonso behind the wheel of the F10 Tribute Edition 599 GTO after the break.

[Source: Autoblog]

Having had the opportunity to experience Lexus‘ LFA firsthand, we can attest to its freakish performance and elegant handling all wrapped in a luxurious package. While its price tag has drawn criticism, it’s certainly not unheard of in the exotic segment and so EVO Magazine decided to compare (very expensive) apples to apples, pitting the Japanese supercar against  Ferrari‘s 599 GTO – both vehicles with MSRPs just barely under the $400,000 mark. The result may be surprising to some, with EVO giving their nod to the LFA despite the 599 GTO’s quicker 0-60 time and higher top speed.

It goes without saying that no true auto enthusiast should judge a car simply by its acceleration and top speed, but the 599 GTO clocked a 0-60 time in just 3.8 seconds while the LFA was a solid few ticks behind at 4.2. The LFA’s top speed was recorded at 179-mph while the GTO easily outpaced it at 193-mph. But the article goes way beyond that, with EVO coming to the conclusion that Lexus now has a vehicle that tops Italy’s finest.

“What marks out the LFA for particular praise is its bravery and originality;” says EVO, “for Lexus to create such a car from scratch, with no evolutionary engineering or existing bias from which to work, is a remarkable achievement. Innovative, extreme, immaculately executed and exquisite to drive, it’s the greatest high-performance car Japan has ever produced.”

“Get hung up on the badge and you’ll be blind to its magic. Revel in its rarity, its rare abilities and the fact we’re unlikely to see its like again and you’ll understand why the LFA is one of the greats, and why this test ends with three unexpected, hard-won and thoroughly deserved words: Lexus beats Ferrari.”

Check out a video of EVO Magazine comparing the two cars after the jump.

[Source: Lexus Enthusiast]

It may be called Concorso Italiano, but it might as well be the Ferrari Festival with prancing horses from all decades the overwhelming exotic car of choice at the annual event. Held the past several years at the Laguna Seca Golf Course, we’ve snapped just a selection of the incredible machinery on display in the hopes of providing a glimpse into just how extravagant this event really is.

Ferrari announced today that the first six months of 2011 have been the best in the company’s history. The Italian automaker posted a record revenue of $1.1 billion for the first six months of this year and delivered a record 3,577 units or 11.8 percent more than the first half of 2010. Sales also increased in the U.S by 23.9 percent to 939. Chinese sales have increased 116 percent to 378 vehicles.

Low volume car companies are even more likely to update current products rather than develop new ones, and Ferrari is no exception. In the past we have seen the Testarossa turn into the 512TR and then into the F512M. The 348 spawned the 355, while the 456 became the 456M. The 360 Modena gave way to the F430, and the 550 became the 575.

Do you remember what you got for your 18th birthday? Was it an iPod? Maybe a laptop for college? Perhaps just a hug and kiss from your mom and dad? Or even worse, you don’t even remember. Well this kid won’t have that problem, because for his 18th birthday he got himself a very rare Ferrari 599 GTOs.

And better yet, this is just one of many cars in his collection that he shares with his dad. When he was a mere 15 years of age, he got an Audi R8 V8 that his dad didn’t really like much. His daily driver is an ML63 and he also shares a Porsche Panamera with his dad. But those vehicles barely hold a light to what else is in the garage – we spy a Bugatti Veyron and two Scurerias.

Truth be told, we rolled our eyes a tad when we first saw the post, along with many forum members on Luxury4Play. But as the thread grew, along with the skepticism, some forum members revealed that he is a fairly well respected member of the community and is quite mature, all things considered. We sure know if we got an 18 year old Ferrari 599 GTO for our 18th birthday we’d be like a little kid in the candy store bragging to each and every internet-friend we have.

The owner remains anonymous to this day, but we’re glad to see he’s got a good head on his shoulders despite being offered some of life’s finest luxuries that very few get to experience. It’s more than we can say about our good ‘ol friend Nick Hogan.

[Source: Luxury4Play]

Check out all the pics of the 599 GTO, plus the rest of the exotics in this 18 year-old’s stable after the jump:

They might not get you across the finish line, but these miniatures are still winners. Ferrari is celebrating the cars that have made their mark on the automotive landscape. From the superb 599 GTO that made its impressive launch at Beijing Motor Show, to the short wheelbase version of the Spider 250 California that debuted Geneva show in 1960, you can now own a little piece of Ferrari memorabilia.

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.

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.