The Ferrari 599 GTO is the fastest road-going car ever created by the famous Prancing Horse marque, but despite the car’s prowess, to date, Ferrari has only released a paltry five images of its Maranello stunner.

Thankfully though we now have a new gallery revealing every inch of this latest Ferrari.

As mentioned, the 599 GTO is Ferrari’s fastest ever road car. Not surprisingly, it set a record lap time at the Fiorano circuit of just 1 minute 24 seconds. It is an exclusive limited edition special which, in true Ferrari tradition, is a completely new concept, albeit inspired by the 599XX experimental car.

To achieve this status, the regular 599 GTB’s 6,0-litre V12 engine was uprated to 493 kW and the car was put on a diet to reduce overall weight to just 1 4 95 kilograms. This resulted in a 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of 3.35 seconds and a top speed of 335 km/h.

The 599 GTO will be built in a limited run of just 599 cars and, not surprisingly, the full production run has already been accounted for. For more details, take a look at our original preview story here.

This week is number 26 of 52, making it the half way point in our year. The world is in a less than healthy state at the moment, what with the BP oil spill, flooding in Southern China, volcanos in Iceland, earth quakes in Haiti and so on.

When looking at these disasters, it’s easy for environmentalists to point fingers at the automobile, especially now since the manufacturers have begun providing the exact grams per kilometer of C02 each of their models produce. The politicians are quick to agree and, as a way to increase their income, we now find emissions taxes being applied to cars around the world. And don’t think our government hasn’t caught on to this, by September South African’s will be paying a carbon tax on each new car sold.

But change has got to start somewhere and the motor manufacturers are leading the charge to a large extent. Fuel efficiency through hybrid and electric powered vehicles is on the increase and efficiency measures are being introduced on many models. A few years ago those sensitive to the environment had the choice of driving a Toyota Prius and that was it.

Now, however, Honda is about to introduce the first hybrid powered sports coupe to South Africa, in the form of the CR-Z. BMW have their ‘Efficient Dynamics’ program, which sees the use of low rolling resistance tyres and brake energy regeneration amongst other efficiency features employed to reduce fuel consumption and resulting emissions. Audi has just announced an ‘Efficiency’ version of their A4 sedan, which the company claims requires just 4.6 l/100km and will be exempt from the carbon tax when it’s introduced later this year, thanks to emissions of just 119 g/km of C02.

So where does this leave us, or rather where are we headed? Carbon taxing is a great way for governments to make money while being seen to effect climate change. Of course, reducing emissions is all important, but at the same time nothing different is really being done and logic dictates that reducing emissions is simply prolonging the inevitable. There are countless methods for harnessing clean energy, but with so much money tied up in people, infrastructure, energy contracts, investment deals and so on, the change to cleaner alternatives could be slow.

However, there is hope, but for motoring enthusiasts like myself it’s bitter sweet. R&D and investment is being poured into electric vehicles (EVs) at the moment and just about all manufacturers have an EV program or at least are associated with one. From Tata with its budget Nano EV concept, to Audi with their R8 inspired e-tron, there is a real possibility that by 2030 we could all be driving EVs. I say bitter sweet, because the sound of a Lamborghini V10 in full song is the automotive equivalent of heroin in my book and the thought of replacing that with a deafening silence gives me a headache.

My sensibilities prevail though, or perhaps it’s just my own form of psychological pain killer, when I think that there is no way Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini or any other manufacturer with a brand built on passion, excitement and racing heritage, will ever compromise its core values by offering a car as silent as midnight in the Karoo, or whose ad campaign includes images of flowers gently flowing from a set of quad-exhausts as it passes through artificially green fields.

Perhaps BP’s oil disaster will prove to be the catalyst that will drive the change to alternative fuels. Perhaps cars of the future will be powered by a mixture of Buffalo grass and coconut oil, the reaction of which might sound like a high-revving V16 and who knows, the exhaust gasses could smell like basil pesto. The point is that change brings progress and in the motoring world this must translate to improved efficiency on a mass scale, but also enhance the thrill of driving that so many of us enjoy and the supercar dream that we all have.

Yes, I want the world to have its automotive cake an eat it and there’s no reason why we cant. Henry Ford brought cars to the masses and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is about to do the same with flights into space. Yes, it’s time for change, but as I sit in my office and watch the early morning sun begin to peak over the hills,  perhaps the biggest change of all needs to be the preservation of our planet over those of our profits.

German tuner Inden-Design, is better known for their work on high-priced models from Ferrari and Mercedes. The company is now branching out a bit, having turned their attention to the unsuspecting Daihatsu Materia.

Dubbed the “Icecube”, the bright white box has been outfitted with a host of new items. On the exterior, the new body kit contains four different extensions that can be attached over the current panels, as well as daytime running lights and a new rear bumper with diffuser. Triangle-shaped side mirrors, carbon fibre door handles and boot cover have also been fitted.

A set of light-weight three-piece 18-inch alloy wheels have been custom designed for the car. A new exhaust and catalytic converter were also fitted, as was a new differential.

Inside, designers added silver-look carbon fibre trim throughout the cabin, along with Alcantara upholstery. The reworked Matria also receives a new audio and sat-nav system.

Each part mentioned may be purchased individually, however, the total price of the add-ons costs more than the car itself, making this “Icecube” tuning project enough to turn you stone cold at the site of it.

First look? Well, we’d like to think so after pictures surfaced online this week of a modified Ferrari 458 Italia, leading to speculation that it could be the first glimpse of Ferrari’s 458 Italia Challenge race car.

The modified 458 pictured here, featuring aerodynamic tweaks, a plexiglass window, tow hooks and centre-locking racing wheels shod with slick tyres, was reportedly spied at Italy’s Vallelunga race track.

There has been no word from Ferrari regarding a track-ready version of its latest model, so for now it remains unclear whether the spied car is an official Ferrari project, an aftermarket prototype, or a privateer racer.

The ‘regular’ 458 is motivated by a 4,5-litre V8, developing 425 kW and 540 N.m of torque, pushing the supercar to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of over 325 km/h.

Last month, the Italian supercar company, offered a glimpse of its new model schedule, which includes a convertible ‘Spider’ version of the 458, a replacement for the 599, and a successor to the company’s Enzo hypercar.

The Formula Rossa rollercoaster at Ferrari’s new theme park in Abu Dhabi will accelerate from t0 100 km/h in 2.0 seconds, making it the fastest rollercoaster in the world.

The rollercoaster will take centre stage at the theme park, due to open later this year in time for the Abu Dhabi GP, and has been designed to replicate the accelerating force of Ferrari’s Formula One cars. The Rossa rollercoaster is powered by a 18 000 HP – or 13 423 kW – winch and at its highest point will reach a height of 52 metres. The rollercoaster is 2.08 kilometers long and users will experience up to 1.7g along the course. The sharpest corners are 70-degree turns.

Other attractions at the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi include a Ferrari F430 rollercoaster, which races two cars side by side along the track. There will be more than 20 rides and attractions in total at the theme park – watch this video for more details.

Adapted from AutoCar

Puma will hit the pavement for its third consecutive year as a partner for the Gumball 3000 Rally that started yesterday and runs through May 7th. The 4800-kilometre roadtrip will kick off in London and stop in Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Stockholm before making the hop across the pond to Boston. The rally will continue to Quebec City and Toronto before ending in Times Square in New York City.

Puma will bring its mix of sport and lifestyle to this high-octane road trip with special events and activations along the way, as well as host three cars in this year’s rally. Team Puma features actress and award winning recording artist Eve, actor Idris Elba, and James Bond, sneaker and street style influencer and co-owner of the legendary sneaker shop UNDFTD. In addition, all 120 cars in the 12th annual rally will be branded with Puma’s signature formstripe and iconic Puma cat logo as part of the Official Gumball 3000 Sticker Kit.

Some of the finest and most exotic cars in the world are entered into the rally and spectators along the way can be sure to catch a glimpse of Bugatti’s, Rolls Royce’s, Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s all customised with Puma’s iconic branding for this global event.

Puma will also release two limited edition sneakers to celebrate the successful partnership. An exclusive SL Street Gumball 3000 will be available puma.com. PUMA and UNDFTD will also release a limited edition Comp-Star-Gumball 3000. A special PUMA Gumball 3000 tee shirt will also be available in select US cities where the rally will be visiting and via Puma’s website.

Ferrari has revealed it will produce six new models before 2013 as part of Fiat’s restructuring plans announced this week, including a new Enzo hypercar and a hardcore version of the 458 Italia.

First up will be a open-top Spider variant of the 458 that’s due in 2011. Also penciled in for launch next year will be an all-new version of the range-topping, V12-powered 612 Scaglietti, a car that is also likely to spawn Ferrari’s first ever hybrid variant. Ferrari revealed a hybrid 599 at the Geneva motor show, although the 612 is more likely to get hybrid technology as it would be easier to package in the four-seater. However, the system is not an F1-style KERS system that had been expected to make production in its road cars. The new 612 has been codenamed F151, although what name it will take for production isn’t yet clear.

In 2012 Ferrari will launch a new version of its halo Enzo hypercar. Just 400 Enzos were produced between 2002 and 2004 and the new model is likely to be powered by either a direct-injection twin-turbo V8 or a direct-injection twin-turbo V6. It’s expected the next Enzo will be also be a flagship for Ferrari’s new-generation aerodynamic technology, including ‘active aerodynamics’ that pump air out through the body to influence the way airflows over and under the skin.

Another car due in 2012 is an all-new version of the 599 GTB Fiorano, currently known as F152. A major facelift of the California will be launched in 2013; this is currently known as the California M. The final new model revealed by Ferrari  is a hardcore version of the 458, which should take the Scuderia name of its 430 predecessor and be launched in 2013.

Ferrari has also said it wants to keep the differentiation between its sports cars and its grand tourers, ensuring there won’t be any crossover between the 458 and 599 supercars and the 612 and California cruisers.

The firm will not make any more than four standard production models, meaning its range will stay as 458, 599, 612 and California. The Enzo is considered as a special model, and not part of its standard range.

Adapted from Autocar

The first car from the prancing horse brand to wear the GTO nameplate in almost a quarter of a century, the Ferrari 599 GTO, was officially unveiled to some of the brand’s wealthiest clients at a special ceremony in Modena, Italy this weekend.

Held at Modena’s Ducal Palace, now a military academy, the grand gala involved the participation of Ferrari factory test drivers and military cadets before a crowd of Ferrari’s most elite 500 customers. The exclusive limited edition special is the brand’s fastest ever road car, and although inspired by the production version of the Ferrari 599, is in fact based upon the 599XX – Ferrari’s advanced experimental track car.

A strictly limited run of just 599 examples of the Ferrari 599 GTO will be produced, the car already proving quicker than both the Ferrari Enzo and Ferrari 430 Scuderia, lapping Ferrari’s Fiorano test circuit in just one minute and 24 seconds. If you don’t already know, the Ferrari 599 GTO is powered by a 6,0-litre V12 engine developing 500 kW at 8 250 r/min and peak torque of 620 N.m at 6500rpm. It is mated exclusively to an F1-style six-speed transmission resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 334 kW per tonne. Using F1-inspired chassis design principles, the car’s dry weight is just 1 495kg. Top speed is rated at 335km/h with the sprint to 100km/h managed in just 3.35 seconds.

Sadly, for customers wishing to express an interest in the Ferrari 599 GTO at its first public appearance, scheduled for the Beijing Motor Show next week, Ferrari tells us that every last one of the exclusive models has now been sold.

Adapted from CarAdvice

Gran Turismo Omologata. Three words that, when acronymed, should send a tingle down the spine of any supercar fan. The Ferrari 250 GTO and 288 GTO are undeniable classics and now there’s a new ‘Omologata’ joining them in the shape of this, the Ferrari 599 GTO.

We’ve been aware of its existence for some time and saw the obligatory spy shots earlier this month, but have had to wait until now for an official unveiling.

Just so you know what we’re talking about here, the Ferrari 599 GTO is officially the company’s fastest road-going car ever produced. The GTO is powered by a 500 kW six-litre V12 with 620 N.m of torque, propelling it to 100 km/h from stand still in just 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 335 km/h. It is linked to a six-speed F1-style gearbox, capable of changing gears in 60 milliseconds.

In order to achieve its pace, Ferrari says the car, shares more with the hardcore track-focused 599XX than the production model 599. We were expecting it to look much like the track-only 599XX, but quite are impressed by how faithful it is to the track-focused ‘development car’. Examples of the technology carried over include the car’s ability to generate 144 kg of downforce at 200 km/h according to Ferrari. This has been achieved through changes to the nose of the car, where a front spoiler incorporates a separate lower wing, and the adoption of F1 style wheel doughnuts – a disc positioned outside the brake disc that ensure hot air exiting the wheel arch stays close to the side of the body and reduces drag. By using thinner aluminium and glass, Ferrari has also been able to save weight over the standard 599. Coupled with the carbon-ceramic brakes, and lightweight transmission and exhaust systems, the 599 GTO has a dry weight of 1 495 kg, and delivers a power-to-weight ratio of 334 kW per tonne.

An indication of the car’s pace is given by its lap record beating run around Ferrari’s test track at Fiorano. The company claims it lapped the circuit in 1 minute 24 seconds – a second faster than the previous record set in a Ferrari Enzo.

Styling wise, the rear diffuser is particularly dramatic, while the bonnet that shrouds its front-mounted V12 engine is intricately sculptured, with extra cooling and a neat indent to house optional stripes. Heritage liveries and personalised colour schemes are a standout feature on the 599 GTO’s options list, with scope to create something that looks quite different to the red and carbon car you see here.

Inside the cabin, the GTO has been fitted with longer and more user-friendly carbonfibre gearshift paddles. While the standard 599 has an ‘ice’ traction setting, it is replaced in the 599 GTO by a CT-Off function, which turns traction control off. The car is also fitted with Virtual Race Engineer, which monitors the status of the car and gives feedback on vehicle performance.

Just 599 units will be produced with an estimated starting price in the region of £280 000.

In a few months time, the rich and famous of our world will have their own automotive ‘Disney Land’ with the opening of the new Ferrari World theme park in Abu Dhabi. Among the twenty or so rides and attractions featured at the park will be the GT roller coaster and this here is the first photograph of the car.

Each coaster vehicle in this particular ride is a replica of a Ferrari F430 Spider that can seat up to four people. According to Ferrari, the GT Racing Coaster will send two competing roller coaster carriages dashing along twisting parallel tracks on a race to the finish line.

Aside from the GT Racing Coaster there will also be an F1 ride, which is said to be world’s fastest roller coaster. The F1 coaster will travel at speeds in excess of 200 km/h and shoot passengers more than 62 meters through the roof before bringing them back down again to offer them a G-force experience.

The world’s first Ferrari theme park and the largest attraction of its kind is scheduled to open on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi in the second half of 2010. For more information on the park, click here to check out our previous article.

Spy shots never get old, especially when the car that’s being caught on camera is a yet-to-be-released Ferrari 599 GTO. The latest set of photos was taken just outside Ferrari’s Maranello production facility and shows the upcoming 599 GTO in its not-so-camouflaged outfit.

As the first GTO (Gran Turismo Omologatoto) come out of Maranello since the 288 GTO of the 80’s, Ferrari is taking great lengths in making the 599 GTO live up to enormous expectations set around the GTO line. No info has been released yet, but rumors have circulated that the 599 GTO will come with a 6,0-litre V12 engine that produces as much as 522 kilowatts and around 9 000 rpm. The powerful engine, coupled with generous amounts of lightweight carbon fibre, should see the GTO reach 100 km/h from standstill in around 3.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 350 km/h.

Ferrari is expected to produce a limited run of around 500 GTOs, with production set to begin in the latter part of 2010. The price for this legend-in-the-making is estimated to be close to £300 000, or roughly R3.6 million before duties and taxes. Checkout the gallery below for more photos.