No Cheap Cars

And if the new color of Ferrari became the green? The builder of Maranello presents to the show of Strait a prototype of ecological F430, F430 Spider Biofuel.

We did not dare to imagine it. Symbols of sportsmanship, power, beautiful mechanics, an unforgettable noise, unequalled sensations of driving, and pollution, cars in the Made rear Horse turn to the alternative energies. The conference on the technological innovations which had taken place during the ceremonies of the 60th anniversary of the brand had nevertheless let it hear. Ferrari wants to limit the consumption of his automobiles and their discharges of CO2. The objective for 2012 was even fixed to a decline of 40 %!

As very often, the researches in this domain take place at Ferrari in competition. So the regulation of the world championship of F1 imposes a fuel incorporating 5,75 % of by-products of biomass. Championships TRUSTED GT and American Le Mans Series ( ALMS) goes even farther by using fuels with 10 % of ethanol. Ferrari indicates moreover that all his current automobiles can already run to E10 without any modification.

But in Strait it is the prototype of F430 Spider rolling to E85 that present Ferrari. F430 Spider Biofuel can use so indifferently some classic gasoline or E85, thus a fuel containing 85 % of ethanol for 15 % of unleaded 95. For it the cartography engine and the arrival of gasoline were modified. If the weight of F430 remains the same, the car gains 10 hp, passing from 490 to 500 ch, 4 % of couple and reduced its emissions of 5%.

If this car is right current only a prototype, Ferrari will have to find solutions quickly to reach its objective of reduction of the consumption and the emissions of CO2 in a much more consequent way. The weight of engines and the reduction of their capacity are already for the study.

Geneva they are the car manufacturers but also the designers. Among them Fioravanti, a big name of the Italian automobile design which celebrates this year its 20 years.

We know it little and nevertheless we owe him many Ferrari, Lancia and the other Alfa Romeo. And it is exactly the concept-bus Alfa Romeo which Fioravanti exposed on its stand of the show of Geneva. Attention, the concept exposed Alfa Romeo Vola is not a novelty. Fioravanti had presented it for the first time in Geneva, but in 2001. And if the designer exposes it again in 2008, it is to celebrate 20 years of his brand. This year, in Geneva, its true novelty is the concept Hidra. A concept which we could summarize in a monospace-coupe. If if, it is possible.

But let us return to the one who interests us, Alfa Romeo Vola. There also it is about a coupe, but about a coupe sport. Not very big with his 4,16 m of length, 1,81 m of width and 1,28 m of height, it retractable distinguish itself especially by its glass roof.  Here the roof does not withdraw to find place in the safe, no, here the roof revolves and comes to settle on the back safe not while preventing it from opening. This technique says to you anything? Normal, it is the one that Ferrari held three years later for its 575 Super-America.

An ingenious system which allows not to lose a placein the safe, not to modify the distribution of the masses as the roof is in place or removed, and which it more has the merit to be very light. It also acts as net anti-bustle!

Inside, the cokpit is separated in two in a very different way. Fioravanti compared even with the time both places in two canoes! The style is simple but elegant and, cut sport obliges, speeds take place in the steering wheel.

No driving “truth” under the hood, it is not because a concept, but Fioravanti takes advantage of this edition 2008 of the show of Geneva to call back that Stole it can receive with very few modifications the current engines of the range Alfa Romeo. A word to the wise is enough …

To note, with regard to the version of 2001, Stole it 2008 raise a back part seen again at the level of the hinge of the rotary roof. The set is so hidden and sharply more aesthetic.

Ferrari launches a program of customization of 612. A workshop dedicated to the realizations One-to-One was installed in the factory of Maranello. 

As in a fashion house, the owners select materials and details to make 612 who is perfectly convenient for their tastes. The specialists of the builder will support the customer. As far as no modification touching the safety and the reliability of the car will be authorized. The first workshop of the kind is opened to Maranello, but it is planned to establish it the others in the world.

As example, Ferrari explained in Geneva and New York one 612 Scaglietti endowed with a panoramic roof.  A button allows to adjust its opaqueness according to the light wished in the cockpit.  This 612 Scaglietti One-to-One is also equipped with a box SuperFast authorizing changes of report in 100 milliseconds. It also benefits of a clutch weak slowness. Of what to give more hot pepper still to the Italian in V12 of 540 horses.