Vancouver, a city beautifully saturated with exotic cars and die-hard car enthusiasts from every background. I make it a point every year to leave my beloved state of Florida and embark on a sacred automotive pilgrimage, if you will, to Vancouver to meet up with other like minded gear heads and just maybe, if I’m fortunate enough, have the opportunity to photograph some automotive gems in the flesh. This year was no different than my trip last year except for one small difference. Well, one MAJOR difference, actually.

Let me introduce you to one remarkably beautiful Ferrari F430 that’s zipping around the streets of Vancouver:

My good friends and owners of this particular vehicle, the Grewal’s, are one of the most genuine car enthusiasts you’ll ever come across. In fact, 5 years ago they founded the largest Vancouver European automotive forum for all car enthusiasts in the Vancouver area: http://www.vancouvereuros.com.

After a couple hours of photography splendor with this vehicle the photo shoot was wrapping up. I began to put away my photography gear and proceeded to walk over to the owner and happily informed him that the photo shoot was finished. Well, in my mind, almost everything was finished in regards to the photo shoot except for one thing.

I remember the proceeding sheepish conversation between the owner of this beautiful car and myself going something like this: “Hey, is it at all possible, you know, maybe, if it’s not too big of a deal, if you have the time, I know you’re busy so I understand if you can’t, maybe… can I get a ride in the F430 before the night comes to an end?”

I’m glad I asked. Everyone should experience a spirited ride in a Ferrari F430 at some point in their lives. Listening to this car’s magnificent exhaust tone at wide open throttle reverberating through tunnels or off bridges is nothing short of automotive euphoria. It was the perfect ending to a perfect trip for this photographer and car enthusiast. I can’t wait to see what is in store for my trip to Vancouver next year!

All images Copyright © 2009 Chris Grosser Photography

Some specifications on the car:

Make / Model: Ferrari F430
Year: 2005
Color: Rossa Corsa
Interior: Black leather, red stitching, carbon fiber package
Transmission: 6 speed manual, no paddle shifters in this car! (This option is very rare to say the least.)
Engine: 4.3 liter V8 producing 490 horsepower and 343 pounds of torque.
Rims: 19″ front and 20″ Rear - iForged FS Rev finished in black with chrome lips with beefy 345’s in back.
Cool Facts: This car was ordered and optioned out specifically by the owner himself. It took two full years for the car to come to fruition from the spec sheet and options list up until it was built in Italy for its completion and shipped to Vancouver for final delivery.

[source: www.vancouvereuros.com]

A new mid-engine V8 Ferrari set to replace the F430 has been officially announced as the 458 Italia. With all of the rumors and speculations in the past months, a new breath of fresh air hits the automotive blogosphere as a new Italian horse with a 4.5-liter direct-injected V8 with 570 hp, 398 lb-ft of torque and a 12.5:1 compression ratio sets to hit the market.

To direct all 570 ponies to the rear wheels is a 7-speed dual clutch transmission that should propel this 3,042 pound stallion from a standstill in 3.2 seconds while running the track at a steady top speed of 202 mph.

Look for the first public viewing at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Videos of the Ferrari 458 Italia: Ferrari 458 The Sound Makes Me DROOL

Below is the full press release of the Ferrari 458 Italia

ITALIA – Ferrari’s innovative new V8

The 458 Italia is the latest incarnation of the mid-rear engined berlinetta and will be unveiled at the next Frankfurt Motor Show

Maranello, July 28th 2009 – While it’s true that every Ferrari is innovative by definition, it’s equally true that in the course of the Prancing Horse’s history, certain cars have marked a genuine departure from the current range. This is very much the case with the Ferrari 458 Italia, which is a massive leap forward from the company’s previous mid-rear engined sports cars.

The new model is a synthesis of style, creative flair, passion and cutting-edge technology, characteristics for which Italy as a nation is well-known. For this reason Ferrari chose to add the name of its homeland to the traditional figure representing the displacement and number of cylinders.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a completely new car from every point of view: engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics, just to name a few.

A two-seater berlinetta, the Ferrari 458 Italia, as is now traditional for all Ferrari’s road-going cars, benefits hugely from the company’s Formula 1 experience. This is particularly evident in the speed and precision with which the car responds to driver inputs and in the attention focused on reducing internal friction in the engine for lower fuel consumption than the F430, despite the fact that both overall displacement and power have increased. However, Ferrari’s track experience makes its presence felt in the 458 Italia not only in terms of pure technological transfer but also on a more emotional level, because of the strong emphasis on creating an almost symbiotic relationship between driver and car. The 458 Italia features an innovative driving environment with a new kind of steering wheel and dashboard that is the direct result of racing practice. Once again input from Michael Schumacher – who was involved from the very start of the 458 Italia project – played an invaluable part.

The Ferrari 458 Italia’s Pininfarina design provides further evidence of the complete departure from the past that this new car hails. The Ferrari 458 Italia has a compact, aerodynamic shape, underscoring the concepts of simplicity, efficiency and lightness that inspired the project. As with every Ferrari, the car’s styling has been very heavily influenced by the requirements for aerodynamic efficiency, as can be seen from the downforce of 140 kg at 200km/h generated by the new model. The front features a single opening for the front grille and side air intakes, with aerodynamic sections and profiles designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody. The nose also sports small aeroelastic winglets which generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator inlets and cut drag.

The new 4499 cc V8 is the first Ferrari direct injection engine to be mid-rear mounted. It has a very low piston compression height typical of racing engines which contributed to achieving its compression ratio of 12.5:1. Equipped with the traditional flat-plane crankshaft, the engine delivers 570 CV at 9000 rpm and, with an outstanding power output of 127 CV/litre, sets a new benchmark not only for the whole Ferrari range and the history of company, but also for the entire market segment. Maximum torque is 540 Nm at 6000 rpm, over 80 per cent of which is available from 3250 rpm. Specific torque is a record 120 Nm/litre. However, what is truly extraordinary is the amount of torque available while still maintaining high levels of power at low revs.

The car’s soundtrack is also typical Ferrari, with an exciting, powerful growl emerging from the engine before it channels through to the exhaust’s three rear tailpipes.

The 458 Italia is equipped with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which increases performance whilst providing very smooth shifts even at full throttle. The engineers have developed specific, sportier gear ratios to match the power and torque curves of the new V8, guaranteeing high torque even at lower engine speeds and allowing the car to reach its maximum speed in top gear.

This new Ferrari is also a major leap forward when it comes to cutting emissions. Despite the fact that the new engine is significantly more powerful than the V8s that preceded it, the Ferrari 458 Italia produces just 320 g/km of CO2 and fuel consumption is 13.7 l/100 km (combined cycle), the best in the entire segment.

The engineers also focused on weight reduction during the design phase for similar reasons. Consequently, the Ferrari 458 Italia has a dry weight of 1380 kg with a power-to-weight ratio of 2.42 kg/CV. Weight distribution is also optimal with 58 per cent over the rear axle. The result of the engineers’ endeavours can be summed up in to two simple statistics which together perfectly encapsulate the Ferrari 458 Italia’s exceptional performance: 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 3.4 seconds and a maximum speed in excess of 325 km/h.

For the new chassis, once more in aluminium, Maranello’s engineers incorporated various types of advanced alloys along with aerospace industry-derived manufacturing and bonding techniques.

With regard to vehicle dynamics, the Ferrari 458 Italia’s suspension features twin wishbones at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear tuned for maximum roadholding and superlative handling. Along with a more direct steering ratio, the 458 Italia thus offers extremely rapid turn-in and body control whilst maintaining superior ride comfort.

The integration of the E-Diff and F1-Trac (now controlled by the same ECU) and their respective mappings is even greater, resulting in a 32 per cent increase in longitudinal acceleration out of corners compared to previous models. The evolution of the control logic, with even faster and more accurate calculation of levels of grip, ensures even greater roadholding, better handling and ease of control on the limit.

The same ECU also governs the high-performance ABS, providing even more precise control over the logic threshold and greater efficiency. The brakes also feature a prefill function whereby the pistons in the callipers move the pads into contact with the discs on lift off to minimise delay in the brakes being applied. This combined with the ABS has cut the 100-0 km/h braking distance to a mere 32.5 metres.

The Ferrari 458 Italia’s interior is another area of the car that exalts its sporty personality. The driver is welcomed by a new layout and a revolutionary ergonomic interface where the main controls are all clustered on the steering wheel.

With the Ferrari 458 Italia, Maranello has brought a highly distinctive new car to its 8-cylinder range. The company now offers two models that share a common, race-derived DNA, both exceptionally sporty and fun to drive in true Ferrari tradition, but aimed at two very different kinds of client. While the Ferrari California was created for owners requiring a more versatile sports car with a practical edge, the 458 Italia is designed for owners for whom the priority is uncompromising on-road performance with occasional track day capability, but who still demand a car that is useable in day-to-day driving like all Ferrari’s recent models.

Ferrari 458 Italia – Technical specifications

Dimensions

Length 4527 mm (178.2 in.)

Width 1937 mm (76.3 in.)

Height 1213 mm (47.8 in.)

Wheelbase 2650 mm (104.3 in.)

Dry weight 1380 kg (3042 lbs)*

Weight/power ratio 2,42 kg/CV (7.16 lbs/kW)

Weight distribution fr/r 42%/58%

Engine

Type V8 – 90°

Displacement 4499 cc (274.5 cu in.)

Maximum power 570 CV (425 kW)** @ 9000 rpm

Maximum torque 540 Nm (398 lbs/ft) @ 6000 rpm

Specific power output 127 CV/l

Compression ratio 12.5:1

Tyres

Front 235/35 ZR20 8.5″

Rear 295/35 ZR20 10.5″

Performance

Maximum speed >325 km/h (>202 mph)

0-100 km/h

Fuel consumption + emissions

Fuel consumption*** 13.7 l/100 km

Emissions*** 320 g CO2/km

Gearbox

Dual-clutch, 7-speed F1

Electronics

E-Diff3, F1-Trac, high-performance ABS

* With forged wheels and Racing seats

** Including 5 CV of ram effect

*** Combined cycle (ECE+EUDC)

How Do You Manage To Look So Silly In a Ferrari F430 Scuderia? You forget how to put it into gear!

Obviously the guy portrayed in this video has some serious issues. He is in a Ferrari F430 Scuderia and somehow does not know how to put the car into gear. Now, if you own such a vehicle (base price: $281,618), you may want to read the owner’s manual on how to put it into gear… or at least listen to the sales official when he goes through the demonstration of the vehicles features. We all know Ferrari does not drop the ball when it comes to educating a new owner on one of their Formula 1 outfitted vehicles especially in the case of being equipped with an F1 style sequential manual gearbox. For some reason I feel like ripping the head off of this guy but I will keep my composure for now. Maybe the person driving this vehicle is not the owner… or maybe he is just a complete idiot (look at the silly sticker on the side). You be the judge, enjoy the video after the jump.

Stats on the Ferrari F430 Scuderia

• Base Price: $281,618
• Drivetrain: Rear Wheel Drive
• Curb Weight (lbs): 2975
• City (MPG): 11 (Est)
• Hwy (MPG): 16 (Est)
• Horsepower: 503 @ 8500
• Torque (lb-ft): 347 @ 5250
• Wheelbase (in.): 102.4
• Length (in.): 177.6
• Width (in.): 75.7
• Height (in.): 47.8

A Ferrari F430 was wrecked on the set of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, Nicholas Cage’s newest movie. In the event, two pedestrians were injured. We know many of Nicholas Cage’s movies are known for having fast cars in them and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is yet another one. Luckily, Cage was not in this car during the accident. Wonder if the stunt driver had traction control on at the time of the accident?

Exclusive video from the New York Post below after the jump…

How do you even attempt to improve the Ferrari F430 Scuderia Spider 16M? Well, looks easy for Novitec by adding a supercharger, hydraulic coil-over suspension, 20 inch NF3 wheels with Pirelli Tires and black tail lights. There you have it, 696hp, suspension that raises and lowers the car at the touch of a button and the looks that could literally kill!

Novitec fitted twin superchargers to the already tuned to the max Ferrari V8 engine upping horsepower by 186hp from the factory model. You could guess that the 0-60 time would only get better from the factory spec of 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. The wheels are (Novitec Rosso) NF3 20×8.5 inch in the front and 20×12 inch in the rear. That’s a lot of Pirelli meat wrapped around those forged custom painted wheels that fit this modded Italian horse very well.

Novitec Rosso Ferrari F430 Scuderia Spider 16M

[source: ferrarituningmag.com]

Supercars are now part of a new club in my opinion. Whether you agree with me or not, a new benchmark as has been set for performance cars to be called a “supercar”. The 200mph mark seems almost like a standard if a car wants to be in the once-sacred “supercar status”. I realize many supercars only reach speeds just shy of 200mph but when you consider the over-all performance of some vehicles and the astonishing capabilities, you might as-well welcome them to the 200mph club. With a few (pricy) bolt-ons or ECU programming you may be able to add another 10 to 20 mph to the top speed of many supercars anyway.

Our good friend, Chris Grosser, set out to Ochopee, Florida at a rented 2 mile long aviation runway just recently. The goal was to achieve top speed (in a supercar) during a series of runs in a controlled environment. I am not sure of anything that is more fun other than blasting down flat-out on a runway in a supercar. Below is the excerpt from Chris’s new blog. I encourage you to check out some of his professional photography shots if you have the time.

Image Gallery and excerpt from Chris Grosser’s site below…

Location: Ochopee, Florida – at a rented 2 mile long aviation runway

Date: 2/23/2009

Time: 7am-7pm

Goal: Super car top speed runs in a controlled environment

The sounds of cars flying by like rocket jets in excess of 200mph was nothing short of astonishing at yesterday’s 2 mile open runway event located at Ochopee, Florida.

The super car lineup consisted of cars that most people can only dream of, me included. Twin turbo Lamborghini Murcielagos and Gallardos filled the arena early in the morning when being unloaded from trailers at the venue.

A Saleen S7 brought massive amounts of attention from the fans. It’s not an everyday occurrence to view such cars in the wild, much less out on an endlessly long runway being pushed to its limits. It’s a thing of sheer beauty to view a car like the S7 being run to its full potential and not just sitting behind a glass showcase or velvet ropes like a coveted piece of art.

Two Robinson R44 helicopters even made brief appearances. Other visits from curious planes in the area made fly- bys to view the tens of millions of dollars in super cars from around the country.

Having been fortunate enough to take a quick ride in my good friend’s Bentley Continental GT and quickly surpassing the 175mph mark – the 200mph barrier in cars such as the Saleen S7, Twin turbo Murcielago, 1300 horsepower, LP640, Ford GT, or Twin Turbo “Underground Racing” Gallardo seem shockingly feasible.

Feasible is merely an understatement as new speed records were approached and surpassed throughout the day. 200 miles per hour quickly became the new standard for the super cars to strive for and many did just that.

As a follow-up to our previous post on the “All Carbon Fibered Out – Ferrari F430 on 360 Forged Carbon Fiber Wheels“ we have a video showing this astounding vehicle on the road spinning all 4 360 Forged Carbon Fiber styled wheels. Down in Miami, FL they like to do it big and this Ferrari F430 does just that. Not many cars look as nice standing still as they do in motion. Enjoy the video below after the jump.

Exotics and Luxury, part of the automotive network at Automotive Addicts, posted images of a Ferrari F430 with new 360 Forged Carbon Straight 5ive Wheels. These remarkable rims do the F430 justice. These are not your average custom rims.

View more information and hi-res images at ExoticsandLuxury.com.