Demand for Renault vehicles is on the rise, and according to data for the first eight months of 2023, sales increased by 22 percent, putting the French vehicle manufacturer in second place on the European market.
In 2023, Renault delivered 726,938 vehicles on the European market, and the most sold vehicles were from the C segment (190,535 vehicles), which is an increase of 36 percent. Individually, the highest demand was for the Austral (60,305 units) and Arkana/Conquest (59,542 units).
When it comes to the electric vehicle market, Renault delivered 200,000 units, of which hybrid vehicles recorded a growth of 48% percent compared to 2022. Fully electric cars (64,854 units) also recorded growth and the highest demand was for the Megane E-Tech (35,000 deliveries).
Globally, Renault sold a total of 1,128,885 vehicles by September 2023, which is 11% more than in the same period in 2022 (1,013,310). Also, in the third quarter, Renault delivered 356,747 vehicles, which is an increase of +11% compared to the same period last year.
At the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Ferrari unveiled the mid-engine sports car and successor to the Ferrari F430, the Ferrari 458 Italia. It was a combination of new design and technology, developed from the company’s experience in Formula One. Four years later, a high-performance variant of this model, the Ferrari 348 Speciale, arrived on the market. It was produced until 2015, and 3,000 units of this model left the production lines. One of them, the 2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale is up for auction.
The Ferrari 458 Speciale is powered by a reworked 4.5-liter V8 engine with a factory output of 605 hp (445 kW) and 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and an electronic rear differential. It is mounted on 20″ five-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in 245/35 front and 305/30 rear Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.
The car, which has never changed hands, is finished in Blu Tour de France with North American Racing Team (NART) racing stripes, has been properly maintained and is in excellent condition. It is equipped with adaptive xenon headlights, fog lights, Scuderia Ferrari fender shields, optional carbon-fiber front flaps and side fenders, active horizontal front-end flap to divert air under the car, spring-loaded doors to direct air from the radiators at high speeds. , aero fins on the side skirts, a motor-actuated drag-reduction system at the rear end, revised rear diffuser with dual exhaust outlets, yellow-finished Ferrari/Brembo calipers over cross-drilled carbon-ceramic rotors at all four corners, F1 -Trac traction control and retuned Side Slip Angle Control system.
In August, a service was performed, which included changing the oil and power steering fluid, flushing the coolant, and replacing the filters, spark plugs, drive belt, and battery.
Inside, the electrically adjustable seats are upholstered in black and gray Alcantara, which also covers the dashboard. In front of the driver is a multifunction steering wheel that has LED indicator lights, as well as a red engine start button, behind which is a digital odometer reading 6,714 miles. Additional equipment includes navigation, a CD stereo, dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, and drilled aluminum pedals.
The car has a clean Carfax report that shows no accidents or other damage. It comes with a window sticker, an owner’s manual, service records, a tool kit, and a clean Texas title.
The auction ends on October 24 and the highest bid at the time of writing was $405,000 USD.
When the first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was created in 2009, few believed that it would survive. Today, there are hundreds of different cryptocurrencies on the market, and many still think they have no future. However, Ferrari has announced that buyers in America will be able to pay for their cars in cryptocurrency.
Why did Ferrari choose this option? “Paying in cryptocurrency will help the Maranello-based manufacturer reach people who are not necessarily buyers of our brand, but who can afford a Ferrari,” said Enrico Galliera, director of sales and marketing at Ferrari.
Buying a car with cryptocurrency is not new, and Ferrari decided to make this move after customer demands. The Italian manufacturer of sports cars has reached an agreement with BitPay through which purchases of new Ferraris will be made in Bitcoins, Ethers or USDC.
BitPay will convert the payment into traditional currency at the time of transaction to avoid problems with exchange rate fluctuations. America will not be the only market where customers will have this option, as from next year, customers in Europe will also be able to do so.
Of course, Ferrari will not limit this payment option only to Europe and America, because soon customers in other markets will also be able to use it.
