One of the best Formula 1 drivers ever, Michael Schumacher, does not appear in public after the accident, and there is little information that reveals anything about his condition. He retired in 2006 from the sport, although he later made a brief return with Mercedes from 2010 to 2012. Now, one of the last cars he drove in his final season, the 2006 Ferrari 248 F1, is up for auction.
This 248 F1 is one of the eight cars that Ferrari produced for the 2006 season. It was used for the first time at the Imola Circuit, and with this car Schumacher won pole position and achieved his first of a total of five that season (San Marino, European, United States, French, and German Grands Prix) and three other places (Spain, Great Britain and Canada). After the Hungarian Grand Prix, the car was retired.
It is powered by a new 90-degree Type-056 2.4-liter V8 engine with around 730 hp (537 kW) mated to a seven-speed gearbox. It was the first V8 unit to power a Ferrari Grand Prix car since the Championship-winning 158 of 1964.
The car was bought from Ferrari by a private collector in December 2007 and remains in his collection to this day. It is in excellent condition and comes with a Ferrari Classiche certificate and was exhibited at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles in 2017 as part of the “Seeing Red: 70 years of Ferrari” exhibition. It was also used in several private tests on the Fiorano circuit.
This unquestionably one of the most successful Michael Schumacher-raced Ferraris of all-time, will be offered at an auction that will take place on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
The Ferrari F80 is a new supercar from the Maranello-based company that will be produced from the end of 2025 to 2027, and the price of each of the 799 examples is 3.6 million euros.
The F80 was created at the Ferrari Styling Center in Maranello and features retro headlights inspired by the Daytona model, rear wheel arches reminiscent of the F40, an asymmetric monocoque chassis made of carbon fiber and composite materials, while the roof is completely carbon. It is slightly lower than the LaFerrari and has active aerodynamics that make its rear unique.
Most of the aerodynamic solutions are taken from Formula 1. At the front, there are S-Duct channels that create 450 kg of downforce only on the front axle at a speed of 250 km/h. Thanks to an active wing and a massive 180 cm diffuser, the F80 creates 590 kg of downforce back, which is more than 1,000 kg in total at a speed of 250 km/h.
Inside, it has a traditional two-seat configuration and a driver-focused cockpit, which Ferrari says is the “1+” configuration. The control panel faces the driver, and he sits in a bright red sports adjustable seat, while the passenger’s seat is fixed.
Ferrari also offers active safety equipment such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, automatic high beams and a traffic sign recognition system.
The powertrain has undergone the biggest change. The V12 engine is no longer an option. It was replaced by a V6 twin-turbo engine paired with three electric motors with a total power of 1,200 hp (882 kW). It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.15 seconds with a top speed of more than 350 km/h (217 mph). Ignition and injection timing were modified and combustion chamber pressure was increased by 20 percent compared to the 296. Thanks to that, the V6 engine spins at a maximum of 9,000 rpm. The engine was mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which was specially calibrated to handle the additional pressure. The car sits on 20″ and 21″ wheels wrapped in 285/30 R20 front and 345/30 R21 rear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 or Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires.
There are two electric motors plus an inverter and an integrated cooling system on the front axle, while the third motor is located at the back. The two front motors enable torque distribution and can send up to 210 kW back to the front axle via regenerative braking. The rear-mounted electric motor powers the gasoline engine, recovering energy and adding torque when needed. It also provides more than 80 hp and can recover 70 kW of energy in regeneration mode. All three electric motors are connected to an 800-volt lithium-cell 2.3 kWh battery, and produce a total power of 330 hp.
The driver can choose between three modes: Hybrid, Performance and Qualify. There is no fully electric mode, but hybrid prioritizes energy recovery and battery charging, while Performance mode consumes more energy by keeping the battery at 70 percent charge. The Qualify mod unleashes the full power of the F80. There is also a new Boost Optimization technology that can be used in Performance and Qualify modes. After a test lap, Boost Optimization will recognize certain areas of the track where it can provide more power, and distribute the power in an optimal way.
The F80 has an active Multimatica suspension that ensures a stable aerodynamic platform. The CCM-R Plus brake technology, developed in cooperation with the Brembo company, is in charge of stopping. Advanced carbon brakes use longer fibers that improve mechanical strength over traditional carbon brakes by 100 percent, while improving thermal connectivity by 300 percent.
Mansory is one of the best tuners of luxury cars and supercars, and even the best sometimes make a mistake. That could be said of the company’s latest work based on the Ferrari Purosangue, the Mansory Pugnator.
In September 2022, Ferrari revealed its first SUV, the Purosangue, with which the Maranello-based company sought to attract first-time buyers and younger people. However, Mansory has focused its work more on those with deep pockets. The Pugnator (a name derived from the Latin word for “competitor”) is equipped with a Vermillion Red carbon fiber bodykit, which includes larger intakes on the front bumper that significantly increase downforce on the front axle, wheel arch extensions, fender vents, massive side grilles and fake rear door intakes. At the rear, there is a massive diffuser with four exhaust pipes, a rear grille and a massive rear wing. There are also plenty of fins, creases and air intakes, giving the Pugnator a muscular look.
The interior is upholstered in ivory leather with contrasting red details and carbon inserts. The seats, armrests and door panels have a new perforated pattern, while aluminum pedals, quilted floor mats and Mansory badging are fitted. Also, the tuner offers numerous customization options.
When it comes to the powertrain, Mansory increased the power of the naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine to 755 hp (555 kW) and 538 lb-ft (730 Nm) of torque by remapping the ECU unit, installing a new exhaust system with flap control and sports catalysts. That’s a significant increase in power compared to the Purosangue, which has 715 hp (526 kW) and 528 lb-ft (716 Nm) of torque. The car sits on new 22″ and 23″ FC.5 one-piece forged wheels wrapped in high-performance tires.
