Sportscar racing

It was in 1952 that Mercedes-Benz returned to racing after the war, again with Alfred Neubauer as team manager. Their small and underpowered^{[citation needed]} gull-winged Mercedes-Benz 300SL, won several races in 1952 including the 24 hours of Le Mans, the Carrera Panamericana, and did well in other important races such as the Mille Miglia.

Mercedes-Benz was also dominant in sports racing cars during the 1950s. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR was derived from the W196 Formula One car for use in the 1955 World Sportscar Championship season. At Le Mans that year, a disaster occurred in which a Mercedes-Benz 300SLR collided with another car, killing more than eighty spectators. The team went on to win the two remaining races of the season, and won the Manufacturer's championship, but it had already been planned at the beginning of that year that the company would retire its teams at the end of the 1955 season.^[4] In fact in the aftermath of the Le Mans disaster, it would be several decades until Mercedes-Benz returned to front line motorsport.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mercedes returned to competition through the tuning company AMG (later to become a Mercedes-Benz subsidiary), which entered the big Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 V8 sedan in the Spa 24 Hours and the European Touring Car Championship.

In 1985 Mercedes-Benz returned to sports car racing, as an engine supplier for the Group C cars of the Sauber team. The first cars produced by this relationship, the Sauber C8 and C9 were not particularly successful until the C9 recorded a victory at the 1989 Le Mans race. After this watershed, Mercedes increased its involvement further,^{[citation needed]} and the next sportscar produced by the partnership was called the Mercedes-Benz C11, although the chassis was still built by Sauber. Mercedes-Benz enjoyed some success, but eventually withdraw from sportscar racing after a dismal 1991 season.

Mercedes-Benz returned to sportscar racing in 1997, with the CLK GTR which was entered in the new FIA GT Championship world championship series. The successor to this car, the CLR was a spectacular failure. It was entered in the 1999 Le Mans race, but a series of accidents involving the car flipping brought about the cancellation of the CLR project.

Touring cars

It was intended that Mercedes-Benz would enter rallying with the Mercedes-Benz W201 in the early 1980s.^{[citation needed]} Yet, as all wheel drive and turbochargers were introduced by the competition (Audi Quattro) at that time, this was cancelled. Instead the W201 ended up being used in the DTM touring car series from 1988, with the car again being prepared by AMG,^{[citation needed]} who became an official partner and continue to enter the new DTM to the present day. Mercedes currently competes in the new DTM championship.

Early history

The two companies which were merged to form the Mercedes-Benz brand in 1926 had both already enjoyed success in the new sport of motor racing throughout their separate histories. In fact both were entered into the very first automobile race Paris to Rouen 1894. The Mercedes Simplex of 1902, built by DMG, was Mercedes' first purpose built race car — much lower than their usual designs — which were similar to horse carriages; that model dominated racing for years. In 1914, just before the beginning of the First World War, the DMG Mercedes 35 hp won the French Grand Prix, finishing 1-2-3.^[1]

Karl Benz's company, Benz & Cie. built the "bird beaked", Blitzen Benz that set land speed records several times, reaching 228.1 km/h (141.7 mph) in 1911.^[2] That record gained that model the reputation of being faster than any other automobile — as well as any train or plane.^[2] They constructed many aerodynamically designed race cars.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. It is currently a division of the parent company, Daimler AG (formerly DaimlerChrysler AG), after previously being owned by Daimler-Benz. Mercedes-Benz has its origins in Karl Benz's creation of the first automobile in January 1886,^[1] and by Gottlieb Daimler and engineer Wilhelm Maybach's conversion of a carriage by the addition of a petrol engine the same year. The Mercedes automobile was first marketed in 1901 by Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft. The first Mercedes-Benz brand name vehicles were produced in 1926, following the merger of Karl Benz's and Gottlieb Daimler's companies into the Daimler-Benz company.^[1] Mercedes-Benz has introduced many technological and safety innovations that have become common in other vehicles several years later.

History

Weimar-era Württemberg coat of arms

Coat of arms of Stuttgart

Professor Ferdinand Porsche founded the company called "Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche GmbH" in 1930,^[10] with main offices at Kronenstraße 24 in the center of Stuttgart. Initially, the company offered motor vehicle development work and consulting^[10] but did not build any cars under its own name. One of the first assignments the new company received was from the German government to design a car for the people, a "Volkswagen" in German.^[10] This resulted in the Volkswagen Beetle, one of the most successful car designs of all time. The first Porsche, the Porsche 64, was developed in 1939 using many components from the Beetle.^[10]

During World War II,^[11] Volkswagen production turned to the military version of the Volkswagen Beetle, the Kübelwagen,^[11] 52,000 produced, and Schwimmwagen,^[11] 14,000 produced. Porsche produced several designs for heavy tanks during the war, losing out to Henschel & Son in both contracts that ultimately led to the Tiger I and the Tiger II. However, not all this work was wasted, as the chassis Porsche designed for the Tiger I was used as the base for the Elefant tank destroyer. Porsche also developed the Maus super-heavy tank in the closing stages of the war, producing two prototypes.^{[citation needed]}

At the end of WW2 in 1945, the Volkswagen factory fell to the British. Ferdinand lost his position as Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen, and a British Army Major - Ivan Hirst was put in charge of the factory. (In Wolfsburg, the VW company magazine dubbed him "The British Major who Saved Volkswagen."^[12]) On 15 December of that year, Ferdinand was arrested for war crimes, but not tried. During his 20-month imprisonment, Ferdinand Porsche's son, Ferry Porsche, decided to build his own car because he could not find an existing one that he wanted to buy. He also had to steer the company through some of its most difficult days until his father's release in August 1947.^[13] The first models of what was to become the 356 were built in a small sawmill in Gmünd, Austria.^[13] The prototype car was shown to German auto dealers, and when pre-orders reached a set threshold, production was begun. Many regard the 356 as the first Porsche simply because it was the first model sold by the fledgling company. Porsche commissioned Zuffenhausen-based company Reutter Carosseri, which had previously collaborated with the firm on Volkswagen Beetle prototypes, to produce the 356's steel body. In 1952, Porsche constructed an assembly plant (Werk2) across the street from Reutter Carosseri; the main road in front of Werk1, the oldest Porsche building is now known as Porschestrasse.^[14] The 356 was road certified in 1948.

Porsche’s company logo was based on the coat of arms of Free People's State of Württemberg of former Weimar Germany, which had Stuttgart as its capital and became part of Baden-Württemberg after the political consolidation of West Germany in 1949.

Not long afterwards, on 30 January 1951, Ferdinand Porsche died from complications following a stroke.

In post-war Germany, parts were generally in short supply, so the 356 automobile used components from the Volkswagen Beetle including its engine, gearbox, and suspension. The 356, however, had several evolutionary stages, A, B, and C, while in production and many Volkswagen parts were replaced by Porsche-made parts. The last 356s were powered by entirely Porsche-designed engines. The sleek bodywork was designed by Erwin Komenda who also had designed the body of the Beetle. Porsche's signature designs have, from the beginning, featured air-cooled rear-engine configurations (like the Beetle), rare for other car manufacturers, but producing automobiles that are very well balanced.

In 1964, after some success in motor-racing, namely with the Porsche 550 Spyder, the company launched the Porsche 911 another air-cooled, rear-engined sports car, this time with a 6-cylinder "boxer" engine. The team to lay out the body shell design was led by Ferry Porsche's eldest son, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (F. A.). The design phase for the 911 caused internal problems with Erwin Komenda who led the body design department until then. F. A. Porsche complained Komenda made changes to the design not being approved by him. Company leader Ferry Porsche took his son's drawings to neighbouring body shell manufacturer Reuter bringing the design to the 1963 state. Reuter's workshop was later acquired by Porsche (so-called Werk II). Afterward Reuter became a seat manufacturer, today known as Keiper-Recaro.

The design group gave sequential numbers to every project (356, 550, etc.) but the designated 901 nomenclature contravened Peugeot's trademarks on all 'x0x' names, so it was adjusted to 911. Racing models adhered to the "correct" numbering sequence: 904, 906, 908. The 911 has become Porsche's most well-known and iconic model - successful on the race-track, in rallies, and in terms of sales. Far more than any other model, the Porsche brand is defined by the 911. It remains in production; however, after several generations of revision, current-model 911s share only the basic mechanical concept of a rear-engined, six-cylinder coupe, and basic styling cues with the original car. A cost-reduced model with the same body, but 356-derived running gear (including its four-cylinder engine), was sold as the 912.

Reputation of PORCHE

In a May 2006 survey, Porsche was awarded the title of the most prestigious automobile brand by Luxury Institute, New York; it questioned more than 500 households with a gross annual income of at least US $200,000 and a net worth of at least US $720,000.^[2] The current Porsche lineup includes sports cars from the Boxster roadster to their most famous product, the 911. The Cayman is a hard top car similar to the Boxster in a slightly higher price range. The Cayenne is Porsche's mid-size luxury SUV. The Carrera GT was phased out in May 2006. A high performance luxury saloon/sedan, the Panamera, was launched on Monday, 20 April 2009.

Porsche was awarded the 2006 J.D. Power and Associates award for the highest-ranked nameplate in its Initial Quality Study (IQS) of automobile brands.^[3]

As a company, Porsche is known for weathering changing market conditions with great financial stability, while retaining most production in Germany during an age when most other German car manufacturers have moved at least parts of their production to Eastern Europe or overseas.^{[citation needed]} The headquarters and main factory are still in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, but the Cayenne (and formerly the Carrera GT) is manufactured in Leipzig, Germany, parts^[4] for the SUV are assembled also in Bratislava, Slovakia. Most Boxster and Cayman production is outsourced to Valmet Automotive in Finland until 2012.^[5] The company has been highly successful in recent times, and indeed claims to have the highest profit per unit sold of any car company in the world.^[6]

Porsche has for many years offered consultancy services to various other car manufacturers. Audi, Studebaker, SEAT, Daewoo, Subaru, and Yugo have consulted Porsche on engineering for their cars or engines. The Lada Samara^[7] was partly developed by Porsche in 1984. Porsche also helped Harley-Davidson design their new Evolution water cooled engine that is used in their V-Rod motorcycle, as Porsche had previous experience switching from air-cooling to water cooling

Porsche SE or Porsche (pronounced /ˈpɔrʃə/) is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury high performance automobiles, which is majority-owned by the Piëch and Porsche families. Porsche SE holds two chief assets, the first of which is Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (which stands for Doktor Ingenieur honoris causa Ferdinand Porsche Aktiengesellschaft), often shortened to Porsche AG, manufacturer of the Porsche automobile line. The second asset is a majority stake in Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG), the largest car manufacturer in Europe, and the third largest in the world. The company is headquartered in Zuffenhausen, a city district of Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg.

It was founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche, an Austro-Hungarian engineer born in Maffersdorf, Austria-Hungary (today Vratislavice, Czech Republic). Porsche is also known for designing the first Volkswagen, but Béla Barényi is credited with having conceived the basic design five years earlier.^[1] The company currently produces 911 (997), Boxster and Cayman sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles. The latest model line, the four-door Panamera saloon (sedan), was launched on Monday, 20 April 2009.

Z9 Gran Turismo Coupé

The lines of the Z9's exterior design are clean, simple, yet dramatic, with a long, sleek bonnet and short, muscular tail. At the front is the unmistakable BMW kidney grille and from the side, the huge wheels - 20 inch at the front and 21 at the rear - and high waist give the car real presence. An aluminium space frame gives the monocoque chassis excellent torsional rigidity and crash performance, while carbon fibre bodywork combines great strength and light weight.The Z9 is large car, five metres long and two metres wide with a 3.1 metre wheelbase. Access to the interior is via two full-length gullwing doors, which open automatically at the press of a button.
Cleverly, conventional doors are designed into each "wing" for use when space does not allow the gullwings to be used.Once inside, the lines of the cabin are clean and simple and the ambience extremely light and airy Most noticeable is the lack of switchgear. All the secondary controls are operated by a single rotary/push unit on the centre console and four buttons to select "audio", "communications", "comfort" and "drive".A large screen in the centre of the dashboard displays all the information the driver requires in a simple graphic display, apart from the speedometer and rev counter which are conventional analogue instruments directly in front of the driver.
The only other driver controls in the cabin are a starter button on the dashboard, and gear selection and indicator stalks on the steering column.Power comes from the world's first V8 turbo diesel, which featured for the first time in the 740d when it was launched earlier this year in Germany to wide critical acclaim. It is a common rail, direct injection unit which produces more torque than any engine in BMW's history. Peak torque is a staggering 413 lb ft (560 Nm), which is maintained constantly between 1750 and 2500 rpm to give outstanding performance even at this low end of the rev range. Maximum power is an impressive 245 bhp. Choosing a diesel engine to power a large sports coupé is a reflection of BMW's confidence in the refinement and performance characteristics of this ground-breaking unit.

BMW Concept Cars

BMW enginers are working very hard on the future concept cars as it can be clearly be seen in these pics

Overseas subsidiaries

South Africa

BMWs have been assembled in South Africa since 1970, when Praetor Monteerders' plant was opened in Rosslyn, near Pretoria. BMW acquired the company in 1973, which became BMW South Africa, the first wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW to be established outside Germany. Three unique models that BMW Motorsport created for the South African market were the BMW 333i, which added a 6-cylinder 3.2 litre engine to the BMW 3 Series,^[21] the BMW 325is which was powered by an Alpina derived 2.7 litre engine, and the E23 M745i, which used the engine from the BMW M1.

Unlike U.S. manufacturers, such as Ford and GM, which divested from the country in the 1980s, BMW retained full ownership of its operations in South Africa.

Following the end of apartheid in 1994, and the lowering of import tariffs, BMW South Africa ended local production of the 5-Series and 7-Series, in order to concentrate on production of the 3-Series for the export market. South African-built BMWs are now exported to right hand drive markets including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Hong Kong, as well as Sub-Saharan Africa. Since 1997, BMW South Africa has produced vehicles in left hand drive for export to Taiwan, the United States and Iran, as well as South America.

BMW's with a VIN number starting with "NC0" are manufactured in South Africa.

United States

BMW Manufacturing Co has been manufacturing the X5 and, more recently, the X6 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA.^[22] The smaller X3 is slated to begin production in Spartanburg in 2009-2010.

BMW's with a VIN number starting with "4US" are manufactured in Spartanburg.

India

BMW established in 2006 a sales subsidiary in Gurgaon (National Capital Region) and a state-of-the-art assembly plant for BMW 3 and 5 Series started operation in early 2007 in Chennai. The construction of the plant started in January 2006 with an initial investment of more than one billion Indian Rupees. The plant started fullfledged operation in the first quarter of 2007 and produces the different variants of BMW 3 Series and BMW 5 Series.^[23 China

In May 2004 BMW opened a factory in Shenyang, north-east China, in a joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive.^[24] The factory is expected to produce 30,000 3 and 5 Series annually. BMW also has plans for a 2nd factory in China where the 1 Series will be produced.^[25]

Canada

In October 2008, BMW Group Canada was named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc., which was announced by the Toronto Star newspaper.^[26]

Austria

The BMW X3 is made by Magna Steyr, a subsidiary of a Canadian company, in Graz, Austria under license from BMW.

Large-scale production models

BMW New Class

The New Class (German: Neue Klasse) was a line of compact sedans and coupes starting with the 1962 1500 and continuing through the last 2002s in 1977.

Powered by BMW's celebrated four-cylinder M10 engine, the New Class models featured a fully independent suspension, MacPherson struts in front, and front disc brakes. Initially a family of four-door sedans and two-door coupes, the New Class line was broadened to two-door sports sedans with the addition of the 02 Series 1600 and 2002 in 1966.

Sharing little in common with the rest the line beyond power train, the sporty siblings caught auto enthusiasts' attention and established BMW as an international brand. Precursors to the famed BMW 3 Series, the two-doors' success cemented the firm's future as an upper tier performance car maker.

New Class four-doors with numbers ending in "0" were replaced by the larger BMW 5 Series in 1972. The upscale 2000C and 2000CS coupes were replaced by the six-cylinder BMW E9, introduced in 1969 with the 2800CS. The 1600 two-door was discontinued in 1975, the 2002 replaced by the 320i in 1975.

Established in 1913, the BMW Company has touched the height of success with immense accomplishment. BMW, which stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke or Bavarian Motor Company, was based in Munich, Germany. BMW is also the parent firm of MINI and Rolls-Royce car brands. Undoubtedly, the blue and white BMW logo is a fundamental ingredient for the company’s prosperous attitude. The BMW logo has been minutely altered through the years but still continues to compel a strong corporate image.

As the company started as an aero engine manufacturer, it adopted the stylized demonstration of airplane propeller whirling by the plain blue sky. The BMW logo encompasses the four quadrants of blue and white shade. The logo design represents the white propeller blade against the blue sky, which depicts the company as the manufacturer of military aircraft engines during World War I.

Color of BMW Logo:

BMW logo comprises of strong colors, casting a great impression on the spectator about the firm. Blue, black and white hues compliment to form such a logo that defines the chic character of the firm which cannot be described in words. The quarters of the BMW logo are shaded as white and blue whereas the thick ring is colored in the black shade projecting powerful nature of the firm.

Ferrari F60

Scuderia Ferrari joined the Formula One World Championship in the first year of its existence,in 1950. José Froilán González gave the team its first victory at the 1951 British Grand Prix.

Alberto Ascari gave Ferrari its first Drivers Championship a year later. Ferrari is the oldest team left in the championship, not to mention the most successful: the team holds nearly every Formula One record. As of 2008^[update], the team's records include 15 World Drivers Championship titles (1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007) 16 World Constructors Championship titles 1961, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008, 209 Grand Prix victories, 4925.27 points, 622 podium finishes, 203 pole positions, and 218 fastest laps in 776 Grands Prix contested.

Notable Ferrari drivers include Tazio Nuvolari, José Froilán González, Juan Manuel Fangio, Luigi Chinetti, Alberto Ascari, Wolfgang von Trips, Phil Hill, Olivier Gendebien, Mike Hawthorn, Peter Collins, Giancarlo Baghetti, John Surtees, Lorenzo Bandini, Ludovico Scarfiotti, Jacky Ickx, Mario Andretti, Clay Regazzoni, Niki Lauda, Carlos Reutemann, Jody Scheckter, Gilles Villeneuve, Didier Pironi, Patrick Tambay,Rene Arnoux,Michele Alboreto, Gerhard Berger, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Jean Alesi, Eddie Irvine, Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa.

The Scuderia Ferrari drivers for the 2006 F1 season were Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa. At the end of the 2006 season the team courted controversy by continuing to allow Marlboro to sponsor them after they, along with the other F1 teams, made a promise to end sponsorship deals with tobacco manufacturers. A five year deal was agreed and although this is not due to end until 2011, in April 2008 Marlboro dropped their on-car branding on Ferrari.

The drivers competing for 2008 were Felipe Massa and defending champion Kimi Räikkönen (both retained from 2007). Massa finished the season as runner-up to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton by one point, with Räikkönen third. Massa and Räikkönen have again been signed by Ferrari for the 2009 season to compete in the new Ferrari F60.

Maserati Birdcage

The Maserati Birdcage 75th is a concept car created by automobile manufacturer Maserati and designed by Pininfarina. It was first introduced at the 2005 Geneva Auto Show. It draws inspiration from the Maserati Tipo Birdcages of the 1960s and was made as a celebration of Pininfarina's 75th anniversary.^[21] It is an evolution of the Enzo's MC12 cousin

Maserati MC12

The Maserati MC12 is a mid-engined sports car derivative of the Enzo Ferrari developed by Maserati while under control of Ferrari. It was developed specifically to be homologated for racing in the FIA GT Championship, with a minimum requirement of 25 road versions to be produced before the car could be allowed to compete. Maserati built 50 units, all of which were presold to selected customers. A further variation, the MC12 Corsa is a track day car, similar to the Ferrari FXX.

The Maserati MC12 has the same engine, chassis and gearbox as the Enzo but the only externally visible component from the Enzo is the windshield.^[17][18] The MC12 is slower accelerating (0-100 km/h in 3.8 s) and has a lower top speed (330 km/h) than the Enzo due to engine tuning.^[19] However, the MC12 has lapped race tracks faster than the Enzo before, specifically on the UK motoring show Top Gear, and the Nurburgring Nordschleife. However this could be attributed to the MC12's Pirelli PZero Corsa tires which have more grip than the Enzo's Bridgestone Scuderias.^[20]

Pininfarina had wanted to do a special one-off Enzo-based hyper-car and was looking for a backer. After sending out feelers to its clients, American Ferrari collector, James Glickenhaus eventually agreed to back the project by commissioning the car as a modern homage to great Ferrari sports racing cars such as the 330 P3/4, 512 S, 312 P, and 333 SP on the last unregistered U.S.-spec Enzo chassis.^[13] The car was dubbed the Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina,^[14] and retains the Enzo's drivetrain and vehicle identification number.^[15] The car was unveiled at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and appeared in the September issue of Car and Driver. The "photos" previously shown in AutoWeek and Octane were not close to what the car looks like. After its unveiling at Pebble Beach, the P4/5 returned to Europe for high speed testing, press days, and an appearance at the Paris Auto Show in September.

Upon seeing P 4/5, Luca di Montezemolo felt that the car deserved to be officially badged as a Ferrari and along with Andrea Pininfarina and James Glickenhaus agreed that its official name would be "Ferrari P 4/5 by Pininfarina". Ted West wrote an article in Car and Driver about how this came to be: "The Beast of Turin".^[16

Enzo Based Cars(Ferrari FXX)

As the result of the Enzo, Ferrari has decided to use some of the technology developed for it in a small-scale program to get more feedback from certain customers for use in future car design as well as their racing program. The core of this program is a car called the Ferrari FXX. It is loosely based on the Enzo's design with a highly-tuned 6.3 litre version of the Enzo's engine putting out roughly 588 kW (800 hp/800 PS). The gearbox is new as well as the tires (custom-designed for this car by Bridgestone) and the brakes (developed by Brembo). In addition, the car is fitted with extensive data-recording and telemetry systems to allow Ferrari to record the car's behavior. This information will be used by Ferrari to develop their next sports car. Also the Enzo Ferrari's engine is used in the Maserati MC-12.

Like the Enzo, the car was sold to specially selected existing clients of Ferrari only; the initial price was €1.3 million. Unlike the Enzo, the clients did not take delivery of the car themselves. Rather, it is maintained by Ferrari and available for the client's use on various circuits as arranged by Ferrari and also during private track sessions. The car is not expected to be street-legal or suitable for road use.

The Ferrari FXX program will continue until 2008/2009 with the Ferrari FXX Evoluźione. The car will continue to be improved under the Evolution kit, which will continually adjust specifics to create more power, change gearing, and remove drag. The 6262 cc V12 engine will be pushing out 860 PS (848 hp/633 kW) at 9500 rpm. There will be gearbox changes so that shift time will be reduced to 60 milliseconds per shift, a reduction of 20 milliseconds. The car will also undergo aerodynamic changes and improvements to the traction control system. Its top speed is 227 mph.^{[citation needed]}

The Enzo can accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.14 seconds^[10] and can reach 100 mph (160 km/h) in 6.6 seconds.^[6] The ¼ mile (~400 m) time is from 10.8 to 11.2 sec at well over 130 mph (210 km/h) and the top speed is around 355 kilometers per hour (221 mph).^[11] It is rated at 12 miles per US gallon (20 L/100 km; 14 mpg_-imp) in the city and 18 miles per US gallon (13 L/100 km; 22 mpg_-imp) on the highway.

Despite the Enzo's extraordinary performance and price, the Ferrari 430 Scuderia (an improved version of Ferrari's current mid-range production car) is capable of lapping the Ferrari test track just as quickly as the Enzo.^[12]

Evo magazine tested the Enzo on the famed Nordschleife Circuit and ran a 7:25.21 lap time

The Enzo is a mid-engined car with a 43.9/56.1 front/rear weight distribution. The engine is Ferrari's F140 65° V12 with 4 valves per cylinder, dual overhead cams and variable valve timing. Bosch Motronic ME7 fuel injection is used and the engine is naturally aspirated. It displaces 5998 cc (366 in³) and produces 485 kW (651 hp/660 PS) at 7800 rpm and 657 N·m (485 [ft·lbf of torque]) at 5500 rpm.^[6] The redline is 8200 rpm. The Ferrari Enzo gets 15 MPG's, while in comparsion the mclaren F1 gets 6 MPG's.^[7]

Chassis

The Enzo has a semi-automatic transmission (also known as the F1 gearbox) using paddles to control an automated shifting and clutch mechanism, with LED lights on the steering wheel telling the driver when to change gears. The gearbox has a shift time of just 150 milliseconds. The transmission was a first generation "clutchless" design from the late 1990s, and there have been complaints about its abrupt shifting.^[6][8]

The Enzo Ferrari has 4 wheel independent suspension with push-rod actuated shock absorbers which can be adjusted from the cabin, complemented with anti-roll bars at the front and rear.^[9]

The Enzo uses 483-millimetre (19 in) wheels and has 381-millimetre (15 in) Brembo disc brakes.

Gear	1	2	3	4	5	6	Final Drive
Ratio	3.15:1	2.18:1	1.57:1	1.19:1	0.94:1	0.76:1	4.1:1

The Enzo was initially announced at the 2002 Paris Motor Show with a limited production run of 349 units and priced at US $643,330. The company sent invitations to existing customers, specifically, those who had previously bought the Ferrari F40 and Ferrari F50. All 349 cars were sold in this way before production began. Later, after numerous requests, Ferrari decided to build 50 more Enzos, bringing the total to 399. Before being unveiled at the Paris Motor show, the Enzo (that was used in the show) was flown from Italy to California to be filmed in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. It was driven on a beach by actress Demi Moore. After filming was complete, the Enzo was flown to France to be in the Motor Show.^[3] Enzos are listed as being built in 2003.

Ferrari built one more Enzo - the 400th car - and it was auctioned by Sotheby's Maranello Auction on June 28, 2005, to benefit survivors of the 2004 Tsunami for €950,000 (US$1,274,229), almost twice its list price. This sum was presented to Pope Benedict XVI, while former Ferrari Formula One driver Michael Schumacher gave the pope a steering wheel to commemorate the donation. This wheel included a plaque which read, "The Formula 1 World Champion's steering wheel to His Holiness Benedict XVI, Catholicism's driver."

The Enzo Ferrari typically trades above $1,000,000 (£500,000) at auction.^[4]

Three prototype "mules" were built, M1, M2, and M3. Each was bodied to look like a 348, even though the mules were built in 2000. The third mule was offered for auction alongside the 400th Enzo in June, 2005, bringing €195,500 (US$236,300).^[5]

Ferrari Enzo

The Enzo Ferrari is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It is currently one of the most powerful naturally aspirated production cars.^{[citation needed]} It was built in 2002 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, and Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic composite disc brakes. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics and traction control. After a downforce of 775 kg (1,709 lb) is reached at 348.8 km/h (217 mph) the rear wing is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.

The Enzo's V12 engine is the first of a new generation for Ferrari. It is based on the architecture of the V8 found in sister-company Maserati's Quattroporte, using the same basic architecture and 104 mm (4.1 in) bore spacing. This design will replace the former architectures seen in V12 and V8 engines used in most other contemporary Ferraris. The 2005 F430 is the second Ferrari to get a version of this new powerplant.

In 2004, Sports Car International named the Enzo Ferrari number three on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 2000s

Ferrari 206

Often incorrectly referred to as the "Ferrari Dino", the 206 was actually badged as a stand-alone make "Dino", a kind of junior Ferrari. Launched in 1967, the Dino heralded a new family of smaller, lighter cars produced by the Maranello concern.

Power for the new car came from a mid-mounted, 1987cc V6, driving via a 5 speed transaxle held in place with independent, coil suspension. Early Dino coachwork consisted of an Aluminum, 2 seater fixed coupe style, only available as lhd to start with. Eventually the Dino 206 was replaced by a more powerful 246 version in 1969

Partnership with Shell

Ferrari has had a long standing relationship with Shell Oil. It is a technical partnership with Ferrari and Ducati to test as well as supply fuel and oils to the Formula One, MotoGP and World Superbike racing teams. For example, the Shell V-Power premium gasoline fuel has been developed with the many years of technical expertise between Shell and Ferrari. ^[4]

The prancing horse logo of this leading Italian car manufacturer has long been recognized throughout the industrialized world, with victories in countless automobile racing championships culminating with successive victories in the Formula 1 Championship in the early 21st century. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in Modena for the production of sports cars, the company's cars have subsequently exuded style and eroticism, commencing with the Type 125 of 1947. Amongst the eminent designers who worked for Ferrari were Bertone, who designed the Dino 308 GT4, and Pininfarina, whose work for the company included the GTB4 Daytona of 1968, the exuberant Testarossa of 1984, the 328 GTB of 1985, and the Mythos of 1989. Other designers who helped to sustain the Ferrari aura of luxury included Iosa Ghini, who designed showrooms for the company in 1994.

Why FERRARI Inspire Most

There is an almost magic attraction elicited by the names of certain makes of car. That attraction reaches deep inside the psyche of the automotive enthusiast. Everyone seems to have a favorite make of automobile. And it is undeniable that some marques command an intense loyalty among a very broad base of fans. One of the most intense and vocal fan bases, as well as one of the broadest, is the one found hovering, almost reverently, over the name, Ferrari.

There are innumerable reasons why Ferrari inspires such a broad and almost rabid fan base. The company's history, the man who started it all, and the longevity of this marque's influence on the motoring as well as the racing world, all play a part in the mystique that surrounds this company's name.

The history of Ferrari is storied and proud. Some American companies have definitely appeared envious of this heritage. So envious were some, they tried to buy the Italian company for their own. While Ferrari ultimately balked rather demonstratively at the idea of an outright purchase by an American company, Ferrari has a history of financial and other relationships with automakers and companies related to the automotive world. The most influential of these include Fiat, which currently owns Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Shell Petroleum, Pirelli, and others. Ferrari continues in many of these very successful relationships today.

The man who started it all, Enzo Ferrari, was remarkable. He stands as an icon in the automotive world. And the racing record of his cars is so long and studded with accomplishments, that it is little wonder some people equate the name with racing, itself.

During some periods, Ferrari seems to own the Formula One World Championship series. The present time is an excellent example of this. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have the best drivers. But why do the best drivers always seem to want to find a ride in Ferrari cars? Among other reasons, it's because they have a well-developed habit of winning.

Born before the turn of the last century, in 1898, Enzo Ferrari lived in an entirely different world than exists today. Over a century later, we take for granted things like the almost natural feeling of cruising in an automobile at 75 to 100mph. When Enzo was 20 years old, in 1918, a prosperous and growing automaker had just begun to brag that it had made the very first 100mph Packard automobile