Autoblog UK

Ferrari's most powerful and fastest model to date was named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. This supercar was designed by Pininfarina and is one of the world's most powerful vehicles. The Enzo was originally going to be limited to a production run of 349. Ferrari sent out a prospectus to existing customers and all 349 cars were sold before manufacture began. A while later, after receiving many requests, Ferrari decided to build another 50 models, bringing the total number of cars produced to 399.

Ferrari Enzo
350 km/h
660 horsepower

Autoblog's James Baggott reports from the Frankfurt Motor Show

FORMULA 1 legend Michael Schumacher has revealed the new 458 Italia is quicker around Ferrari's Fiorana test track than the legendary Enzo!

The seven times World Champion was on the Ferrari stand to help unveil the 458 supercar at Frankfurt and told press he was 'astonished' at what had been achieved with the new car.

Schumacher said: 'Our points of reference for this car have been very high, those being the cars that have gone before it.

'With the 458 we have achieved targets that as a former F1 driver I never thought we could achieve. That it is quicker than the Enzo around Fiorana says a lot.

'I thoroughly enjoy my development role for Ferrari in my retirement and am looking forward to the future developing even more cars.'

The 458 Italia is the successor to the F430 and is available to order now. It is set to go head to head with the McLaren MP4-12C road car in what is likely to be the most exciting supercar battle in decades.

It's a dream come true for Giancarlo Fisichella. With immediate effect, he will be Ferrari's number two driver and his first race for Scuderia Ferrari will be at, of all places, the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in his native country Italy. After days of speculation, the issue has finally been clarified as to who will stand in for the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari, after the two poor showings by Luca Badoer in Valencia and at Spa-Francorchamps.

It has been Fisichella's long-held dream since 1996, beginning with Minardi, then Jordan and Benetton, back to Jordan, then to Sauber, Renault and finally Force India. His sensational second place in last Sunday's Belgium Grand Prix was probably the clincher for the Ferrari bosses; to give the number two driving spot to the father of two until the end of the season. 36-year-old Fisichella will contest his 225th Grand Prix in Monza – and it will surely be a very special race for him. After driving for Ferrari in the remaining five races this season, Fisichella will be their official reserve driver in 2010.

First it was Michael Schumacher, then Luca Badoer, now it looks as though there could be another face about to line up on the F1 grid - Sebastien Loeb.

Ok, so Schumacher and Badoer had their F1 returns thrust upon them after the unfortunate injury to Ferrari's Felipe Massa but the appearance of the reigning World Rally Champion in an F1 car at the end of the season and possibly into next year has already drawn mixed responses from within the sport and beyond

The new Ferrari 458, also known by its pretty epithet 'Italia', looks very tasty indeed. The V8 engine is so delectable, the designers decided to encase it under a glass lid. The figures trip off the tongue: 570 horsepower, a top speed of 201mph (325 km/h) and 0 - 62 mph in 3.4 seconds. Three gargantuan exhaust pipes make the rear end truly eye-catching. Michael Schumacher was involved in the development of the super sports car. One technical marvel: the 458 Italia takes a mere 60 milliseconds for a gear change.



Top 10 preview IAA Frankfurt: Aston Martin Rapide, Audi A5 Sportback, BMW X1

The bubble of hysteria surrounding the comeback of ex-champion Michael Schumacher has burst. The record title holder has had to abandon his planned return to the Formula One circus for health reasons. Because of an injury to his neck sustained in a serious motorbike accident last February, the F1 veteran is not fit enough to face the physical challenge posed by the GP race in Valencia on 23rd August. "I've done absolutely everything I can to prepare myself for this temporary return, but I regret to say that it just hasn't worked out," wrote Schumacher on his website.

So his successors in the top flight of motor racing will not be getting the opportunity to measure themselves against the legendary figure. And Formula One itself will now miss out on bumper business with the withdrawal of this major attraction. Manager Weber had been planning a new series of fan articles and the race venues were hoping for massive spectator turnout.

The successor to the F430 is already in the starting blocks. Christened the 458 Italia, this latest model is obviously going to be even snazzier, faster and stronger. The scarlet racer makes its world debut at the Frankfurt Automesse IIA due to take place between 17th and 27th September.

Record F1 championship winner Michael Schumacher is said to have had a hand in its design, incorporating years of experience gathered in Formula One racing. The steering wheel for the 458 Italia, for example, clearly shows its origins. The front of the vehicle has an aperture for the grille and air intakes on either side. Additional downforce is generated by the mini-wings on the bonnet which deform at higher speeds in order to reduce air resistance. The 458 Italia's engine is the first ever V8 to emerge from Maranello with direct injection. The output is a magnificent 570 horsepower at 9,000 revs – a good 80 more than its predecessor.

Motorsport-Magazin.com, Germany: "The return of the year"

Corriere dello Sport, Italy: "Schumi on the way back! Ferrari calls and he comes running. What a cracker!"

La Gazzetta dello Sport, Italy: "Sensational comeback. Formula One's golden couple reunited. Celebration - the greatest champion of all times is back again."

La Repubblica, Italy: "After three years of deceptive calm, the racing demon returns. He is risking everything, but it's a gift for Formula One."

El País, Spain: "The greatest of them all makes his comeback."

El Mundo, Spain: "The grand old master says yes."

Marca, Spain: "Return of a legend. Valencia hits the jackpot."

As, Spain: "People come, people go. While BMW are withdrawing from Formula One, Michael Schumacher is making his comeback."

Sport, Spain: "The Emperor returns"

Daily Mail, UK: "Schumacher on a lap of honour"

Sun, UK: "Return of the Grand Prix superstar: The Schu goes on."

Independent, UK: "For Formula One, there has only ever been one unassailable pillar of certainty. His name was Michael Schumacher."

Following his serious accident in Hungary, Felipe Massa is expected to be discharged from hospital relatively soon. The Brazilian Formula One star is unable to remember what happened but is said to be making good progress. The senior doctor at the hospital in Budapest has suggested that Massa may be fit enough to go home in just over a week. He has made good progress so far and is already able to formulate full sentences. During Saturday's qualifying session for the Hungarian GP, Massa smashed into a tyre wall at a speed of 120mph (190km/h). This was immediately after being struck on his helmet by a steel spring weighing 800 grams.

The Nürburgring now boasts yet another attraction: last weekend, the first Ferrari Store in Germany was duly opened by the team's star drivers Felipe Masse and Kimi Räikkönen in the run-up to the Formula One GP. Visitors to the shop are obviously in for a red-carpet reception. This retail outlet for Ferrari fans is the tenth of its kind around the world. The first three shops were located in the prestige marque's mother country of Italy (Milan, Rome and Venice). Other prime sites in Europe are London and Barcelona, with a couple more branches in the States (Miami and San Francisco). The Nürburgring is the third in a tranche of new stores that has also included Macao and Abu Dhabi. You can see pictures of the ceremony in the gallery below.