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Rebuilt Ferrari Enzo sells for $1.75 million at auction

See this Ferrari Enzo? See how it's in one piece? Well it wasn't always. It was involved in a horrendous crash a decade ago that split it clear in half. But it's long-since been rebuilt and sold for $1.75 million at the RM Sotheby's sale in Paris on Wednesday. The supercar in question belonged to Silicon Valley tech exec Stefan Eriksson, who crashed it into a pole along the Pacific Coast Highway in 2006. The Enzo was split in half, with the cockpit and nose on one side of the highway and the engine with its subframe on the other. If it were any less valuable a car, it might have been a complete write-off. But as yesterday's sale attested, the Enzo was worth fixing. So it was sent back to the factory where it was repaired, refurbished to as-new condition, repainted from red over black to black over red, and certified by the manufacturer. It was one of the top lots at RM Sotheby's autction, but even at that price, it wasn't the top earner of the day. That honor went to a rare 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico, which sold for $3.3 million. Next up was a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder that went for $3.07 million, followed by a '57 BMW 507 Roadster for $2.25 million. The Enzo came in fifth. Oh, and that Delta Integrale we were pining after? It went for $150 grand. Shame we weren't there with cash in hand. Related Video:

What new F12 has Ferrari got in store for Frankfurt?

Ferrari is widely expected to be preparing a new version of the F12 Berlinetta to unveil at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. Assuming the anticipation doesn't prove futile, the question at this point is what that new variant will look like. At present, we're looking at two possibilities. One prospect would see the Prancing Horse marque present an updated version of the F12 to replace the existing model – much like the 488 GTB is replacing the 458 Italia, the California T replaced the previous California, or (perhaps more poignantly) the 575M supplanted the 550 Maranello. Ferrari has, after all, undertaken a pattern of updating its core models half-way through their eight-year life-cycles. The F12 was introduced in 2012, so a refresh for 2016 would be right on schedule. The other possibility, as Autocar asserts (and as we reported last month), would be to introduce a more potent model to slot in above (and alongside) the current F12. That would follow the pattern established by its predecessor, which yielded the hardcore 599 GTO to slot in above the 599 GTB Fiorano. Those latter three letters would be a more likely choice for the performance-focused F12 than the Speciale name that Autocar proposes and which was already used on the ultimate version of the naturally aspirated 458. Either way, we'll likely be looking at more power and less weight. The F12's 6.3-liter V12 currently produces 730 horsepower, and speculation has placed the new version's output anywhere between 760 and 800 hp. In any event, output will likely be enough to steal bragging rights away from the Lamborghini Aventador SV and its 740 horses. Just what form the revised engine will take remains a big question mark, but don't expect it to go turbo like the aforementioned 488 GTB and California T. Ferrari is anticipated to keep forced induction for its eight-cylinder models, and go with a hybrid boost for the twelves. The enhanced F12, then, could adopt an electrically boosted V12 like the one found in LaFerrari, or it could continue on unassisted for another four years until the model line is replaced entirely. One way or another, we're less than two months until showtime, so we'll find out soon enough.

Ferrari to reveal California-based 149M on February 12

The updated, turbocharged Ferrari California might be the Prancing Horse's worst-kept secret ever. The long-rumored car was spotted testing last summer at the Italian dreammaker's Fiorano test track with the unmistakable whistle of a forced-induction engine, and Ferrari is now teasing the reveal of its "149M Project" on February 12. Because that the original codename for the California was the F149, the new car is almost certainly the refreshed version.
The exact engine under the hood is still a mystery, but it is rumored to be a tuned version of the 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 found in the Maserati Quattroporte with 523 horsepower and 524 pound-feet of torque, an engine that is already a significant upgrade over the 483 hp and 372 lb-ft in the current California. Other reported upgrades suggest there is the possibility of revised exterior pieces to make the new model look more like the F12 Berlinetta, along with an improved interior featuring a more modern infotainment system. As expected, Ferrari has no plans to drop the California's retracting hardtop for the updated model.
While Ferrari will debut the new car on February 12, the public will probably not get its first chance to check out the brand's entry-level sports car until the Geneva Motor Show in March.