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1964 Ferrari 250 LM expected to net $12-15 million at RM's NY auction

If you're one of the very fortunate souls that has $12 to $15 million burning a very large hole in your pocket, we've found the perfect way to liberate yourself from the burden of so much money - buy this Ferrari, which is being put up for auction. It's a supremely rare Ferrari 250 LM, the 24th member of a 32-car run, that rolled off the assembly line on what we imagine was a brilliant, sunny Italian summer's day in July of 1964.
Officially known as Chassis 6107, this 250 LM is rare because unlike its brothers, it wasn't originally bought to be a race car. Its first owner used it more or less as a toy, both around town and on the infamous Mulholland Drive, in California. After a pair of owners, it found its way into the hands of an Ecuadorian pair, who kicked off its racing career. Its best result was at the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona, where it finished eighth overall and first in class, although subsequent runs at Daytona and Sebring were less successful. Its most recent owner was a Japanese collector, who purchased the car in 1983 and has had it on display ever since.

Alfa Romeo considering Ferrari-developed engines for new product lineup

A report in Bloomberg adds more details to the plans for Alfa Romeo's fourth turnaround plan in Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne's tenure, and this time Ferrari is apparently going to be part of the show. In December Automotive News Europe reported that a new Maserati-derived rear-drive architecture would be the centerpiece at Alfa Romeo, as well as coming Chrysler and Dodge products. At the time, ANE said the platform would support a new midsize sedan and wagon perhaps to be called Giulia, a fullsize sedan and a midsize crossover, with retail appearance of the product initiative commencing perhaps as soon as next year. It would be part of Fiat's $12.3-billion spend on new models and European recovery.
The Bloomberg report says that particulars haven't been finalized, but the plan is to have six new Alfas appear over the next five years, two of which would be SUVs. The futures of the Mito and Giulietta, two of the three cars Alfa currently sells and 99 percent of sales last year, aren't assured, meaning that the lineup in six years could be seven cars (including the 4C), six of which we haven't any definitive clue of yet. The top-tier versions of those cars, according to the report - perhaps the Quadrifoglio Verde - "will be equipped with motors developed by Ferrari."
Marchionne wants to get sales up to 300,000 units per year when the lineup is complete, pairing Alfa sales with Jeep's global dealer network to open up the retail channel. That kind of volume would get Fiat's Italian plants back in business properly, even though Marchionne's stance on Italy-only Alfa production would mean the end of the anticipated roadster that was to be twinned with the coming Mazda MX-5 Miata. Alfa's direction will be laid out in Detroit in May as part of the overall strategy presentation for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV.

Ferrari 488 GTB challenges that whole 'no replacement for displacement' thing [w/video]

You can't stand in the way of progress, even if you wanted to. And the current state of affairs in the automobile industry has everyone reaching for turbochargers. That includes even a company as famous for its wailing, high-revving supercars as Ferrari. The Prancing Horse marque has galloped in to the Geneva Motor Show this year on the back of the new 488 GTB. Replacing the 458 with its atmospheric 4.5-liter V8, the new 488 GTB packs a downsized turbo eight that may be smaller at 3.9 liters, but doesn't skimp on the power – now producing 661 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque to trump even the ultimate 458 Speciale. Compared to the new McLaren 675LT, the 488 packs almost as many horses but even more torque, and goes well beyond the Lamborghini Huracan by both measures. Even the new Audi R8 V10 Plus can't touch it. That's the kind of progress we can get behind, but there's more to the new 488 GTB than the turbocharged engine. It's also got revised electronics, updated bodywork, enhanced aerodynamics and a revised interior. Scope it out in our slideshow of live images from the floor of the Geneva Palexpo and in the video below. THE FERRARI 488 GTB – EXTREME POWER FOR UNIQUE DRIVING PLEASURE The innovative 8-cylinder berlinetta debuts at Geneva: new design, new engine and a plethora of patented solutions Geneva, 3 March 2015 – On its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the Ferrari 488 GTB sets a new benchmark for the sports car sector. Forty years on from the launch of Ferrari's iconic first-ever mid-rear-engined V8 berlinetta, the 308 GTB, the Ferrari 488 GTB opens a new chapter in the history of cars with this particular architecture. Credit for this achievement must go to the Ferrari 488 GTB's revolutionary proprietary solutions which deliver a car at the top of its class in terms of power output (670 cv) with engine and response times of just 0.8 and 0.06 seconds respectively. Sophisticated dynamic vehicle controls make this performance completely controllable even on the limit by drivers of all abilities, resulting in the unique driving pleasure that only a Ferrari can deliver. Ferrari drew extensively on its experience in both Formula One and endurance racing, bringing to the road the technology that delivered victory in two editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the title in the WEC (World Endurance Championship).