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FF’s nickname means “Ferrari Four”  - ushers in an entirely new GT sports car, in reference to the fact that the four wheel drive and four seats. Ferrari says its all wheel drive, which he refers to as 4WD, is 50 percent lighter than comparable systems, but no details on how this was achieved. (RM ruote motor skills while 4WD means not only mean “four wheel drive” in Italian.) A decisive break with the past, the new car represents not so much an evolution as a true revolution.

This new V12 melds to an unprecedented level an extremely sporty, high-performance character with incredible versatility, superb comfort and sophisticated elegance, guaranteeing both driver and passengers an absolutely unique driving experience.

Designed by Pininfarina, the shape and proportions perfectly interpret the Ferrari FF's harmonious blend of sporting DNA and extraordinary usability. The 2012 Ferrari Sports Cars FF features the company's first ever four-wheel drive system. Ferrari's exclusive, patented 4RM (four-wheel drive) weighs 50 per cent less than a conventional four-wheel drive system, maintaining perfect weight distribution (53 per cent over the rear axle). Completely integrated with the car's electronic dynamic control systems, the four-wheel drive technology delivers record levels of performance on all terrains and in all conditions via continuous and intelligent predictive torque distribution to all four wheels. The 2012 Ferrari Sports Cars FF is also equipped with the latest magnetorheological damping system (SCM3), as well as the most recent development in carbon-ceramic brakes from Brembo.

Exceptional performance levels come courtesy of the new 6,262 cc direct injection engine which develops 660 CV at 8,000 rpm. In tandem with its transaxle dual-clutch F1 gearbox, stunning acceleration figures (0-100 km/h in 3.7 sec.) are guaranteed. The new model's class-leading weight-to-power ratio of 2.7 kg/CV, along with its ideal weight distribution, ensures exceptionally responsive handling.

The result is that owners will be able to enjoy the 2012 Ferrari Sports Cars FF's prowess over a wide range of uses: city driving, on low grip or snow-covered surfaces and on the track. Performance aside, Maranello's latest model also offers standards of passenger space, comfort, in-car spec and equipment previously unheard of in such a high-performance car. It can comfortably accommodate four people and their luggage, thanks to the best cabin space and boot capacity (450 litres extendable to 800) figures in its category, including four-door cars.

A vast array of personalisation options and accessories has been developed for the 2012 Ferrari Sports Cars FF. These include six model-specific exterior colours and sumptuous interior trim incorporating specially selected and treated aniline leather. The Ferrari FF, which will make its official debut in occasion of the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 2012 Ferrari Sports Cars FF

    * Engine

          o Type: 65-degree V12

          o Overall displacement: 6,262 cc

          o Maximum power: 660 CV @ 8,000 rpm

          o Maximum torque: 683 Nm @ 6,000 rpm

    * Dimensions and weight

          o Length: 4907 mm

          o Width: 1953 mm

          o Height: 1379 mm

          o Dry weight: 1790 kg

          o Weight distribution: 47% front, 53% rear

          o Weight/power ratio: 2.7 kg/CV

    * Performance

          o Maximum speed: 335 km/h

          o 0-100 km/h: 3.7 sec

    * Fuel consumption and emissions (ECE+EUDC)

          o Fuel consumption: 15,4 l/100 km

          o Emissions: 360 g/km

It's not that easy being green, least of all if you're a builder of exotic, high performance supercars or uberluxury sedans. Recently however, there has been a move towards improving fuel economy and reducing emissions by many of the world's biggest and most well known luxury and performance brands.

Take Ferrari's stop-start equipped California HELE or Mercedes-Benz's SLS AMG E-Cell concept, for instance. And there's more on the horizon, including the plug-in hybrid 918 Spyder from Porsche and BMW's Vision EfficientDynamics, the latter of which allegedly will offer M3 performance with a CO2 emissions rating of just 99 grams per kilometer.

And it's not just these four who are in it for the environmental crowd cred: other makers including Lotus, Audi, Lamborghini, Jaguar and Bentley are also looking to green up their model ranges.

This comes as no surprise to Christoph Stuermer, an analyst at IHS Automotive in Frankfurt:

"These upper-end, high-performance cars have always been examples of the best car technology out here, and being green is now part of being technologically advanced They have to come up with something so as not to be seen as technical dinosaurs."

Enrico Galliera, the commercial and marketing senior VP at Ferrari, agrees that it's definitely something that the company's customers are all for:

"When you consider buying a Ferrari, you're considering it for the performance. At the same time, when we approached customers and said, 'Here's a way you can still have that and be greener,' the reaction was extremely positive."

So there you have it. Now you can have your cake and eat it too, though you'll have to pay for the cake part first. And with prices around €180,000 (US$252,376) for the California HELE and an expected €500,000 (US$682,260) for the 918 Spyder that is one expensive, green frosted cake.

PS: Metaphors aren't my strong point...

By Tristan Hankins

In what could be one of the happiest days in Michael Stoschek's life, the German millionaire who commissioned the creation of a modern-day Lancia Stratos, took delivery this week of the one-off Italian supercar from Pininfarina's headquarters outside of Turin.

All in all, it took two years for the Italian design firm and coachbuilder to complete the project. Pininfarina's engineers and technicians built the New Stratos almost from scratch, using the platform and mechanical hardware of a Ferrari F430 Scuderia as a base. In the process, they tweaked and modified the Prancing Horse model's chassis as well as its V8 powerhouse.

Even though the car has been handed to its rightful owner, Pininfarina said final output and performance figures will be announced at a later date.

This isn't the last we'll be hearing of the New Stratos as in two week's time, the Italian supercar will be presented to the international press at the Paul Ricard Circuit. Until then, check out the photos below from the delivery ceremony at Pininfarina's plant or click here for a video of the car filmed during the development phase.

Having already expressed interest in acquiring Alfa Romeo, the ever-growing Volkswagen Group is now allegedly eyeing a stake in Ferrari - or at least that's what is being reported by the German press. However, whereas with Alfa Romeo, Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech openly admitted that he would like to buy the Milanese brand, for now, we don't have any official statements on the Ferrari matter.

Taking into consideration that Ferrari has an estimated value between $3.16 billion to $4.82 billion (€2.3 billion and €3.5 billion), and that the VW Group has some $27 billion (€19.6 billion) cash lying around, it's not a question if the Germans can acquire a stake in the famous Italian brand, but if they and of course Fiat, would want to go ahead with such a deal.

For one, being that Ferrari is Fiat's most profitable brand, we don't think that the group's CEO, Sergio Marchionne as well as the shareholders would easily be convinced to sell off the company.

Then there's the problem with the VW Group already having several established sports car brands in its portfolio including, Lamborghini, Bugatti and more recently, Porsche. Adding Ferrari to the blend, would make it an "overlapping-overkill"...

Nevertheless, the reports go on to say that according to rumors, Fiat may soon sell some Ferrari shares in an initial public offering while keeping a controlling 51 percent stake, and that Piech would be satisfied even with a small stake in the Prancing Horse automaker.

If you have any thoughts on the matter, scroll down to the comments section to share.

British car magazine Auto Express, has crowned the Ferrari 458 Italia their 2011 Performance Car of the Year (PCOTY). The magazine chose the Italian supercar from a list of 20 contenders, including other big names like the Audi V10 Spyder, Porsche GT3 RS, BMW M3 Competition and Mercedes SLS AMG. The Honda CR-Z, Renault Twingo Cup 133 and Skoda Fabia RS were the more down-to-earth cars of the group. Watch the video summary after the break to see what makes the F458 this year's performance car in AE's opinion.

By Csaba Daradics

A new set of photos showing a... red-hot Ferrari 458 Italia going up in flames is making the internet rounds today. Even though some websites are reporting that the incident happened in Sao Paulo, Brazil, two months after Ferrari issued the infamous recall on the 458 Italia (see here), we don't have sufficient information to be sure about the date, let alone if this particular example had gone through the mandatory repairs. So until we find out more details, follow the jump to take yet another glance of what a 458 Italia on fire looks like.