Ferrari 488 GTO [teaser]
Ferrari has released the first teaser video for its upcoming 488 Special Series. Rumored to adopt the GTO moniker, the video reveals the model will have full-length body stripes and lightweight wheels that are backed up by a high-performance braking system. We can also see a massive diffuser and what appears to be a dual exhaust system. While the video only provides a few glimpses of the car, it appears to be nearly identical to the model that surfaced last month. That image showed the styling changes will include an all-new front bumper with an aggressive splitter. The video also gives us a glimpse of the interior and it reveals the car will have an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel with integrated LED shift lights. Designers also installed alloy pedals and a tachometer with a redline of approximately 8,000 rpm. Ferrari isn鈥檛 saying anything about the car but reports have suggested it will be equipped with a number of carbon fiber components including the hood, bumpers and rear spoiler. The model is also slated to have 20-inch carbon fiber wheels which are 40 percent lighter than their conventional counterparts. The weight savings will be backed up by aerodynamic styling tweaks which will enable the model to have a 20 percent improvement in 鈥渁ero efficiency鈥?over the 488 GTB.
The base model 911 Carrera is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine (flat-six) that produces 370 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed manual transmission is standard, and Porsche's dual-clutch (PDK) automatic transmission is optional. Standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, summer tires, an adaptive suspension (PASM), automatic bi-xenon headlights, parking sensors, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, four-way power-adjustable front seats (for the backrest and seat height; fore/aft is manual) and leather upholstery. The Carrera S has an upgraded version of the same engine that produces 420 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. It also has 20-inch wheels and a torque-vectoring rear differential. The optional Powerkit ups the engine to 450 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. The Carrera 4 and the Carrera 4S, as well as the Targa 4 and the Targa 4S, feature all-wheel drive and wider rear fenders, plus the engine that corresponds to their rear-wheel-drive counterparts above. The GTS variants have the Carrera S engine with the Powerkit upgrade (450 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque). The 911 Turbo has a turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six good for 540 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque.
It comes only with the PDK automatic and all-wheel drive. The Turbo S is uprated to 580 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. It also gets active stabilizer bars (PDCC), carbon-ceramic brake rotors, 14-way power front seats with adjustable side bolsters, and carbon-fiber interior trim. Finally, the track models. The Carrera T is based on the standard Carrera and uses the same 370-hp engine, but it features lightweight door panels with nylon door pulls, a mechanical limited-slip differential, and shorter final drive ratio for better acceleration. The GT3 is a lightweight, track-focused performance model. It has a 4.0-liter non-turbocharged flat-six that produces 500 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. PDK is standard and a six-speed manual is optional. It also gets its own special suspension tuning, rear-wheel steering, the carbon-ceramic brakes, lightweight body components (including a carbon-fiber fixed rear wing), a rear underbody diffuser and special styling elements. For the GT3 RS, Porsche takes a GT3 and sharpens it further with more power (520 hp, 346 lb-ft of torque), aerodynamic enhancements, and more trick lightweight parts, such as a magnesium roof and carbon-fiber trunklid and fenders. Many of the higher-end items, especially those included on the Turbo, are available as options on lesser trims. As with any Porsche, you can also customize the 911 to your heart's (and hopefully wallet's) content, with numerous paint colors, upholstery types and trim selections. You can also specify everything from colorful Porsche crests on the seats to leather trim on the climate vent slats.
Various F1 type regulations restricting the amount of testing, engines, tyres , gearboxes, etc, used in the WEC will be introduced this year. These were confirmed in March. The average weight of a crew must be 80 kgs (weight including race wear, etc.) and if the average is less then ballast must be carried. For Le Mans LMP1 and P2 will be permitted to use a maximum of 7 sets of tyres in Free Practice, Qualifying and the warm-up (almost 12 hours of track time). For GTE Pro and Am they will be permitted 8 sets. Four 鈥淛oker鈥?tyres will be additionally authorised for practice in each class. 2 sets for any new prototypes. In LMP2, GTE Pro and Am 16 sets of tyres will be allowed for the race. Work to stabilise the sides of the track between Mulsanne Corner and the entrance to the Porsche Curves by tarmacing over some of the grass verges was completed before Christmas at a cost of 鈧?25,000. At the Porsche Curves work has started which will be ongoing for about 3 years.