2009 Ferrari 599 California

Ferrari had built it’s reputation building autos for the racetrack. As any designer of racecars will tell you, weight is your enemy. The idea is to build cars that are light but stiff. The lighter the car; the greater the ratio of horsepower to weight. But if the car is going to remain “True” through the curves, the body needs substantial rigidity.

The story goes that in the 1950s when the West Coast Ferrari distributor, Johnny von Neumann, asked the designers at Ferrari to build a special Ferrari convertible for America, Enzo was at first reluctant. In fact he was quoted as saying,
"Convertibles are for playboys. Hardtops are for serious drivers."

Enzo Ferrari realized that any convertible is inherently less rigid, because of the removal of the hard top. What might surprise many, is that in an attempt to deal with the “Missing roof structure” a builder must strengthen various part of the body, resulting in convertibles actually out weighing their Hard top sibling.

While Ferrari might have had some reluctance to tamper with her hardtop designs; he was more reluctant to miss out on a new revenue source. Ferrari built von Neumann his convertible for the American market and called it the "California" since Enzo seemed convinced California was loaded with movie stars and wealthy playboys.

The New for 2009 599 is an attempt to create a new Spider harking back to the original California. At the risk of being called a “Playboy” mark me down as an admirer.

California Specifications

Engine Type = 4,300 cc /V8
Displacement cu in (cc) 262.4 cu in. 4300.7 cc.
32 valves. 4 valves per cylinder.
Horsepower 460.00 BHP (338.6 KW) @ 7500.00 RPM
HP/Liter 107.0 BHP / Liter
Transmission = 7-speed dual clutch/ Semi-Automatic

Performance
Speed 0 to 100 km/h less than 4.0 seconds
Base Price: 2009 Ferrari 599 California –
Rumored to be just under $200,000

I assume these will fly-off the showroom floors, after all, It's only the worst ressesion since the great depression.

Larry writes for Urban Insurance Agency
If you have a question, please contact us at 1-800-680-0707.

Ferrari’s 2+2 Flag-Ship car.

By Ferrari’s standards this is a big car With a wheel base of 2949 mm (116.1 in) and an over all length of 4902 mm (193.0 in), this is the longest car they have produced. As such it has some enthusiasts calling this something other tan a true or classic Ferrari. For many, just the Idea of a back seat, strikes them as out of character. The manufacture describes it differently. The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, named for the Modenese designer who mastered the automotive aluminum form, is designed to be the world's finest 2+2 seat sport coupe. In the long-standing tradition of Gran Turismo Ferraris, the goal is accomplished through high tech, avant-garde design. Styling is by Pininfarina, which advances the sports coupe paradigm while paying homage to the famed Ferrari 375MM Coupe commissioned in 1954 for Ingrid Bergman by Roberto Rossellini.Built entirely of aluminum, which provides extremely high structural rigidity while significantly reducing weight, the 612 Scaglietti is a new breed of 2+2 sports cars. Compared with the outgoing 456M, the new 612 Scaglietti weighs 132 pounds less, providing superior handling and road-holding capabilities. A car clearly in a league of its own, the 612 can carry four passengers in comfort and still achieve speeds and cornering forces most sports cars can only dream of

The asking price for this 2 + 2 comes in at a mere $250,509 dollars US.
But of course as with any Ferrari, the base price is just a starting point.

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BMW 850i and 850CSi 1989-1999

When most people think of BMW the image that comes to mind is a well- handling luxury automobile.But for those "In-the-know", BMW has a long history of producing some of the finest and fastest cars on the planet.

So when in 1984 when BMW announced plans to release a new "Top of The Line" sports coupe, the automotive world watched carefully. Finally the 850i Showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show in '89 and immediately the the automotive publications took notice. It was clear that a new level would be demanded of any car that tried to compete. BMW had clearly thrown the ball back into Mercedes court. With the 850i BMW was saying to Mercedes "Let's see your SL Try to top this!"

BMW never sold too many of the 850s or their lower priced (If you can call $75,000 "Lower Priced") 840 model. But they never expected to, this was their "Flagship" auto and not designed to be common-place of the roads.

There was nothing "Common" about the 850i or the 850CSi reached up to 326 bhp and hit a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds.

But the key to the 8 series is the combination of both performance and drivers comfort.

Larry Lubell
http://www.urbaninsuranceagency.com/

Now are you going to Wear your Seatbelt

It is hard to believe that this guy walked away from this accident.



When you think of all of the people killed in car crashes at 1/8th the speed,
it is amazing!
Yes he was lucky! But we all can improve our chances in a crash if we remember to always
"Buckle up."

Enzo Car Crash

Ferrari Enzo

Of all of the nameplates, none have occupied as many subconscious minds as Ferrari. It is as if their red is just a bit redder, the chrome one step brighter. There is something sexual about a Ferrari, while driven mainly by men, the auto possess a feminine quality. It is just too beautiful not to conjure up images of woman. Men just aren’t that pretty.

Ferrari Enzo

The Ferrari Enzo, is the top-of-the-line offering from the over the top company that is Ferrari. This is a limited production, $1,000,000.00 state of the art driving machine. For those of us who are not CEOs of fortune 500 companies, one would think the Million-dollar price tag would be sufficient to limit production, in truth there is a waiting list for them.

The Enzo is simply the closest any car company has ever come to putting a Formula 1 racecar onto city streets. The car is powered by a V12 660 bhp engine, which redlines at 8,200rpm. This power plant is coupled with a 6 speed gearbox and then set into a 3,000 pound car. With more than 4 ½ horsepower per pound, it is little wonder the Enzo is capable of 0-62 mph in just 3.65 seconds and a top speed of 225 mph. At this price-point, buyers can afford to be a bit “Picky;” so the Ferrari factory invites buyers to have the cockpit of their car tailored to their specific needs. In addition to color there is a choice of four width fittings for both the cushion and backrest of the leather trimmed multi-adjustable Sparco seats. The cabin can literally be built to fit your body like a tailor made suit.

Considering all of the care and expense that goes into creating on a these beauties, it is little wonder that so many Ferrari lovers were so upset when a drunk Mr. Erikssen, a 44 year old former executive of Gizmondo, totaled A 2003 Ferrari Enzo crashed at 6:08 AM on February 21, 2006 in Malibu In a testament to the structural integrity of the carhe walked away from this 130 mph wreck with one small scratch.

What a waste.

Larry Lubell Urban Insurance Agency
Posted in Dream cars

About this page

There are “practical” cars that you need,
Then there are the “Fun” cars that you want.
For many a car is just a “Tool” a means of getting from point “A” to point “B”. An auto should be efficient and practical. There is an undeniable wisdom to that point of view. In fact I find it quite admirable. I however, am not one of those people.

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Dream Cars (Carrera GT)

Monday, November 13th, 2006

Cutting edge, state-of-the-art design, are terms many do not associate with Porsche. That is principally the result of falsely believing that because the body style of the 911 changed so little over the last 25 years, that mechanics must have remained similar as well. The fact is, nothing could be further from the truth. Maybe in part because the “Look” has inched forward, additional pressure was placed on Porsche to consistently up-grade each component and system. While the classic 911 (Carrera) appears familiar, the Carrera GT looks like it was designed by NASA. As radically new as the auto looks, It is the materials and components where the real innovation lies. The Carrera GT features the extensive use of lightweight materials, including Carbon-fiber body panels. These parts are stronger than steel but at a fraction of the weight.The car features are a 5.7-liter, 605-horsepower V10 engine that redlines at 8,400 RPMs. Its aerodynamic chassis and transmission is the product of Porsche’s success in Formula 1 racing. The Carrera GT is also the first production car to use a ceramic composite clutch. The Carrera GT’s race-performance suspension package provides for safe and stable driving at speeds of up to 205 mph.

Carrera GT

For those of us more excited by acceleration than top speed, you will be please to know that this rocket will propel you form a standing start to 62 mph in only 3.9 seconds. That ought to scare the heck out of your date.With a sticker price in excess of $440,000.00 and a limited production, you should not have a difficult time finding your car in the parking lot. Yours will be the one with a crowd of people encircling it and drooling.
Larry Lubell
Urban Insurance Agency

Bond’s New Car?

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007

As long as there have been Bond films there have been Dream Cars connected with the films. It is impossible to think of either James Bond or Aston Martin with out thinking about the other.

Of all of the “Bond” cars, it is still the Aston DB5 that is most closely associated with the 007. Not only did the car contain, what was at the time, the coolest batch of “Toys” ever seen in a film car, the DB5 was also one of the most beautiful cars ever built.In the most recent Bond flick, “Casino Royale,” not only does James get behind the wheel of the new super fast Aston Martin DBS, but he also wins a DB5 in a poker game.

The DBS is essentially a DB9 on steroids. When you look at the stats for the DB9 it seems almost difficult to believe that a designer would think the auto needs more of anything, but the designers at Aston Martin pushed the car to true “Super Car” status when the created the limited addition DBS.If the rumors are correct it appears that Ford motor Co, will use their $100 million dollar, three-movie contract with “Bond” to promote their Jaguar division and the release of the Jaguar C-XF “concept car.”

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SLR McLaren

Tuesday, November 28th, 2006

A Mercedes has always been a status symbol, associated with wealth, power and a sence of class. The history of mercedes consists of a parade of both luxury and performance cars sure to be on any car lovers wish list. Mercedes-Benz vehicles have been trend-setters at every turn of the automobile’s eventful history. As long as you can put out of your mind the image of Hitler waving from the back seat.

SLR McLaren

The SLR McLaren is a milestone automotive achievement, as much for its staggering power and performance as its Formula 1 inspired engineering and design. With a top speed listed at 208 mph and a 0-60 time of under 3.8 seconds, this car is clearly one of the fastest production autos every to be released on to the public streets.The SLR at first glance looks like a fully-loaded, tricked out SL550 ( A not too shabby $95,000- $120,000 model). But a closer look will make it clear, that while taking its styling cues from the SL The McLaren is an entirely different beast.“To be sure, the Greatest Car in the World has to be fast, but it should also be able to function as a car. The promise of the SLR is that it is the complete package.”Esquire Magazine
This car while bareing the Mercedes name plate, is in large part a hand built product of AMG. All of that loveing care and high-tech persision comes with a lofty price in excess of $450,000.00.
No one ever said Deams come cheap" Send your comments