I have seen Ferraris before, but this past winter, I really got immersed in Ferrari's lineup. Earlier, I profiled the 458, but the collection held one of two major surprises for me. As an avid viewer of Autoblog, and a full-time reader of Evo and Top Gear, I often am more in the know about what's going on in Europe's auto scene that the same scene in the US; I tend to read about all of Europe's hottest cars and look at dealership inventory for sale in Europe, and prepare myself greatly for seeing said cars here in the States. Sometimes, that's never, but in other cases.. I may see the vehicle in person the same week I immerse myself in up-to-date car magazine articles and "first drives."
This is the new Ferrari FF; yes, it is a proper hatchback, and yes it does have four viable seats, and yes.. it does have four wheel drive. A practical Ferrari? Why yes-- it is. And quite. It makes a wonderful noise (as it should, especially with a V12 fitted underhood), and it goes like nothing else. At about $340,000, this newest Subaru STi hatch competitor (hahahahaha..right) costs about as much as.. oh.. 10 Subarus. It took a bit of sinking in, but I think I quite like Ferrari's newest model to hit the 'States. White usually isn't a great color for cars, and the FF is no exception. However, I must say that the overall car is quite stunning. Some may pass it off as ugly, whereas I think it's quite stunning. There's no denying that whether someone hates the FF or whether they adore it, all can agree it has definite presence. I will take pictures of any others I see, should I actually see other examples.
As a bonafide automotive nut, I very rarely get those "happy" moments, and this is an extreme case. On many occasions, I'd read about the McLaren MP412-C, and I've been curious to see what it looked like in person. Does it look as "generic" as the Top Gear pictures, and Autoblog galleries suggest? I'm.. not quite sure. But before I delve into the MP412-C, I'll briefly explain the history of the brand.
For years, McLaren has been a racing pioneer, often exploring, and employing new ways to construct a supercar. While their racing pedigree goes as far as the 1960s (and possibly before), their big break in the roadcar industry came with the arrival of the much-heralded, iconic F1 supercar. Using a BMW-derived and developed V12, the 627 horse powerplant propelled this amazing car to an unrivaled 242 MPH with the speed-limiter removed. As with many big-dollar cars, celebrity ownership is almost guaranteed. Jay Leno, Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson), and 50 Cent all have one. To many, it left an unmatched spot in history, and even such "greats" such as the Bugatti Veyron will never duplicate.
Actually, I can't take credit for this sighting. My dad found the initial dealership, and when we were touring it (it's a massive place), dad saw a little McLaren logo; I thought maybe that there was some sort of off-limits McLaren F1 car/race car collection, but no. This was the real deal. Just maybe.. two months after reading Top Gear's drive report, I was laying eyes on Macca's newest supercar myself. Honestly, I'm not sure what to think. Yes, I know it's supposed to be a legend-- but it looks like a generic supercar developed for a game such as Burnout. While I do know what its capable of, and I recognize that all the "special" bits are there-- fancy doors, carbon trim, and flashy wheels.. I don't like the overall effect. Sure, it's nice.. but give me an F1. And make mine black, please.
And they had a Maserati MC Stradale there, too; in matte blue. Looks better than the red, no? Good. I think it does, too.
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