Ferrari FF

After teasing us for quite a while now, Ferrari has finally revealed the official details on their new successor for the 612 Scaglietti. Called the FF - an acronym for Ferrari Four (four seats and four-wheel drive), the new model is the company’s most powerful, versatile four-seater ever, as well as its first ever four-wheel drive car.

The concept car was designed by Pininfarina, and according to Ferrari "the new car represents not so much an evolution as a true revolution." The new model will deliver "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."

The new Ferrari FF GT sports car concept is expected to make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and a production version will follow by 2012.

UPDATE 02/15/2011: A few days ago, Ferrari revealed a series of images showing the FF in action on the snow. Now, thanks to someone by the name of Metinakkas, we have a video showing the car in action... on the snow, of course! Enjoy! Video after the jump.

UPDATE 02/22/2011: The Ferrari FF will make its world debut tomorrow, February 23rd, 2011 at 6:00pm CET. The event will be shown on www.ferrari.com in eight different languages –Italian, English, Spanish, French, German, Arab, Chinese, and Japanese – by simply connecting to the website. The world premiere in Maranello will be presented by Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo and CEO Amedeo Felisa. The presentation can also be seen on iPhone and iPad in English and Italian.

Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Ferrari FF.

Italdesign Giugiaro starts countdown for new concept(s) in Geneva

It’s not unlikely that when a company undergoes some major ownership changes, they find ways to make a "comeback" of sorts to bring their name back onto the lips of automotive journalists everywhere, and not just for their paper shuffling buy-outs. Just look at the Saab-Spyker negotiations and the plethora of vehicles offered once the transfer was complete for a true-to-life example of this scenario. Now Italdesign Giugiaro - the same guys credited for their work on some of the greatest supercars to date - is getting ready to leave their recent Volkswagen buyout in the past with a new concept car which will debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

Italdesign Giugiaro hasn’t released any real details on the new concept just yet, but they have revealed their seemingly obligatory teaser image in order to rouse up some interest in the new concept before its debut. They have even launched an official web page for this yet-to-be-seen concept with a countdown to Geneva. If you’re wondering, we’re about six days away from the show at the time of this posting.

The only thing we could get from the obscure website information thus far, is that we believe the new concept will be either a hybrid or an electric vehicle, although our bets are on a full electric model showing its face at the show. They’ve waited this long for the unveiling, so why settle for a hybrid.

All in all, we are pretty excited about the new concept from Italdesign Giugiaro. The only thing that would burst our bubble is if the new concept turned out to be one of the two Volkswagen Group concepts in which Giugiaro had a hand in designing. We’ll just have to wait until March 3rd, 2011 with our fingers crossed for a new concept to get the answer to that.

UPDATE 02/23/11: All the build-up Volkswagen and Guigiaro were planning for their Geneva offering went for naught as teaser images of the two concepts - yep, there are two! - were revealed only a day after the German automaker released a teaser image of one of the concepts. No names were given on the cars, but it looks like one of the concepts will be a special iteration of the Volkswagen Golf whereas the other could very well be a future Volkswagen Polo model. In any case, check out the photos in the photo gallery and take a look at two concepts Volkswagen and Giugiaro Italia have in store for us at the Geneva Motor Show.

Fisker Karma

Henrik Fisker has had an illustrious career since graduating from design school. His stints with BMW and Aston Martin have evolved his design and shown his hands-on approach to coach building to be very successful. The inspiration to create automotive works of art came from an all-time great and Mr. Fisker has said, "The guy who influenced me most was Giorgetto Giugiaro. I remember the first time I saw the Maserati Boomerang concept on a magazine cover behind a window at a newsstand. I put my nose against the glass, and just said ’wow’!" Maserati has long been known for creating visceral masterpieces of design and the similarities between the body of the Maserati Quattroporte and Fisker’s Karma can be seen in the flowing, clean lines, and strong sense of presence. Fisker’s desire to cement his own interpretation of timeless cars into the hearts and minds of fans everywhere will begin with the Karma; truly his own from the ground up.

Many of Fisker’s cars have been described as “feline” and that is seen in the grill of the Karma echoing whiskers on a cat and a coiled stance ready to pounce. Some of this design could have evolved from BMW’s design philosophy with the double kidney grill and eyelid headlights.

Beyond the simple beauty of the exterior, several innovative technologies have been used to further the Karma’s visual and working impact. The world’s first glass-flake paint is being used to make the paint color chosen truly react to its surroundings. According to Fisker press releases, the paint is unparalleled in terms of shine and reflectivity. The paint was also used because of its water-based content in an effort to not use current industry standard paints that may harm the environment.

Moving to the top of the car, one immediately notices the full panoramic roof. Upon further inspection, the roof actually acts as the largest full roof solar panel in the industry. While the sun beats down on you as you whisk the Karma through picturesque hills and winding coastal roads, your roof is actually increasing the range of the vehicle. Apparently it can add up to 200 miles of photovoltaic driving power.

Once your Karma has autonomously started due to its proximity start system located in the key fob, you are enveloped in rich leather and rescued wood accents. That’s correct, even the wood grain dash is eco-friendly having been recovered from the intense wildfires that burned through Orange County, CA in 2007.

Fisker has gone to great lengths in making the car both graceful and functional, which shows at nearly every angle.

The sumptuous leather gracing your behind was treated at an energy-sufficient plant further helping to protect the environment during manufacturing. Many of the models will also feature a type of suede that was created from mostly recycled materials. Fisker has gone to great lengths in making the car both graceful and functional, which shows at nearly every angle.

The Karma is not lacking in infotainment technology either. A 10.2” touch screen interface is predominately placed front and center to control everything from audio to climate and navigation functions. The computer will even adapt to your knowledge of the system by displaying less complicated views for novice users based on their initial inputs. The combination of high-technology instruments and old-world craftsmanship make the interior of the Karma a heavenly place to spend your time.

The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid that uses a lithium-ion battery pack to power two 200+ hp electric motors for about 50 miles. Once the juice runs out of the batteries, a GM-sourced 2.0-liter gas engine producing 260 hp generates the electricity needed to power the sedan. Fisker says the Karma makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in less than 6 seconds and can hit a top speed of more than 125 mph.

Fisker Automotive began accepting pre-orders for the car long before any production or test mule models were even developed. By the beginning of 2011, Fisker had received 3,000 deposits and expect to make the first deliveries in February.

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has been integral in giving Fisker over $500 million in capital to get the car and the company off the ground. Assembly is planned to take place in the Valmet factory in Finland. This facility has also been the production line for several Porsche and Saab models in the past. Do not plan on taking delivery of your new Fisker before late in the first quarter this year, unless you have over $95,900 to spend on the base version of this eco-friendly luxury sedan. That price doesn’t even take into consideration all the optional upgrades on the car, which if you avail, should send the bill all the way up to six-digit territory. Sure, tax credits should be able to lighten the load a little bit, but it still wouldn’t be enough to make you feel any better about the brand’s latest price hike.

It is somewhat difficult to describe the competition in the market for the Fisker Karma. This vehicle places itself in so many segments at once that hardly anything is a direct competitor.

One of the top luxury sedans, produced by the oldest car brand in the world, has recently been introduced with a hybrid powerplant, the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid. It is closely priced to the Karma and has been brought to market in order to please those who want a more eco-friendly car without losing any of the creature comforts that one expects when spending over $90,000.

Two cars that may be more closely linked than either company would admit would be the Fisker Karma and the Aston Martin Rapide. The Aston makes no attempt to be eco-friendly or even relatively expensive, but rather was designed to be stunning from every angle. The car designed by a company whose philosophy was undoubtedly influenced by Henrik Fisker and has been creating some of the most sensual sports cars on the market in recent history.

Audi TT GT4 concept

Audi is tossing out a line in the shape of a new concept car to see whether or not its customers will bite. This new concept is called the GT4 and is based on the TT sports model. Production for the GT4 concept is planned for the 2012 model year with sales starting at 120,000 Euro on both European and Asian markets.

The TT GT4 features a motorsport body with a roll-over cage and a safety-optimized fuel tank box, as well as other modifications appropriate for an affordable motorsport vehicle. The exterior sees the front apron, rear apron, and the rear wing borrowed from the Audi TT RS. The new hood, doors, and trunk lid are all made of CFRP while the windows are made of plastic.

Audi has equipped the GT4 with a TFSI engine producing about 340hp. This is handled by an S-tronic transmission with a differential lock and a modified production suspension with adjustable dampers. The vehicle is finished off with 9.5 x 18 inch light alloy wheels.

Press release after the jump.

Audi RS7 Sportback

The Audi A7 is a car with a very short history in the automotive industry. Previewed by the Sportback Concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the production version of the A7 Sportback is already on sale, albeit not on all markets. This vehicle may be great in its own right, but it will be mediocre in comparison to the RS7 version undoubtedly in the works.

Audi hasn’t exactly offered any details on this future model, but following the tradition of every other model in the line-up, we know for a fact that we will see an RS7. And while the Audi A7 targeted models like the Mercedes CLS and the BMW Gran Coupe, the RS7 will focus on models like the Aston Martin Rapide while serving as a much cheaper alternative.

The Audi RS7 is expected to be revealed sometime in 2011, with sales to begin in early 2012.

Hit the jump to read more about the future Audi RS7.

Mercedes-Benz SLK Final Performance RS by Piecha

While everyone is waiting for the new R171 generation Mercedes SLK, tuners are still preparing some cool packages for the recently discontinued model. One of those tuners is Piecha Design who have prepared the “Final Performance RS EDITION,” in order to say good bye to a pretty cool car.

The send-off package includes a distinctive front-spoiler bumper with integrated LED daytime running lights, wedge-shaped side skirts with air intakes, a rear bumper with a wide grid core and diffuser vane, and a rear spoiler lip. The vehicle also carries Piecha dp2 Phantom rims in a 19 inch (front) & 20 inch (rear) size with the use of 225/35 front tires and 265/25 rear tires.

The package also includes lowering springs from H&R, a new set of dp2 Phantom rims, black anodized aluminum aero wings, and special wind deflector with the signed “Final Performance RS Edition” logo. These additions are pretty cool, but the highlight of the vehicle is the legendary PIECHA power converter. This converter allows the vehicle to take in all of the power of the engine without even thinking twice about it. We’d love to tell you the amount of power this converter is facilitating, but Piecha have yet to announce these numbers.

Audi RB-1200 S Performance Bike Concept

If BMW does it, why wouldn’t Audi? We are talking about the production of sport bikes, and this new design from the mind of Gavin Harvey combines different sports car elements to create a pretty ingenious piece of work. It’s called the Audi RB-1200 S and it definitely gets our seal of approval.

The Audi RB-1200 S has R8 lights and new front brakes colored in the now famous Audi red. Splashed across the front is Audi’s well-known four circles engraved into the metal. The bike’s seat will be made from leather and will also have carbon fiber detail. Right under the seat, along with the rear lights, is where the designer envisioned the location of a twin exhaust.

Harvey’s design may be a work of art, but we’ve seen renderings of Audi bikes before and nothing much has come of them. Maybe we’ll get lucky with the Audi RB 1200 S. So, what do you think? Should Audi start developing sports bikes?