ferrari

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue updated with Paris Motor Show vehicles

Usually, car shows like the 2008 Paris Motor Show are look but don't touch affairs. Sure, the cars look nice, but wouldn't it be sweet if you could actually take that Ferrari California out for a spin? Thanks to Polyphony Digital and its Gran Turismo 5 Prologue game for the PS3, you "virtually" can.

Polyphony has released an update for the driving simulator to include three new cars from recent automotive shows, along with a smattering of new features.

If ever there were a great example of "a life gone digital," it's the … Read more

Photos: Ferrari California debuts in Paris

Ferrari showed off its all-new Pininfarina-designed California model at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. This car is a GT model with a front-mounted eight-cylinder engine. Its most notable feature is a retractable hard top, although it features plenty of innovations for Ferrari. Its V-8 uses direct fuel injection and is mated to a new seven speed double-clutch transmission. Cabin tech features Bluetooth cell phone integration, an iPod connector, and hard drive-based navigation.

Click here for photos of the Ferrari California at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

See all coverage of the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

Video: Ferrari California

Ferrari unveiled the California, its first retractable hardtop convertible at the 2008 Paris Auto Show. Is this front-engined car a Ferrari for poseurs?

See all coverage of the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

Speed Racer is Elvis

Have you ever seen the movie Viva Las Vegas? In it, Elvis Presley plays a racecar driver in a city-to-city race, in between songs. The music isn't to my tastes, but the cars, a collection of mid- to late-1950s sports-racers, many with considerable history, are. And the plot, such as it is, was familiar. Point-to-point race over the open road, good guys versus bad guys. I hadn't seen Viva Las Vegas before viewing it on TV about 20 years ago, as Elvis never made my musical radar screen, but I had seen Speed Racer cartoons. Instant flash of recognition!

Viva and the Speed Racer cartoons share the same basic action-filled "plot." There is even some similarity in cars. And Speed Racer looks more than a little like an anime version of Elvis in his prime, even though he doesn't sing. Which might be for the best.

A gearhead classic that was underground for many years is now readily available over the counter. That's C'etait un Rendezvous by Claud Lelouch, better known just as Rendezvous. It's expensive, intense, and worth every penny. There is no real plot, merely action of the "kids, don't try this at home" variety.

… Read more

Rich and gaudy: The Gumball 3000 kicks off

Last weekend marked the beginning of the Gumball 3000 rally, the 10th anniversary of the event. As the cars would be on display at the Fairmont Hotel, within walking distance of my home, I went up to take a look. There were plenty of crowds gazing at the penned-in cars, a collection of exotics and rarities that you seldom get a chance to see up close. The rally was set to start that day in San Francisco, with the first stop being Los Angeles, Calif. The drivers go on to Las Vegas, then they are flown to North Korea to … Read more

Photos: Ferrari's Special Edition Razr

Remember the shameless phone that tried to pull a Ferrari stunt? Forget that. Here's the almost real deal--the Moto Razr2 V9 Ferrari Special Edition. Granted, that differences between this and the original Razr2 V9 are purely cosmetic, but at least you won't be on the receiving end of stifled giggles. In case you're worried people can't tell it's a special-edition phone, the top LCD will show a big Ferrari logo when the handset is open. And if they still don't get it, show them you mean business by playing the racing car ringtones on … Read more

VIA and NVIDIA offer new chips for small systems

It's been a big week for small systems.

On May 29, VIA formally announced (here) its "Nano" family of low-power x86 processors. These chips will be especially valuable in small laptops, UMPCs, and so-called mobile Internet devices (MIDs).

Then on June 2, NVIDIA announced (here) its Tegra 600 family, which is also being marketed for MIDs. But Tegra is a very different animal. It's based on an ARM11 processor core, which can run Windows Mobile or Linux but not Windows XP or Vista.

VIA's Nano processors are based on a new microarchitecture that is a … Read more

Photos: Exotic cars

The stuff of calendars and posters, exotics are cars you will rarely see in real life. Lucky indeed is the individual who gets to see a Bentley Continental GT Speed or a Spyker C8 Aileron drive by on the street. We've gone through our auto show photographs to select rare new production cars.

Click here for photos of exotic cars from recent auto shows.

Ferrari's latest phone takes another U-turn

Of all the major car companies that have co-branded phones, Ferrari seems to have the most versions, flags-down--and it can't seem to make up its mind on which one it likes best.

Last year luxury phone maker Vertu announced its "Ascent Ferrari 1947 Limited Edition" just months after the "Razr Maxx V6 Ferrari Challenge Mobile Phone" was unveiled. Now it's apparently come full circle back to Motorola with its "V9 Ferrari Edition."

At the risk of suffering Razr fatigue, as Techie Diva says, the latest model doesn't look all that different … Read more