Ferrari is reporting total sales for the month of November at 92 cars, compared to its monthly average of 600 cars. Sales of the 612 and 599 have supposedly flat-lined and the 430 Spider’s sales have been drastically hit by the introduction of the similarly-priced California. The company has started to cut the fat by letting go of 10% of its workforce and starting talks with the trade unions to eliminate additional employees.

Even though Ferrari has a waiting list in some markets, it has a large number of unsold cars piling up in others.

[via World Car Fans]

Provided by duPont REGISTRY

Ferrari has chosen to unveil the new Scuderia Spider 16M at the World Finals in Mugello in celebration of its recent victory in the Formula 1 Constructor's World Championship 2008. This new high performance sports car features the very best of Ferrari's latest mid-rear-engined 8-cylinder technology. In fact, the Scuderia Spider 16M is faster round the Fiorano circuit than any other Prancing Horse open-top road car yet built. This truly evocative special series model, of which just 499 unique examples will be produced, is aimed at the most passionate clients, drivers who demand both exclusivity and superb driving pleasure.

Read more here.

Provided by duPont REGISTRY

The days of new exotic cars emerging with astonishing amounts of horsepower may have reached their apex in 2009 model year and may decrease in the future, according to industry expert Tom duPont. Manufacturers at the top end of the auto industry are making luxury vehicles that perform better through lighter weight construction and advanced engine technology.

Tom duPont believes that, despite the luxury marketplaces' tradition of resisting environmental change, the technological advancements and social implications that go along with environmentally friendly vehicles are creating a "social consciousness" and greening of the exotic car market.

Readers of the duPont REGISTRY™ Exotic Car Buyers Guide will have the chance to take a look at the current industry leaders and winners of the "Best Of" Categories – on sale October 7.

Focusing on the eleven "Best Of" categories in the annual duPont REGISTRY™ Exotic Car Buyers Guide for 2009, the key stats illustrate the new peak in horsepower and trends for 2009:

* Total Price of vehicles in the all 11 "Best of" categories rose 200 percent from 2008-2009
o $1.5 million to more than $4.5 million
* Average price for the winning 11 categories was up 118 percent – an increase of $222,000 due mostly to the addition of two $2 million plus supercars this year
o In 2008 the average price of the "Best of" car was $188,000
o In 2009 the average price was just over $410,000
* The total cumulative horsepower skyrocketed by 57 percent from 4,276 to 6,723
o That is an increase of more than 2,447 hp
* Average horsepower is up by 13 percent from 2008
o On average, there was an increase of more than 75 hp per vehicle
* Interestingly, an average engine cylinder for the 11 winners was a V-10

"The trend of increasing raw horsepower may have peaked this year," says Thomas L. duPont, Publisher of the duPont REGISTRY™. "Some of the vehicles in this year's guide are going to be the last of their breed and we may see the horsepower fall and the carbon footprints reduce even faster over the next three years as the parent company manufacturers take into account the environmental realities."

With the recent introduction of powerful, ultra-luxury green machines to the automotive marketplace, there has been a fundamental shift in what influences buyers' decisions. The annual duPont REGISTRY™ Exotic Car Buyers Guide highlights the newest and most sought-after green exotics including the $2.3 million E85 clean-burning Koenigsegg CCXR, the electric Tesla Roadster and hydrogen-fueled Ronn Motors Scorpion.

Selected by the duPont REGISTRY™ luxury automotive experts for price, performance and value, the annual list incorporates the most exclusive and most powerful to assist buyers when choosing between sedans, convertibles, and green vehicles:

For 2009, the duPont REGISTRY™'s "Best Of" winners are

· 2009 Car of the Year: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport
· Best New Performance Sedan: Bentley Flying Spur Speed
· Best New Performance Coupe: Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series
· Best New Convertible: Ferrari California
· Best New Exotic: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4
· Best Exotic Concept: Saleen S5S Raptor
· Best Bang for the Buck: Corvette ZR1
· Best New Luxury Coupe: Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe
· Best Performing Green Exotic: Koenigsegg CCXR
· Best Green Car Innovation: Ronn Motors Scorpion
· Best Green Exotic: Tesla Roadster

More here.

What we have here is a very rare Ferrari 456 Venice wagon. It is one of only seven in the world. It was design and built by the styling-house Pininfarina for the Sultan of Brunei back in 1996. The sultan commissioned Pininfarina to build seven of the Ferrari shooting brakes at a cost of $1.5 million a piece, but decided at the last minute he only wanted six of the cars. The last auto was auctioned off and is the one most likely pictured here.  

[via CarZi]

This means the newest Ferrari is appealing to people that wouldn’t otherwise enjoy a Ferrari despite being able to afford one. Some may speculate that the California attracts people that are not hard-core automotive enthusiasts or are less interested in a sports car as opposed to a softer grand-touring car. Since Roberto Corradi, director of product development for Ferrari, did admit that the California is targeted towards women, it seems that Ferrari has met their own goal.

[via PhotoCarsOnline]

[via autoexpress.co.uk]

[via Desert News]

Below you will find an internal memo (or so it is claimed) from within Ferrari SpA. The letter is written in English and has some very juicy details on the upcoming Enzo replacement, code named the FX150. Really, they are almost too juicy to believe, but here is to hope!

The Ferrari California has been spotted on a Boeing 747 en route to New York's JFK airport. Check out the full album here.

[via Motor Trend via nsxprime.com]