Today, two specially prepared models of the new 2012 Jeep® Grand Cherokee SRT8 were delivered to Scuderia Ferrari F1 drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa at the Fiorano circuit in Maranello, Italy.

Each Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 features an aggressive exterior look with an SRT-exclusive design, which adds classic Ferrari brand styling cues and the unmistakable Rosso Corsa signature colour.

The iconic, seven-slot Jeep front grille is painted matte black and features custom red inserts. A race-inspired, offset black driver’s stripe with a white accent customizes the front and rear bumpers, hood, the entire surface of the roof and the rear spoiler.

Additional exclusive details include a matte black painted dual-pane sunroof, Carbon fibre mirror caps and a gloss black rear light bar with red accents on the Jeep logo.

To complete the unique exterior trim of the two custom-built SRT8 models, the Italian flag has been painted on the underside of the rear spoiler: a tribute to the Ferrari F150º Formula One car.

Ride height has been lowered 1.5 inches and both vehicles ride on unique forged aluminium, 20″ wheels painted black giving them an even more aggressive stance.

In line with the vehicle’s custom exterior, the interior cabin is enhanced by exclusive Ferrari Red leather inserts on the seats with sculpted bolsters. Also the door trim panels, the central armrest and the instrument panel boast exclusive red leather.

The leather-wrapped SRT8 steering wheel with mounted paddle shifters features red contrasting stitching. The unique instrument cluster features yellow dials which give the cabin the look of the GT cars produced in Maranello.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is powered by the all-new 6.4L HEMI® V8 engine with Fuel Saver technology that turns off four of the eight cylinders when full power is not required to ensure increased fuel economy. Thanks to the powerful HEMI V-8 powertrain delivering 468bhp and 624 Nm of torque, the SRT8 model achieves benchmark performance of 0-100 km/h in 5 seconds, has a top speed of 257 km/h.

“We’re excited and proud to be able to share ‘Ferrari-style’ custom-built versions of the most powerful and best handling Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 ever with two of the most talented drivers in the world,” Paretta said.

“We know that both Fernando and Felipe will feel right at home in our ultimate performance SUVs that are identically built with classic Ferrari styling cues and one-of-a-kind Rosso Corsa exteriors. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 brings a combination of Jeep’s world-class capability to the road or the race track along with unparalleled luxury and refinement and advanced innovative technologies for all driving enthusiasts.”

The two, uniquely customized Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 models are based on the new high-performance model of the Jeep flagship SUV set to arrive in Europe, where it will be available in Jeep dealerships starting in May.

The limited run Fiat Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari may come with its own bespoke Scuderia Red finish with contrasting grey racing stripes (among other unique features) but that hasn’t stopped Japanese tuner Office-K from giving it a new shade.

Unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon last week, the tuning firm covered the Ferrari-branded Abarth model’s body in a flashy chrome vinyl wrap with racing stripes in the colours of the Italian flag.

Other than that, the hot hatch remains stock with its upgraded 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing a little over 180bhp, which are transferred to the front wheels via a five-speed automated manual gearbox.

The Ferrari version of the Abarth 500 also comes with a different aero package, 17” alloy wheels in a unique design, a more powerful Brembo brake system and suspension tweaks.

Interior upgrades include a pair of carbon fibre bucket sport seats from Sabelt, a flat-bottomed black leather steering wheel with red leather inserts, carbon trim and a new instruments specially made by Jaeger.

Check out a video showing off the shiny, chrome Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari and the images in the gallery below.

Ferrari have confirmed they will lift the covers off their 2012 challenger on February 3rd.

The team previously revealed that they will unveil their new car in “early February”, but Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has announced that February 3rd is D-Day. The launch comes just four days before the first pre-season test kicks-off on February 7th in Jerez.

“I was extremely unhappy with what happened last season,” di Montezemolo told Sky Sports News recently.

“For us the main goal is, again, to be competitive and I have a lot of confidence in my people and their capability to react.”

The Maranello-based squad has adopted a more aggressive design approach for their 2012 challenger after Fernando Alonso finished P4 in this year’s Drivers’ standings.

McLaren and Sauber are the only other teams to confirm their official launch dates. February 1st for the MP4-27 and the 6th for Sauber’s C31.

There have always been rumours surrounding Ferrari. But most of those rumours have revolved around its road cars, if not its Formula One operations. But this one rumour that has only grown with time revolves around the company’s affable chairman, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. The Ferrari president, is being tipped to run for the Italian presidency in 2013.

Bologna-born lawyer Montezemolo, 64, has been linked to the move after he wrote an open letter to the Italia Futura party, which has 40,000 members, calling on it to prepare for an election.

“The Second Republic has failed. We need new faces and new ideas because the next elections will be of historic importance,” di Montezemolo said in the letter. “The first thing that we are going to propose is the sale of the State’s assets and a reduction of the public debt.

“There is no way that the Italians want to see the same old faces, the politicians who have allowed the situation to become the way it is. That is why the next elections will not be a matter of routine. It will be a date with history, which must begin a new season in public affairs.

“In 2012, Italia Futura will work hard to achieve this by promoting the new ideas and new faces that Italy deserves. We will start working even harder at a grassroots level to create a strong, united network throughout Italy by June”.

It is not yet clear if or how a presidential campaign would affect Montezemolo’s role at Ferrari, where he has served as president for the past 20 years.

Ferrari has confirmed that it will unveil its 2012 contender in February. The car will be ready for the first pre-season test at Circuito de Jerez in Spain from 7 to 9 February 2012.

Ferrari Media Chief, Luca Colajanni said, “The new Ferrari F1 car will be presented in early February, in time to take part in the first test session ahead of the season.”

“At the moment it’s not important to say whether the new project is going to be extreme. For sure, it will be a clean break with the past, a very different program, because it aims to win and it marks a change of mentality by the entire team.” he added.

The Italian squad has promised to adopt a more aggressive design approach for their 2012 challenger after Fernando Alonso finished P4 in the Drivers’ standings.

We managed to join up with the Shell and their Helix Invasion Tour to Penang, along with 50 other supercars last weekend making it one of the most expensive and diverse marques heading up north along our Malaysian highways of late. Comprising of Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Maseratis, Porsches, Aston Martins, Nissan GTR R35s and Lotuses, the journey began with a rendezvous at the Proton Centre of Excellence, where a quick safety-brief ensued and into our designated cars we went. Escort outriders from Polis Di Raja Malaysia (PDRM) helped usher us to the designated highway where mechanical abuse of the highest degree took place.

Not a rain cloud was in sight as the sun made plenty sure we were kept at optimal working temperature for the trip up north, which was anything but slow and along for the journey was 25 year old Jordan Ng, who hails from the city of Kuala Lumpur, was one of the lucky winners from zerotohundred.com‘s online contest which allowed him a seat in one of the supercars as a passenger: “I was fortunate to have owned a Mitsubishi EVO 7 in the past and now a Nissan R35 GTR. By winning this interesting Shell Helix Contest, I hope it will spur me to achieve my dream of owning a Ferrari F430 in the near future.”

The supercar convoy comprised mainly of the Blue Jackets Society (BJS) where not anyone and everyone who has a supercar is allowed in as a member, but rather after some ‘character scrutineering’ will a final decision be made. BJS has been closely linked to the Make a Wish Foundation, where they eagerly help to put, not just smiles, but a lasting and memorable one on less fortunate kids who are generally faced with terminal illnesses as explained by the main founder Erwin Dato’ Azizi.

In order for us to keep up with the skilfully quick BJS group out on the open highway, Lotus Cars Malaysia were helpful in providing the media with a few Exige and Evora, so having to meet at Proton’s Centre of Excellence, finally made sense.

Midway into the trip, we made a quick stop at the Penang Inshore Fisherman Welfare Association (PIFWA) at Nibong Tebal, as part of Shell’s Eco-responsibility drive towards the environment, by helping to replant the mangrove forest there, before heading for lunch at Juru’s Autocity and finally pushing onwards to Batu Ferringhi, Penang; where a hot shower and dinner on the beach awaited us at The Golden Sands Resort.

Ferrari has announced its new personalisation programme ‘Tailor-Made’, which will allow Ferrari owners to create a bespoke car suited specifically to their own tastes.

The Tailor-Made programme continues a longstanding Maranello tradition which began in the 1950s and 60s, a time when clients personalised their cars as a matter of course and enjoyed huge freedom when it came to materials, colours and finish. The result was genuinely unique cars tailored to suit the desires of each individual owner.

That prestigious past has now been revived through a programme that permits owners to specify every last detail of their Ferrari, from the exterior livery colour to the cabin trim, via a completely unprecedented choice of finishes, accessories, materials, treatments and colours.

The client’s personal wishes and aspirations lie at the very heart of the Tailor-Made Programme. Owners are assisted and guided through the selection process by their own Personal Designer who is charged with guaranteeing that the resulting cars are both unique and consistent with the Ferrari brand and its tradition. Once the car’s details have been defined, the client can then track all of the various processes involved in its creation, right up until they take delivery. Naturally, they are very welcome to come to Maranello to pick up their car in person if they so wish.

Creativity, research, original materials, superb craftsmanship and attention to detail are the cornerstones of the Tailor-Made programme which offers three collections inspired directly by Ferrari’s DNA: Scuderia, Classica and Inedita.

Scuderia takes its inspiration from Ferrari’s sporting history, offering a choice of racing-derived materials, finishes and liveries. The Classica collection, on the other hand, provides a modern twist on the styling cues and features of Maranello’s iconic GTs. Lastly, Inedita lives up to its name by introducing an element of experimentation and innovation in terms of styling, colours and materials.

Clients are given enormous freedom in their decision making, being able to select everything from traditional and luxury materials, of the likes of cashmere, to trendy ones like denim, and high-tech, innovative carbon-fibre, available to them. This allows clients to achieve a level of exclusivity that’s absolutely unprecedented in the automotive sector. In fact, this is the first time many of the materials offered have been adopted and homologated for use in cars.

Clients are invited to Maranello as part of the Tailor-Made programme. There, they will find a dedicated area that looks and feels very much like a haute couture studio with a huge array of samples of materials, treatments and colours to browse. There is also a material scanner that will provide owners with a preview of the final result.

The Tailor-Made Collections

Maximum performance, tradition, innovation. These are the Ferrari brand core values that underpin all three collections created by the Styling Centre to inspire clients interested in the Tailor-Made programme. Scuderia, Classica and Inedita are the three different “worlds” to choose from to create bespoke Ferraris through unique combinations of the many options available.

Guided and advised by their Personal Designer, new owners can make their selections from the collections to reflect their own personal tastes. They are also welcome to suggest innovative, new solutions and materials which the Styling Centre will then assess for compatibility.

Scuderia

Racing has always been the lifeblood of Ferrari which has enjoyed unparalleled success on the world’s circuits since its earliest days. The Scuderia collection is therefore very much homage to the track, a fact reflected in the materials and finishes it includes. The list of options in the Scuderia collection ranges all the way from carbon-fibre trim to technical fabrics, chamois and rubberised leather, Alcantara, microfibres, Kevlar, satin-finish and matte metals. Clients can work with the Scuderia collection to ensure their Ferraris epitomise the very pinnacle of sportiness.

The 250 Testa Rossa, which sold at auction at Pebble Beach in August 2011 for a record $16.4 million, provided the inspiration for the 458 Spider sporting blue and white NART stripes over an historic Rosso Racing body colour. The latter’s seats are upholstered in the same leather used in the Formula 1 cars of the past – a trim that’s light, breathable and feels very much like chamois leather to the touch. The original 250 Testa Rossa had an aluminium dashboard which has now been given a innovative twist in the form of Alutex, an extremely tough, light fibreglass and aluminium material. The cabin is also trimmed with a diamond-quilted fabric inspired by the original Testa Rossa motif.

Classica

In the Classica collection, the styling cues and features of Maranello’s iconic GTs are given a more modern yet still classic look, through the use of the latest materials and production techniques. Elegant pastel colours of the past; the use of vintage leather, or wool, cashmere or velvet; special treatments for the hard areas of the cabin to match the exterior; chromed elements, stitching details and more natural leathers – these are just some of the options available from this collection.

Another icon that’s been given a modern reworking in the Classic collection is the FF inspired by the 250 Europa: it has three-layer Ingrid silver paintwork with dark grey sills and rims. The cabin is a hymn to classicism with a few unusual flourishes mixed in: pinstripe cloth and dark brown semi-aniline leather seats, cashmere roof lining, grey carpet mats, interior trim inserts in the same colour as the exterior, teak-trimmed boot. The overall result is a sublimely classic atmosphere harking back to the original 250 Europa without detracting in any way from its uniqueness and elegance.

Inedita

Inedita does exactly what its name suggests: it introduces novel, innovative styling cues which nonetheless respect the marque’s core values. This is the most experimental of the three collections and we feel it may well give rise to some of the classic trims and finishes of the future. Denim, bold leather upholstery, suit fabrics and technical fabrics are just a few of the innovative and intriguing options available to owners who choose to personalise their cars from the Inedita collection.

The denim-trimmed Ferrari California is a good example of what the collection offers: pale blue leather alternates with denim trim in certain areas of the cabin and seats as well as on the door panels and lower part of the dash. The areas of the cabin normally trimmed in aluminium are now dark blue carbon-fibre. The car sports a Blu Scozia livery, a historic Ferrari colour here given an all-new matte finish. The wheel rims are unusual too as their external surface is dark blue while the inside is pale blue in a nod to the contrast seen in the cockpit. A proposal that, from a point of view of styling, really does push the boundaries and sets a new benchmark in the automotive sector today.

To celebrate this historic event, as well as give a send out to its 599 GTB Fiorano, Ferrari is launching the special “60 Years of Victories in Formula 1 (60F1)” package for the popular grand tourer.

The special edition car also honours current Scuderia Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso who secured the team’s first win of the 2011 F1 season in the Ferrari 150° Italia race car.

The latest Ferrari 599 GTB 60F1 is based around the 599 fitted with the Handling Grand Turismo Evoluzione (HGTE) package.

The technical modifications of the HGTE package include a modified suspension setup with stiffer springs, a thicker rear anti-roll bar, and new calibration settings for the magnetorheological shock absorbers when the manettino is at its sportier settings. The ride height is also lowered, which in turn lowers the car’s centre of gravity. The package also includes specifically optimized tyres featuring a compound that offers even better grip than the already sticky standard tyres.

In addition, as part of the newly established Tailor Made Program, the new special edition Ferrari features modifications to both the exterior and cabin with detailing, colours and materials inspired by Gonzalez’s and Alonso’s race cars.

A choice of three different liveries is available for the exterior. Clients can choose from:

375 F1 Livery: The same red as clothed Froilan Gonzalez’s 375 F1 is used. This is a historic red used by the Scuderia for its very first Formula 1 cars. Its darker pastel tone gives the car a compact and sporty look.

Ferrari 150° Italia Livery: this car has the Scuderia 2011 red livery used for Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari 150° Italia. The exterior also features Formula 1 white on the lower part of the front bumpers and mudguards, bonnet, A-posts and buttresses. The tricolour featured on the spoiler of the F150 is also represented on the rear.

Ferrari 150° Italia 2 Livery: the car is painted in the Scuderia 2011 red used on Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari 150° Italia. In this version, however, white is used only on the lower part of the bumpers and there is no tricolour at the rear.

The exterior features shared by all of the versions include a Scuderia Ferrari shield on front wheel arches painted as per competition cars, a satin-finish aluminium fuel cap as well as 20″ diamond-finish forged wheel rims.

The cabin takes its inspiration from iconic details of both Alonso and Gonzalez’s cars. Extensive use has also been made of innovative and technical materials.

The result is very much a track car look with dark shades predominating. There are, however, touches of strong, contrasting colour, such as in the seatbelts and on the dashboard.

The seats are by Sabelt in the European version and Recaro in the American version. They feature an innovative technical material known as Superfabric which provides superb grip and has been used in the areas of greatest contact with the driver’s body. This is similar to Formula 1 and makes for optimal grip, particularly in extreme driving situations. The seats are upholstered in black Alcantara and the Scuderia Ferrari logo is stitched onto the headrests.

The four-point safety harnesses underscore the racing set-up and are in the Red and Blue specified by FIA for the 2010-2011 Formula 1 Championship. For all those markets where four-point safety harnesses cannot be homologated three points red safety harnesses are offered.

Aluminium was used in Gonzalez’s car and this fact inspired a high tech, innovative modern reworking that sees Alutex trim on the dashboard. Alutex is an innovative material made of metallic fibres and fibreglass. It is both extremely tough and light. The Alutex has been given a matt finish that highlights its texture whilst preventing any glare issues.

Finally, the dashboard sports a special silver plaque commemorating 60 years of Ferrari victories in F1 and featuring the signatures of Froilan Gonzalez and Fernando Alonso.

The 36th edition of the Bologna Motor Show provides the venue for the unveiling of an evolution of the extreme, non-homologated sports berlinetta, the 599XX. Ferrari has introduced a package of performance-enhancing technical features available to clients participating in the track-based research and development programme for the 2012-2013 seasons.

Already the fruit of the very finest Ferrari road car and Formula 1-derived technology, the 599XX now features improved chassis dynamics thanks to an active aerodynamic package integrated with the vehicles’ electronic control systems, and the adoption of new Pirelli tyres. The car is also more powerful than before (750 CV) and weighs 35kg less. The key to the aero package is the active rear wing design which represents a new aerodynamic concept called ‘opening gap’. The wing features two flaps, with profiles similar to those used in Formula 1, which rotate electronically to adjust the downforce between the front and rear axles in function of vehicle speed and the manoeuvre being effected. The result of this concept is better performance in cornering. The 599XX active rear wing is actuated automatically according to specific parameters which are integrated with the car’s other control functions (ESP, ABS, SCM and F1-Trac). As a result of this integration, all the electronic controls have been suitably recalibrated. The ‘opening gap’ system logic is based on the following parameters: – steering wheel angle – longitudinal acceleration – lateral acceleration – vehicle speed The new aerodynamics package for the 599XX also includes a modified front splitter and a new rear diffuser featuring a larger surface area and redesigned fences and foot-plates. Total downforce at 200 km/h is boosted to 330 kg when the flaps are open and 440 kg in the closed configuration.

The adoption of side exhausts allowed the engineers to increase engine power by 20 CV to 750 CV (again at 9000 rpm), while maximum torque has been increased to 700 Nm. When combined with a final gear ratio that’s slightly shorter to improve acceleration on technical, medium- to high-speed tracks, the result is that the car laps Fiorano in just 1’15”.

The Ferrari stand at the Bologna Motor Show is devoted entirely to its racing activities and features the 458 Challenge, the mid-rear V8 berlinetta derived from the 458 Italia and Ferrari’s fifth model for its single-make championship. This series, now in its 19th year, will span three continents – Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.

Also on the stand is the fielded by AF Corse. This is the car that won the Drivers’ and Teams’ title in the Le Mans Series and the Teams’ title in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, and also contributed to Ferrari’s taking the Manufacturers’ title in the respective championships. The line-up of track-only Prancing Horse models is completed by the 458 Italia GT3 which made a superb FIA GT3 debut by winning the Drivers’ title, and the FXX, Ferrari’s “laboratory” car and one of the most technologically advanced non-competitive models in the world.

On December 3rd, the Show hosts three events featuring the Prancing Horse, two of which will see no less than 16 cars from the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series taking part in the traditional end-of-year challenge.

The extensive programme planned for the competition arena will culminate in the traditional Scuderia Ferrari salute with an exhibition of the F10, the single-seater with which Ferrari competed in the 2010 Formula 1 season. The car will have a very special guest driver on this occasion: Giancarlo Fisichella.

Four lucky Malaysians — Seah Sin Jiun, Kok Chee Seng, Rahizah Mastar and Ghazali Ahmad, were among 200 guests from over 20 countries who enjoyed the sights and sounds of Abu Dhabi recently as the 2011 Shell Helix ‘Fastest 48 Hours of Your Life’ promotion drew to a close.

The four winners of the Malaysian edition of the global promotion enjoyed a VIP visit to the famous Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park, a ride on the world’s fastest roller coaster, Formula Rossa, dinner in the desert and tickets to watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The four had beaten 11 other finalists from all over Malaysia at a fun-filled finale at the Berjaya Times Square Theme Park in October.

Ms Seow Lee Ming, Cluster Marketing Manager, Shell Lubricants SEA-South, said: “It’s great that so many Shell Helix customers, including our four winners from Malaysia, could participate in this ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ event. Working with Ferrari in Formula One and on the road really helps us differentiate Shell Helix. This competition has certainly brought it to life.

Shell topped the list of the world’s leading lubricant suppliers for the fifth year running*. Our consistent focus on leading technology and strong customer relationships has helped us to this achievement. The weekend in Abu Dhabi has been a perfect example of that, as customers from around the world have watched our technical partnership with Ferrari in action on the track.”

The three-day programme saw guests fly into the Emirate on a Friday to join fellow winners, journalists and colleagues from around the world at a gala dinner under the stars. They had the chance to meet Shell’s Formula One™ Trackside Team, just back from the Yas Marina circuit where they had been working with Shell’s technical partner, Ferrari.

The following day, the group travelled the short distance to Yas Island where they enjoyed VIP access to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – the world’s largest indoor theme park. Once inside, the morning was spent enjoying the park, discovering more about Shell’s work with Ferrari at the re-created Trackside Laboratory and a key highlight of the park – Formula Rossa, the World’s fastest roller coaster. After the adrenalin-filled visit to the theme park, the party got a taste of the more traditional side of life in the Gulf as they travelled into the desert for a traditional Arabic dinner.

Sunday morning saw the guests travel back to Yas Island where Ferrari secured its tenth podium finish of the season thanks to a fantastic second place finish in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from Fernando Alonso. His team-mate Felipe Massa added to the points total, by coming home fifth in the other 150º Italia.

Leila Prati, Shell Helix Global Brand Manager, said: “The ‘Fastest 48 Hours of Your Life’ is the fourth consecutive year of the Global Shell Helix brand campaign. We’re thrilled with the response. Our technical partnership with Ferrari allows us to develop superb products for the road while our passion for cars and racing is shared with our consumers all around the world.”

The Malaysian edition of the Shell Helix `Win the Fastest 48 Hours of Your Life in Abu Dhabi’ contest from 15 June to 31 August, 2011 was opened to consumers who purchase a four-litre pack of Shell Helix Ultra fully synthetic or Shell Helix HX7 synthetic technology motor oil with special Active Cleansing Technology.

It drew more than 6,000 entries from around Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak.