Ferrari is approaching the official reveal of the successor to its famed Enzo, and the upcoming car looks like it will live up to that legacy.

Going by the names F150 and F70, the new supercar will be a hybrid, with a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) adding 150 horsepower to the 800 produced by the V12 engine, according to Jalopnik.

The huge 950 figures makes it more powerful — by 220 horsepower — than the F12berlinetta, the fastest Ferrari ever built.

The F70 should be revealed in full at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. Until then, here's a video of it in testing on the track, courtesy of YouTube user Marchettino:

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ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's current account deficit narrowed last year to its lowest level since the country joined the euro, adding to evidence that the economy is slowly responding to harsh austerity measures.

The gap narrowed by 73 percent in 2012 to 5.58 billion euros ($7.45 billion), helped by falling imports and lower interest payments after a sovereign debt cut, the country's central bank said on Tuesday.

The bank gave no breakdown on the extent to which import cuts reflected less purchases of machinery by Greek firms, a bad sign for crumbling investment levels and chances of a much needed revival in exports such machines could produce.

However, one telltale statistic showed how showy lifestyles are out of fashion in bailed-out Greece. Only one new Ferrari sports car was registered nationally in the whole of 2012. That, plus one used Ferrari sold, contrasted with 21 new and 37 used ones in 2007, the last year before Greece's recession started.

The current account deficit shrank to 2.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012 from 9.9 percent the previous year - its lowest level since at least 1999, according to available data.

"The pace of the adjustment was impressive last year," said Nikos Magginas, an economist at the country's biggest lender National Bank.

The current account balance is a key measure of how competitive a nation's economy is and of whether it is living within its means. The reading had deteriorated during a debt-fuelled economic boom to a record deficit of 14.7 percent of GDP in 2008.

But a severe economic contraction, partly due to austerity measures as part of the country's international bailout, has narrowed the gap and may eliminate it in 2014, according to government estimates.

In a further sign of economic adjustment announced last week, consumer prices stopped rising in January for the first time since at least 1996, reflecting a plunge of almost a third in households' real disposable income.

Most of the improvement in the current account reflected falling imports, as austerity-hurt businesses and households cut down on purchases of foreign machinery and consumer goods that are not produced at home. Imports dropped by 12 percent to 41.6 billion euros, according to central bank figures.

Interest payments on Greece's sovereign debt dropped sharply after a 75 percent writedown Athens imposed on private sector bondholders back in March. The income account balance, which reflects such payments, narrowed by 75 percent to 2.16 billion euros.

Tourism, Greece's chief money spinner, was not much help, falling by 4.6 percent to generate revenues of 10.02 billion euros on shrinking arrivals from Germany, the country's biggest tourism market.

Exports rose by a mere 3.8 percent and the country needed to do better than that to keep its payments balance broadly balanced when the economy recovers, economists warned.

"We need more exports of goods for the correction in the current account deficit to become permanent," Magginas said.

Several in-built characteristics of the Greek economy tend to tilt it towards current account deficits, such as high dependence on foreign energy sources and imported products which cannot be easily replaced with domestic ones.

The share of exports as part of the country's GDP stands at about 25 percent of GDP, the lowest level among the 17 countries sharing the euro.

Greece's foreign exchange reserves stood at 5.5 billion euros at the end of December, the Bank of Greece added.

($1 = 0.7490 euros)

(Editing by Stephen Nisbet)

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The announcement couldn’t have been more glorious in crisis-struck Italy: Ferrari booked records sales and profits in 2012. The report was dazzling in every aspect. Not a single cloud darkened the horizon.

Except in Italy where sales collapsed. And in the rest of the world, where central-bank printer ink stained the records.

Worldwide revenues rose 8% from prior year, to €2.43 billion, exceeding the previous record set in 2008 before the financial crisis rattled the nerves of the rich. A total of 7,318 cars were delivered to dealers, up 4.5%. Price increases stuck. Net profit jumped 17.8% to €244 million. And the company sat on an industrial net cash position of over €1 billion.

“We are all enormously proud of ending the year with these kinds of results despite the unfavorable economic backdrop in many European nations, and the distinctly hostile one in Italy,” said Chairman Luca di Montezemolo. The distinctly hostile one in Italy: we’ll get to that.

He spread the praise. “The credit for this goes to the men and women in Ferrari, the strength of the brand....” Etc. etc. But he forgot to mention the most important factor in Ferrari’s glory: central banks.

They printed trillions of dollars, euros, yuan, and other currencies and handed them to their cronies. It created side bubbles to the most gargantuan credit bubble ever, and some of it trickled down to luxury goods. 

Ferrari, 90% of which is owned by its illustrious sister Fiat and 10% by Piero Ferrari, is doing a lot of things right. In addition to building fabulous cars that few people can afford to buy and that fewer still can afford to drive on a daily basis—they’re assets, not transportation—it excels in brand management: Brand Finance just anointed it the most valuable brand in the world, based on financial metrics and qualitative measures, in an arena where Apple, Coca-Cola, and other giants are slugging it out!

So, unit sales in the US and Canada jumped 14.6% to 2,058 cars, an all-time record. They were up in the Middle East, Africa, and “Greater China.” And 14.4% in Japan. Economic stagnation doesn’t apply to the rich. Even Europe “performed very impressively”—though overall passenger car sales fell by 8.2% as the economic crisis was eating everyone’s lunch. Unit sales in Germany rose by 8.2% to 750 cars, in Great Britain by 20.4% to 673 cars, in Switzerland by 17.4% to 357 cars. OK, those aren’t exactly a lot of cars, compared to the 13.6 million cars sold in Europe, but Ferraris are for the chosen few.

Yet in Italy, only 318 cars were delivered, a hair-raising plunge of 46%. Total passenger car sales dropped 20%, but that shouldn’t have stopped a few hundred rich Italians. It didn’t stop the rich in other countries. So, why did Italians not want to enjoy the hard-earned fruits of their labor? Ah yes, the distinctly hostile economic backdrop, as Chairman di Montezemolo put it so elegantly.

Or more accurately, the crackdown on tax-cheats. It was so mediatized that it regularly made the news even in the US, where not a lot of news from Italy is accorded that dubious honor. Prime Minister Mario Monti, after he’d alighted on the top perch, set out to do something about the $2.5 trillion in public debt that has been suffocating Italy. He went where the money was: tax evasion in an economy where an estimated 17% of the activity takes place underground.

Targets were chosen wisely. For example, the raid on Alpine ski resort Cortina d’Ampezzo last February by the Agenzia delle Entrate. The tax collection agency caught in its net numerous middle-class people, earning between €30,000 and €39,000 per year, who were hanging out there—showing off their gleaming Ferraris.

And not just individuals. “We identified companies that had apparently been making losses for years,” explained Marco di Capua, deputy director of the Agenzia delle Entrate. “If someone is buying an SUV or a yacht or sending their children to private schools and declaring revenue of €5,000 a year, then you’re going to be asking how that’s possible.”

By May, Monti was going for a cultural change, postulating that tax fraud by the rich hurts the poor. They are giving “poisoned bread to their children,” he said. Tax authorities claimed that they’d identified more than 2,000 owners of luxury cars who’d cheated on their taxes and that they’d discovered billions in unpaid taxes so far that year. They explained it this way: “Luxuries are often the first clue.”

Ferrari’s results are proof that the strategy is working, if in the opposite direction: rich Italians became reluctant to blow their untaxed money—while their counterparts in the rest of the world are luxuriating in what central banks have made available to them.

Ferrari success remains one of the exceptions in Europe. PSA Peugeot Citroën, France’s largest automaker, announced a colossal write-down on top of a hefty operating loss. Rumors spread immediately that PSA would need a bailout. The second in four months. And it triggered an old nightmare the Socialists have been trying desperately to forget. Read..... French Socialist Nightmare: ‘The State Cannot Do Everything’.

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You are looking at the first images of Ferrari’s new flagship supercar, the LaFerrari, Italian for “TheFerrari.”

Code named the F150, the car that replaces the Enzo at the top of the Ferrari hierarchy made its debut today at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, easily stealing the limelight from all other debuts.

We can confirm that its powertrain is a hybrid setup that pairs Ferrari’s 6.3-liter V-12 engine and seven-speed dual-clutch 'box with its HY-KERS hybrid setup to boost output and lower emissions.

The system consists of two electric motors, one mounted to the gearbox and sending drive to the rear wheels and the other used to take some of the load off the engine by powering auxiliary devices.

Peak output of the combined system is a staggering 963 horsepower, as measured in metric figures. In good ol’ American numbers that’s still 950 horsepower to play with. Torque comes in at more than 660 pound-feet, with the final figure not yet confirmed.

Ferrari hasn’t given final performance numbers just yet, but says the LaFerrari will reach 60 mph in under 3.0 seconds and reach a top speed in excess of 217 mph (expected to be 230 mph). The car’s closest rival, the McLaren P1, which also debuts in Geneva, has similar specs but has its top speed limited to 217 mph. Another area were the LaFerrari is said to outmatch the P1 is in the 0-186 mph sprint, which the Ferrari should do in 15 seconds versus the McLaren’s quoted 17 seconds

Fiorano lap in less than 1:20

Ferrari boasts a lap time of its Fiorano test track of less than 1:20, which is 5.0 seconds quicker than the Enzo and 3.0 seconds quicker than the F12 Berlinetta.

The LaFerrari follows in a long line of ‘special series’ cars from the famous Italian sports car manufacturer. From the GTO of the 1980s right up to the Enzo supercar launched last decade, Ferrari’s special series cars have always been heavy hitters and some of the best examples of the transfer of technology from Formula One to the road.

n the case of the latest car, two of the headline technologies is the new hybrid system, Ferrari’s first on one of its production cars, and a new carbon fiber monocoque developed by Ferrari’s F1 technical director Rory Byrne. According to Ferrari, the central structure displays 27 percent more torsional rigidity and 22 percent more beam stiffness than the Enzo’s already stiff core.

The structure features no less than four different types of carbon fiber, all hand-laminated and autoclave-cured in the racing department using the same design and production methods as the F1 car. This helped optimize the design: various functions were integrated (e.g. seats and battery compartment) into the chassis. The final curb weight, not confirmed yet, is expected to be around 2,800 pounds.

Numerous benefits of hybrid tech

Purists may dislike the thought that Ferrari’s latest and greatest supercar is a hybrid, but the beauty of the system is that it not only cuts fuel consumption but it also allows for precise torque vectoring, traction control and brake force distribution. Ferrari claims a 10 percent reduction in the 0-124 mph sprint, along with a 40 percent reduction in emissions compared to a non-hybrid solution.

The hybrid also helps achieve those impressive power figures. While the car’s 6.3-liter V-12, a variation of the unit from the F12 Berlinetta and FF, is a masterpiece on its own, its peak output only reaches 789 horsepower--despite revving to 9,250 rpm. The main electric motor helps lift that to the 950 horsepower figure that will ensure the LaFerrari is the fastest road car to ever emerge from the Ferrari factory in Maranello.

Powering the electrical system is a lithium-ion battery that’s sourced from Samsung and weighs just over 130 pounds by itself. The batteries are charged in different ways: under braking (even hard braking with the ABS active) and every time the V-12 produces more torque than required, such as in cornering. In the latter instance, rather than being sent to the wheels, the excess torque is converted to energy and stored in the batteries.

Active aerodynamics constantly at work

Another marvel is the car’s active aerodynamics. The engineers’ aim was to deliver the highest degree of aerodynamic efficiency ever achieved with any road car, with a coefficient of drag of nearly 3.0, thanks to technical solutions honed with CFD analysis and fine-tuned in the F1 wind tunnel.

To boost efficiency, the LaFerrari sports active aerodynamic devices front (diffusers and guide vane on the underbody) and rear (diffusers and rear spoiler) which generate downforce when needed without compromising the car’s overall drag coefficient. These devices deploy automatically on the basis of a number of different performance parameters which are monitored in real time by the car’s dynamic vehicle controls.

One further innovative aspect of the LaFerrari is the integration of its active aerodynamics and hybrid system with the other dynamic control systems aboard. Proprietary algorithms deliver optimal integration of all the various systems, automatically and often without the driver even noticing. In cornering, for instance, the HY-KERS keeps the V12’s revs high to guarantee better acceleration on exit.

The brakes are from Brembo and are composed of a special carbon-ceramic material. They are housed within 19-inch wheels up front and 20-inch wheels at the rear. The tires are Pirelli P Zeros that measure up to 345/30 at the rear. Also aiding the handling are magnetorheological-type dampers, an electronic differential and Ferrari’s F1-Trac stability and traction control.

Production run of only 499 cars

A very advanced and uncompromising approach was also taken for the interior, which features an interface inspired by F1 single-seaters. The seat is fixed and tailored to the driver while both the pedal box and steering wheel are adjustable. The driving position is similar to that of a single-seater and was designed after consultation with the Scuderia Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, who played an active role throughout the entire development process.

Only 499 examples of the LaFerrari are scheduled to be produced, and all are almost certainly accounted for.

Be sure to stay up-to-the-minute with all of our Geneva Motor Show coverage, and if you haven't already, follow us on Twitter @MotorAuthority.

SEE ALSO: 13 Cars We Can't Wait To See At The Geneva Motor Show

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At the Geneva Auto Show this week, a veritable glut of supercars made their debuts, with spectacular offerings from Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Aston Martin.

Two of those cars stood out: McLaren's P1, which we got a preview of in New York in December, and the oddly-named LaFerrari, the successor to the Enzo and Ferrari's new flagship supercar.

Both are gorgeous. Both are hybrids. Both cost more than $1 million.

But one has to be better, and we crunched the numbers — considering power, speed, looks, and more — to find out which is number one.

NAME: The P1 name links the car to McLaren’s legendary F1, the former fastest production car in the world.

NAME: LaFerrari is Italian for “The Ferrari.” In English or Italian, it sounds dumb.

NAME: McLaren takes this one, easily.

McLaren P1: 1

LaFerrari: 0

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In addition to its new flagship supercar, Ferrari brought something to the Geneva Motor Show for its more run-of-the-mill buyers.

The relatively affordable $300,000 Ferrari FF, first introduced in Geneva in 2011, is now chock full of Apple products.

The four-seater has iPad Minis integrated in the backs of the driver and passenger seat headrests, so the back seat travelers can watch movies, play games, and use the Internet.

More impressive — and important — is what the driver gets: the ability to control the FF's infotainment system using Siri, in Eyes Free mode.

We've been disappointed by even the best efforts at voice recognition technology from automakers: The best of the lot, Cadillac's heavily promoted CUE system, responded to our voice command "Navigate to Logan International Airport," with "Tune to Hair Nation XM."

Drivers would rather use their smartphones than mediocre built-in navigation systems, and we think the same goes for voice control systems.

Thankfully, Apple is making progress getting automakers to use its technology: GM is already incorporating Siri Eyes Free into some vehicles.

Not only is Siri more advanced than what automakers have developed so far, many users are familiar with it. They won't need to learn to use yet another technology, and can focus on enjoying their brand new Ferrari.

SUPERCAR BATTLE: McLaren's P1 Vs. Ferrari's LaFerrari

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A damaged Ferrari once belonging to Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is to be sold on eBay, after its new owner came to an agreement with the Internet auction site, the vendor's laywer said on Thursday.

Renaud Bettcher told AFP said he and his client -- a garage owner from the eastern city of Strasbourg -- were "very satisfied" that they had finally been given the go-ahead to sell the car, after eBay asked for proof of its provenance.

The site would also pay undisclosed damages to the dealership, the lawyer added. According to the Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace newspaper, the figure could be as much as 20,000 euros ($26,000, £17,000).

Star Autos took action against eBay after the auction site withdrew an advert for the sale of the car "for security reasons" and concern that it may not have been genuine.

It then asked the garage to provide proof about its previous owner, which Bettcher said they supplied three times.

No date was given for the new sale.

The garage bought the red Ferrari 599 GTB from a Portuguese vendor for about 33,000 euros and had been asking for 50,000 euros for it at auction. Bids had reached 125,000 euros when the item was withdrawn.

Ronaldo crashed the 250,000-euro sports car into a barrier near Manchester airport in 2009, a week before the then-Manchester United striker was awarded the 2008 Ballon d'Or as world player of the year.

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Ferrari has confirmed its new LaFerrari flagship supercar has already racked more than a thousand requests, despite its asking price being well over a million dollars (the final figure is yet to be announced).

Unfortunately, Ferrari has chosen to limit production to just 499 examples, which means there will be a lot of disappointed millionaires out there.

This means anyone lucky enough to have secured a build slot can look forward to their cars appreciating in value — before they have even been built.

Ferrari’s flagship supercars typically hold their value over time, and in many cases they rise dramatically as car fans and even investors bid up their prices.

Recently in the Financial Times, a number of assets were analyzed to see which gave the best growth over the last 10 years. The best performing assets turned out to be gold and classic cars of significant importance, with the latter offering a return of 395 percent.

With attributes such as this, it’s little surprise that Ferrari’s ‘special series’ cars are regularly sold out before they’re even announced. Unfortunately, just having the money to buy one is no guarantee that you’ll be offered the opportunity.

Ferrari invites only its most loyal customers to place an order. Getting on this list is no easy task as it usually means having already bought several of Ferrari’s cars, and importantly, still owning some of them.

For the budding collectors out there, cars with global appeal and documented histories general do well, especially if they were built in limited quantities--something the LaFerrari meets in most regards.

Code named the F150, the LaFerrari made its debut on Tuesday at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. It is powered by a hybrid drivetrain that pairs a V-12 engine with Ferrari’s own HY-KERS hybrid setup designed to boost output and lower emissions. Peak output is 950 horsepower and “more than” 660 pound-feet of torque, which will ensure the car reaches 60 mph in under 3.0 seconds, 186 mph in 15 seconds and allow a top speed above 217 mph.

For our complete coverage on the new Ferrari LaFerrari, click here.

SUPERCAR BATTLE: McLaren's P1 Vs. Ferrari's LaFerrari

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An exhibition motoring event in Rio de Janeiro ended badly for some spectators on Sunday, when a Ferrari lost control and crashed into the crowd.

Three people were injured, two were taken to the hospital, but none had serious injuries, according to Brazilian news site Gaz.

The driver of the yellow 458 Italia was taken into custody and was fined.

The event, called the TNT Race, included a Formula One exhibition, attended by Brazilian driver Felipe Massa.

Watch the video:

SUPERCAR BATTLE: McLaren's P1 Vs. Ferrari's LaFerrari

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Owning a Ferrari is the dream of many car enthusiasts the world over, since the iconic Italian brand is forever linked with performance and handling.

According to a new United Kingdom study conducted by insurer AXA Group, you’d probably be happier behind the wheel of a BMW or an Aston Martin.

The study surveyed 2,000 drivers from the U.K. on a variety of factors relating to happiness behind the wheel, and the results may be a bit surprising. Overall, 69 percent  of motorists claimed to enjoy driving, with only 20 percent viewing it only as a necessary evil.

Among all brands, BMW drivers were happiest, with 82 percent savoring the time spent in their vehicles. Aston Martin drivers were next-happiest (78 percent), followed by Lexus (also 78 percent), Seat (76 percent) and Peugeot (75 percent).

Ferrari drivers, surprisingly enough, scored below the average for driving enjoyment. Only 57 percent of those surveyed found driving to be an entertaining task, likely due to factors such as cost of ownership, ever-tightening regulations and traffic congestion on public roads.

Land Rover owners weren’t particularly happy, either, with just 59 percent enjoying the daily commute. That’s still better than Volvo owners, of which only 46 percent relish time spent at the helm.

MINI drivers are 73 percent happy, putting the brand on par with Seat and Peugeot. That seems to back up our theory that driving a slow car fast is far more entertaining than driving a fast car slow.

In fact, our vision of heaven involves a Mazda MX-5 with a bottomless fuel tank on an endless, winding road. Hell, to us, would be an eternity spent behind the wheel of a Ferrari F40, stuck behind a gaggle of Toyota Camrys circulating the Nürburgring Nordschleife at a maximum speed of 40 mph.

SUPERCAR BATTLE: McLaren's P1 Vs. Ferrari's LaFerrari

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Ford will drum up further excitement surrounding its FF1 track car by presenting it at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK this July, and taking it up the event’s famous hill climb.

The street-legal trackster is powered by a tiny 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine, yet it can lap the Nürburgring in just 7:22 (when its output is tuned to 202 horsepower), making it faster around the arduous German race track than cars like the Ferrari Enzo and the Pagani Zonda.

At the same time, its downsized three-cylinder design, direct fuel injection, turbocharging and variable valve timing all help deliver fuel economy better than that of a subcompact.

With moderate driving, Ford says its FF1 single-seater can return fuel economy in excess of 80 mpg.

The FF1’s power output resides at 123 horsepower in street-legal trim, though it’s still capable of outmatching much more powerful machines on the track even in this lower state of tune.

Ford still hasn’t released pricing details for the FF1, however, we’re not sure it matters as we doubt many would even make it across the Atlantic, since our regulations concerning things like advanced airbag systems are a bit inflexible compared to Britain’s Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) exemptions. If it were imported, it would likely be for track use only.

Also making an appearance at Goodwood this year will be the new Ford Fiesta ST as well as the legendary Ford GT40, with the latter taking part in a race at the Goodwood Revival in September that celebrates 50 years since the start of development of the Le Mans-winning icon.

Stay tuned for more details as we approach the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed’s July 11 opening day, but in the meantime click here for our complete coverage of the event.

SEE ALSO: How America's Coolest Automaker Crashed So Hard, So Fast

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An man was recently arrested in southern India after police caught wind he was letting his nine-year-old son drive the family Ferrari.

The Independent's Rob Williams reports authorities moved in on Mohammed Nisham after footage of the young roadster went viral on Youtube. Nisham is described as "a wealthy property tycoon."

Here's the clip.

Read the full story on The Independent's website >

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At a time when even supercar manufacturers are considering launching SUVs, it's good to see that some things are still sacred.

Ferrari, which experienced its best year on record in 2012, with sales totaling 7,318 cars, won’t aim to increase this figure going forward but instead will work on improving exclusivity.

The information was revealed by Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo, who spoke recently with Automotive News (subscription required).

“My focus this year and in the years to come is not to grow volume but to increase the exclusivity of Ferrari,” di Montezemolo said. “This protects our margins and residual values for our customers.”

But as with any business, Ferrari still needs to grow its revenues, even as sales in some markets, including its home market of Italy, decline sharply in the face of an economic crisis.

Here, the company is in the relatively unique position of having several lucrative means to earn revenue, and it is because of these that di Montezemolo expects revenues to grow even if sales remain static.

One is the ever-expanding personalization services offered by the company. In addition to its latest Tailor-Made Program, Ferrari also has its more specialized Carrozzeria Scaglietti, One-to-One, and Special Projects divisions.

Then there is the licensing revenue, which is derived from everything from Ferrari-branded key rings right up to the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.

Finally, there is the Ferrari Classiche division, which works on restoring past Ferrari models. This has proven so popular that Ferrari is now considering opening a second facility in California. The U.S., after all, is the biggest market for Ferrari and has the most number of Ferrari models still on the road.

SUPERCAR BATTLE: McLaren's P1 Vs. Ferrari's LaFerrari

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Ultra-luxe Ferrari is the latest auto manufacturer to set its sights on China.

Earlier this week, Jing Daily wrote about the stream of international car companies – Audi, Tata, and GM among them – that are putting substantial resources into China through new mainland production facilities, research and development centers, and joint ventures.

With the release this week of its new five-year plan, the Italian sports-car maker has joined the club. Sort of.

As reported in China Daily, Ferrari’s announcement does not specify new mainland facilities, but company chairman Luca di Montezemolo indicated that Ferrari will invest $329 million – more than half its five-year R&D budget – in emissions reduction technology, which will help the carmaker meet Chinese energy conservation and emissions requirements.

Beyond research, Ferrari’s China plan focuses primarily on sales and marketing, with stability and incremental growth – not skyrocketing gains – apparently the goal. Together, the Greater China and Far East regions currently generate 28 percent of Ferrari’s annual turnovers; by 2017, Montezemolo expects the number to rise only to 30 percent. By contrast, the increase in the U.S. market is targeted at 10 percent, which will bring that sector to 30 percent as well. Turnover in Europe and the Middle East is expected to decline from the current 52 percent to 40.

China’s current austerity campaign may be one reason for the modest five-year forecast – it is, after all, difficult to be “stealth wealth” about an ultra-premium sports car. Even so, Greater China is the company’s second-largest global market. Last year 784 Ferraris were sold there, more than 10 percent of global 2012 sales of 7,318. By the end of the year the brand will add three more mainland dealerships, bringing the Greater China total to 30.

“I’m satisfied with our market performance in China,” Montezemolo said in China Daily. “In the coming years we will put more effort into China, the world’s largest vehicle market, including training customers into making the Prancing Horse [the Ferrari marque] more favored by growing new rich.”

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In the realm of supercars — where prices, top speeds, and horsepower are all sky high — it can be hard to know what's the best choice.

To help you decide if your next ride should be a Lamborghini Aventador or a Ferrari 458 Italia, there's supercar comparison site TwinRev.com.

Rather than focus on the look and feel of the cars, TwinRev provides a full, numbers-driven breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of each, drawing on testing numbers and professional reviews.

You should drop the extra $150,000 on the Aventador. Here's why:

For more supercar comparisons, head over to TwinRev.com.

SUPERCAR BATTLE: McLaren's P1 Vs. Ferrari's LaFerrari

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Cars may be machines, but they can still be incredibly sexy.

Curving lines, powerful engines, and outrageous luxury can draw people in just as much as a pretty face.

That's why we've assembled this list of the 50 sexiest cars of the past century.

We've got American muscle, Italian speed, and British luxury. We even have Swedish power.

Some of these cars were lemons, some were total flops. Others were wildly successful and are still on the market today. But every last one is packed with sex appeal.

50. A rather hefty ride, the Hummer H2 has none of the sleek characteristics that often note a sexy car. Its appealing, brawny look marked the heyday of the big American SUV.

49. A product of the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Miura was one of the first cars Lamborghini built to rival Ferrari (Ferruccio Lamborghini founded the car company after making his money in tractors). The model pictured here once belonged to Frank Sinatra.

48. Maserati was founded in 1914, but it didn't build a grand touring car (for luxury and long drives) until 1957, when the 3500GT went into production. With room for four and a straight-six cylinder engine, it was a beautiful machine.

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Anyone who wants to own Ferrari's latest supercar should already have 20 to 30 Ferraris in his collection, Ferrari North America CEO Marco Mattiacci said Wednesday.

Fame alone cannot secure someone a spot on the very short list for the car, LaFerrari. It takes devotion to the brand.

Asked if Barack Obama could buy the car, estimated at $1.3 million, Mattiacci said maybe. But he noted that several very high profile people have already requested one and been turned down.

The new flagship supercar was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It combines a V12 engine with Ferrari's HY-KERS hybrid system, which produces 950 horsepower. That will send the car from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds, and give it a top speed above 217 mph.

Ferrari took 1,000 requests for the car almost immediately.

The limited run — only 499 will be built — is an extreme example of Ferrari's recent decision to push down production to make its cars more exclusive and valuable.

Speaking at a panel about the state of the luxury market on Wednesday, Mattiacci said the brand wants "to grow in a qualitative way."

Ferraris offer heritage, quality, and exclusivity, he said. "I would compare these cars to Picassos."

The future of luxury panel was hosted by Burgess Yachts and moderated by CNBC Wealth Reporter Robert Frank. Burgess Yachts CEO Jonathan Beckett and Gotham Jets CEO Gianpaolo De Felice also spoke.

SEE ALSO: The 50 Sexiest Cars Of The Past 100 Years

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Owning a Ferrari is, we assume, both a wondrous and worrisome time in one's life. The car is a work of art that enjoys being driven near its limit.

It's also a fickle beast that demands constant care, which costs big bucks. If you can afford a Ferrari, however, you're probably able to care for the car in the manner it should be.

There's a difference though, between owning a Ferrari... and collecting them. If you are a person who does the latter, have we found the deal for you.

Ferrari of New England is offering up a trio of top-tier Ferrari supercars. There's the 2003 Enzo shown above, a 1995 Ferrari F50, and a 1990 F40. This is damn near the murder's row of Ferrari supremacy.

All of the cars are in amazing shape and, the most amazing part, have less than 800 miles on their odometers... combined. The F40 shows 202 miles, the F50 wears 230, and the Enzo has just 273 miles.

All three can be yours if you're willing to part with $6 million. In fact, if you're interested in any of the three you're going to also want the other two because this trio is being sold as a group. It's essentially a pre-made starter pack to turn anyone with a few extra (million) bucks into a collector of fine Ferrari machines. You're not starting with a 355, 360, and 430 here. You're getting vehicles that signify amazing timeline points in the company known for making beautifully exotic high-performance motoring icons.

Importantly, you'll own more than half of Ferrari's 'special series cars,' with the only missing examples being the 288 GTO and latest LaFerrari. We'll excuse you for not having a 250 GTO among your collection, considering the starting price for one of these is well into eight-figures territory.

SEE ALSO: The 50 Sexiest Cars Of The Past 100 Years

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Rental cars no longer need to be boring. For travelers who want to drive in style, Hertz is now offering a fleet of supercars through its Hertz Dream Cars program.

The fleet includes rides from Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Tesla, and more, at 35 locations around the U.S.

Naturally, a top of the line rental costs more than a few days in an old Chevy Impala. Hertz's Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Bentleys start at $1,500 per day, and cost $3 for every mile above the 75 mile limit.

The Aston Martin Vantage and Audi R8 both start at $1,000 per day, with the same $3/mile penalty. The cheaper end of the luxury lineup, including Porsche and Mercedes rides, will cost you $350 per diem, with a $.49 penalty for roll of the odometer over the 75 mile limit.

Here's the full list of available whips. Hertz does not disclose how many it has of each:

• Aston Martin V8 Vantage
• Audi R8
• Bentley Continental GT
• Cadillac CTS-V
• Ferrari (California, F430)
• Lamborghini Gallardo
• Land Rover Range Rover Sport
• Mercedes-Benz AMG (SLS, C63, E63)
• Mercedes-Benz SL550, S550 and G550
• Porsche (911, Cayenne, Boxster, Panamera)
• SRT Viper
• Tesla Model S

SEE ALSO: The 50 Sexiest Cars Of The Past 100 Years

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We see numerous replica supercars come and go, including some that could fool even an expert’s eye, but rarely do you hear of the cars' builders being busted by the cops, despite the obvious copyright infringements and other breaches of the law that typically go hand in hand with replica supercars.  

That wasn’t the case for the unscrupulous builders of these replica Ferraris, who were arrested and had the contents of their workshop in Valencia, Spain seized by the local authorities.

A total of 19 cars, most of them Ferrari F430 replicas, though some Aston Martin models were also present, were seized by police. Eight men were arrested and charged.

The cars were sold over the Internet and were priced from 40,000 euros (approximately $53,000), according to the police. There’s been no mention of what donor vehicles were used for the replicas but a Toyota engine can be seen in the image above, suggesting one of the vehicles may have been an MR2. The mid-engine Toyota is a popular choice among replica supercar builders.

The replicas themselves were made from fiberglass and featured highly detailed engine bays, the police said. We can see that Ferrari wheels and even Ferrari-labeled brake calipers were also copied.

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SEE ALSO: Now You Can Rent A Lamborghini Gallardo From Hertz

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