The Ferrari stand at the Paris Auto Show will host the official unveiling of the new Ferrari California, the stunning coup-cabriolet that has created such expectation amongst both those in the industry and the public at large.

But this is not the only piece of good news to come from the Prancing Horse at the Paris Show as we will also be announcing the extension of the One To One Personalisation Programme, debuted last March solely for the 612 Scaglietti, to the 599 GTB Fiorano.

Thanks to the success it has enjoyed over the last few months, we are now extending the service to the most powerful 12-cylinder in our current range. 599 GTB Fiorano clients will now be able to visit the dedicated Atelier in Maranello to create their own truly bespoke car. Not only will they have a vast range of special content to choose from but they will also be assisted by specially trained Ferrari consultants.

As at Geneva, weve recreated the Atelier for our stand at the Paris Show too. This is an area to which clients can come to work out every last detail of their 599 GTB Fiorano on the basis of their own personal needs and tastes.

Dedicated Ferrari staff will be on hand to work with clients at each step of the way. Naturally, all of the various personalisation options on offer will ensure that the intrinsic character of the car is unchanged and will not in any way impinge upon the cars active or passive safety systems.

Photos of topless super-models parading around sun-drenched southern Europe -- the paparazzi never tire of snapping them, we never tire of seeing them, and like so many celebrity gossip magazines, here at Autoblog we never tire of running them. Take, for example, this particular Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano spotted now for the second time sashaying around Italy with its top half off. Not only is the regular car a rare treat to behold, but this one lets slip the promise of something more.

Although it hasn't appeared completely topless, this test vehicle is wearing an ill-fitting roof that suggests it may show the way for an upcoming convertible 599. That could mean a soft-top like the F430 Spider, a folding hard-top like the California or a rotating flip-top like that featured on the 575M-based Superamerica. Meanwhile, it could also mean a "regular production" model or a rare special edition for the Italian automaker. With the California just making its debut, the 16M Scuderia Spider just around the corner and the initial batch of spy shots just hitting the web, we asked the people at Ferrari what they were working on. Their response was that they're testing a lot of different ideas and that nothing had been given the green light (yet), so we'll just have to hold on and hope the higher-ups get out their stamps of approval.

as previously reported, ferrari engineers are hard at work on a convertible version of the 599 gtb fiorano. Tentatively known as the 599 barchetta, the car will be mostly identical to the regular 599, with a folding metal roof instead of a solid one. How will this exotic grand tourer look when it debuts next year? Have a look at our latest illustrations to find out.



the final name of the car is not known, but the barchetta designation seems most likely. The ‘gtb’ portion of the name, which stands for gran turismo berlinetta, will likely become gran turismo spider, or gts.

Due to the increased weight of a convertible roof, it’s possible ferrari will boost engine output in order to offset the extra hundred-plus pounds. In the case of the 575 superamerica — this car’s predecessor — output was boosted by 25 horsepower compared to the 575 maranello coupe.

In coupe form, the 599’s motor cranks out 620 horsepower via 6.0 liters of displacement and twelve cylinders. Even with a horsepower increase, the convertible version will likely have a lower top speed than the fiorano’s 205 mph.

The car is expected to debut at the geneva motor show in march, with availability beginning in late 2009.

The 79th Geneva International Motor Show provides the venue for Ferrari to announce two new pieces of good news: the arrival of the sporty, dynamic Handling GT Evoluzione (HGTE) Package for the 599 GTB Fiorano and the world debut of the 599XX which is a technological laboratory aimed at a select group of clients. The latter new car incorporates the most advanced technologies resulting from Ferrari's road-going and F1 research. Many of the technological solutions it carries are being used for the first time and have been developed exclusively for this special car.

The two new arrivals will be introduced to the international media by Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo on the opening day of the Show, March 3rd, at 10 am.

In addition to the 599 GTB Fiorano equipped with the Handling GTE package and finished in a new three-layer metallic Rosso, and the 599XX in a colour matching the F2008, Ferrari clients and enthusiasts will also be able to admire this single-seater that recently won the Prancing Horse its 16th Constructors' World title. On the stand there will also be the full range of Ferrari road cars: the Scuderia Spider 16M in a Grigio Titanio livery, the 430 Scuderia in Rosso Corsa and two Grand Tourer models, the Ferrari California in Nero Metallizzato with a Sabbia interior and the flagship 612 Scaglietti. The latter will be displayed in the Atelier, a dedicated area where owners can get a taste of the virtually endless personalisation options on offer to them.