Latest news with #GTB
Euronews
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Euronews
Portuguese police shift up a gear with Ferrari seized in drug case
From a Ford Mustang GT and Porsche 911 Carrera to a Ferrari 488 GTB: Portugal's police have assembled a collection of sports cars that would be the envy of any petrolhead. The Ferrari 488 GTB — which is worth about €260,000 second-hand — was recently seized by law enforcement as part of a drug trafficking case, according to local media reports. It was handed over to the Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP) by the government following a legal process. Equipped with a 3.9-litre V8 biturbo engine, it's capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3 seconds and reaching 200 km/h in 8.3 seconds, with a top speed of 330 km/h. However, despite its impressive stats, the Ferrari will not be used for high-speed pursuits. Instead, it is being reserved for the urgent transport of human organs, exhibitions and road safety demonstrations, and escorting officials and VIPs to and from major events. The PSP also has other high-performance models in its garage: including a Ford Mustang GT, BMW i8, Porsche 911 Carrera, Audi R8 and Subaru Impreza. The vehicles were seized in cases involving fraud, illegal importation and drug trafficking, among others. Portugal's National Republican Guard (GNR) isn't far behind in the sports car stakes. In recent years, it's integrated 24 high-performance vehicles into its line-up, including a Nissan GT-R and Porsche models such as the 911 Carrera Cabrio, Panamera and Taycan. The allocation of these cars is managed by the Asset Administration Office (GAB), the entity responsible for preserving and disposing of assets seized in criminal cases, including vehicles, property and money. The aim is to prevent the loss or devaluation of these assets: they can be sold, destroyed or put to public use.
Miami Herald
10-08-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
2018 Ferrari 488 GTB For Sale With Just 10,000 Miles
The Ferrari 488 GTB came out in 2015 as the replacement for the similarly styled 458. It was the first Ferrari to use a mid-mounted turbocharged V8 since the F40, and spawned numerous variants and one-offs during its five-year production span. One such 488 is for sale on Exotic Car Trader, and you can check out the listing by clicking here. The Ferrari 488 GTB used a twin-turbo 3.9L V8 with an all-aluminum dry sump. In the regular GTB and Spider variants, it made 661 hp and 561 lb-ft of torque through a Getrag 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Ferrari claimed a 0-60 mph time of 3 seconds flat, with a blazing top speed of 205 mph. Bringing all of those horses to a stop takes some effort, but it's a task that's handily taken care of by the carbon-ceramic brakes derived from technology used in the LaFerrari. With massive 398 mm discs up front and 360 mm discs at the back, Ferrari claimed that the 488 has up to 9% reduced braking distance compared to the previous 458. Visually, the 488 draws inspiration from the 458, with the same sleek lines, wide haunches, and elongated headlamps that find their way up the front fender. The rear fenders give way to two massive air ducts on each side, with a central piece that gives them a look similar to a flying buttress. The rear end is equally as curvy, with rounded taillights at either end that share a space with the exits of the fender air ducts. Thinking about selling your car? Get a value estimate and list it online with Exotic Car Trader. Click here to learn more. This particular 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB boasts just over 10,000 miles on the odometer as well as the Carbon Fiber Racing Package, draping bits like the exterior air ducts, steering wheel, and parts of the dashboard in carbon fiber. That exterior is finished in the classic Ferrari shade of Rosso Corsa with 20" forged dark painted wheels. The cabin is finished in a contrasting Nero leather interior, evoking the classic racing look of red over black, while incorporating some exterior details inside, including Cavallino-stitched Daytona racing seats, red stitching throughout, and Rosso-colored seatbelts. Any fears of damaging that exotic red paint will also be alleviated by the inclusion of paint protection film (PPF) over the entire body. The Ferrari 488 is about as Ferrari as you can get without shelling out a lifetime's fortune for an F40 or F50. It is undeniably one of the most recognizable models in the Prancing Horse's stables, much like the 458 that preceded it. I'd say something like "the $239,000 asking price isn't cheap," but this is one of Ferrari's flagship models, so of course it won't be. Given that this particular example has some tasteful options that perfectly complement the car and shows such low miles on the odometer, it's one of the best ones available on the market right now. It's certainly not for everyone, but those fortunate enough to sit behind its wheel know that they're in the presence of Italian royalty. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Gulf Insider
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Insider
Driving The Dream: An Experience at Ferrari's Corso Pilota
I've driven a lot of cars in a lot of places. But nothing quite prepares you for driving a Ferrari on its home turf, Fiorano. I was invited to attend Corso Pilota, Ferrari's official driving course, hosted in the heart of Maranello. This town isn't just the home of Ferrari. It is Ferrari. Red flags flying, car-shaped chocolates in cafés, and the unmistakable hum of engines in the air – it's everywhere. Maranello lives and breathes the Prancing Horse. Corso Pilota is about learning to drive a Ferrari properly. I took the wheel of a 296 GTB and hit Fiorano, Ferrari's private test track built by Enzo himself in the 1970s. With an instructor beside me each lap, I got real-time coaching through every corner. The best part was the data. After a few laps, I'd hand in a chip from the car and sit with a specialist. They broke down my driving line by line. Turns out, what felt right wasn't always fastest. Their advice worked. I was shaving off seconds every session. Over two days, I drove more track miles than ever before. It was pure adrenaline, total focus, and absolute joy. The 296 GTB was sharp, agile, and addicting. I also got to drive the new Ferrari 12Cilindri through the Italian countryside. Smooth roads, perfect weather, and a car that responded to every input with elegance and power. It was a dream. Corso Pilota is more than a course. It's a rare glimpse into Ferrari's DNA. If you're ever lucky enough to attend, take it. It's an immersion. It's a thrill. It's Ferrari. To experience the Ferrari Corso Pilota, contact 17734734 or visit
Mint
06-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Retirement unease: Is it getting better or worse?
In India, employees who are not on government payrolls have long been familiar with retirement unease. Recently, though, a new benchmark popped into view. The Centre's Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) option, which was thrown open to central workers on 1 April, offers half of one's average basic salary drawn in the last year of work as pension (if one puts in 25 years of service). The very mention of half one's last pay prompts a basic question: Are those with no UPS access putting enough away for their silver years? Maybe not. A survey of pension planning by Grant Thornton Bharat (GTB), a professional services firm, has flagged a big gap between the money people expect they'll have to live on as they age and the reality of their financial situation. Also Read: Pension alert: Even the unified scheme could acquire a sell-by date over time This is among a significant slice of our workforce. Folks employed by the private sector made up nearly nine-tenths of the survey's sample, with 30% earning above ₹40 lakh annually and the vast bulk taking home more than twice of India's GDP per head. As the GTB study puts it, over 55% of respondents expect monthly pensions exceeding ₹1 lakh, 'but only 11% are confident in their current savings." The survey was done over August and September 2024. The UPS, which was approved by New Delhi in the midst of that span, may or may not have inflected responses. But the survey also points to low satisfaction with the National Pension System (NPS) that's open to all Indian 18-70-year-olds. Have retiral back-ups like NPS begun to look pale in contrast with the UPS deal? Plausibly. If this isn't a source of unease, it should be—since so many of us seem to be falling short on stuffing our nest eggs. Either way, the point is not to interpret the worldly context of a survey finding, but to explore viable avenues of relief. According to the GTB report, future needs and means being out of whack 'signals a pressing need for realistic retirement planning and financial education." Also Read: Unified Pension Scheme: Is good psychology also sound economics? Indeed. Even in this age of agentic AI bots headed our way to help out, with 'Fire' calculators at the disposal of youth in pursuit of 'financial independence' to 'retire early,' lifelong plans remain sketchy. Clearly, many of us need to get our act together. This is also the market pitch made by various investment vehicles. The 'Mutual fund sahi hai' (it's right) campaign, for example, has played an undeniable role in drawing money into long-held mutual funds. That equity has been a big draw is no surprise, given the appeal of its returns. Some of our retail rush for shares could be explained by how capitalism has caught on. As Thomas Piketty said, if the rate of return on capital exceeds the rate of economic growth, wealth will enlarge faster than income. To amass the money needed for a cushy life, every salaried person has the risky but rewarding option of buying into the country's capital pie. Also Read: EPFO reforms: Getting PF dues shouldn't require special services Of course, advice to invest wisely usually assumes that if one needs a helping hand with old-age security, it's best to look for one at the end of one's arm. In a market economy with a weak welfare net for all but the poor, the onus is on us to take charge of our financial lives. However, there is a favour that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) can do us that must not escape notice. No multi-decade plan can be firmed up without clarity on the rupee's path of purchasing power into one's old age. But if RBI shows both the will and ability to keep inflation capped at 4% over the long haul, it'll enable truly realistic plans. In assuring us retirement relief, RBI has a major role to play.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Repurposed school bldgs help in boosting women's incomes
Ranchi: Over 35,000 women entrepreneurs and self-help groups across five districts benefited from repurposed govt assets, primarily unused school buildings, which are eventually used for economic and administrative activities. The initiative, led by Grant Thornton Bharat LLP (GTB) with support from the Gates Foundation and in collaboration with the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) under its PALASH programme, is helping women achieve sustainable, women-led development. Currently, the initiative benefits women in 15 blocks across Ranchi, Ramgarh, Hazaribag, Bokaro, and Seraikela Kharsawan. The programme has repurposed more than 50 such assets into hubs of economic empowerment and social cohesion. The initiative converts vacant or abandoned primary school buildings into offices, training centres, storage facilities, and processing units. These spaces provide safe, cost-free environments for community-based organisations such as producer groups, cluster level federations, farmer producer organisations, and village organisations. Khurshida, a participatory resource person from Raghunathpur village, Chanho block, Ranchi, said, "Earlier, we used to operate our cluster-level federation office from a rented room for Rs 1,800 per month. It was congested and inadequate for holding meetings. We now have a spacious, rent-free building for our activities. The saved amount is being reinvested in printing registers for SHGs and village organisers. We're also planning to offer sewing and beautician training for local women." Anamika Sinha, a consultant at Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, said, "We've reached five districts and plan to expand further. The journey began with an asset-mapping pilot in Katkamsandi block of Hazaribag, which successfully demonstrated the potential of leveraging existing public infrastructure to support rural women's entrepreneurship. Encouraged by the outcomes, the initiative was scaled up with vital support from the rural development and education departments of the state govt, which provided approvals for the reallocation of unused school buildings. "
