Ferrari has created a special one-off car, the SP12 EC, as an homage to famed guitarist Eric Clapton‘s career and his long-lasting passion for Ferrari.

Designed by the Centro Stile Ferrari, in collaboration with Pininfarina and engineers from Maranello, the bespoke model is based on the 458 Italia and draws inspiration from the 512 BB.

Ferrari says Clapton wanted a car inspired by the 512 BB but presumably with modern underpinnings, so it keeps the same 570bhp 4.5-litre V8 and seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

The nine luxury cars that were reportedly up for sale in Dubai have been seized as part of evidence from various crimes and will not be sold.

“The one Ferrari Enzo and the other regular Ferraris are required by Interpol. So, the nine cars are not for sale,” Captain Khalid Al Kamali was quoted as saying.

This comes as a disappointment to the many Brits, Americans, Indians and Russians who reportedly asked to buy the rare Enzo Ferrari.

Ferrari has confirmed that it will offer a hybrid system for its sports cars from next year. The legendary Italian brand has been playing with hybrid trehcnology on its Formula One vehicles for some time now with the HY-KERS system.

Italy’s first private high-speed train, launched by Ferrari head Luca di Montezemolo’s company NTV and boasting sleek interiors and a cinema carriage, made its inaugural journey on Friday.

The dark-red 200-metre (656 foot) bullet-shaped train — named “Italo” — set out from Rome’s Termini station, taking just over an hour to reach Naples.

To mark the anniversary of the sale of the first Ferrari in China – a Ferrari 348 TS ordered by a Beijing customer – Ferrari is opening an exhibition at the Italia Center in the Shanghai World Expo Park and releasing a China-only limited edition 458 Italia.

A new museum dedicated to Enzo Ferrari, the legend behind the prancing horse, opened in Modena March 10.

Formerly Ferrari’s house, the new Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari museum is something of a sister project to the established Museo Ferrari at Maranello and is likely to attract motor racing fans from all over the world.