Ferrari VS Porsche

Ferrari, named after founder father Enzo Ferrari, its symbol the prancing horse, is Italian through and through; oozing style, panache and class. Porsche, named after company founder Ferdinand Porsche, has a logo that is yet another (albeit rather more sedate) prancing horse, and represents serious German technology. The rivalry between the two teams on the sports car racing circuit was immortalised in the 1971 cult film, Le Mans, directed by Lee H. Kazin and starring Steve McQueen, which is famous for having no dialogue for over half an hour; the real stars of the film being the Porsche 917 and the Ferrari 512.

Those lucky enough to own one of these mean machines, and even more so, those who dream that a lottery win will give them that opportunity, fall squarely into one camp or the other. Fans of one would apparently rather drive a milk float than the other brand. Although it's probably safe to say that neutrals would be happy to have either!

But what can we expect from these two motoring legends in 2011? Well, the 2011 Geneva Motor Show saw the official unveiling of the Ferrari FF, not only a four seater, but a 4WD to boot, with the patented 4RM system which claims to be 50% lighter than normal 4x4 systems and which is smart enough only to kick in when road conditions demand it. Marketed as a "shooting-brake", it combines all the sleek, sexy beauty of this Italian thoroughbred with a car that is remarkably practical, not only in terms of greater driving options, but also in its roominess; making it nearly as much fun to be a passenger as the driver. There's also room for the shopping too in its surprisingly spacious boot.

Also new at Geneva 2011 was the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid, in which Porsche seems to be taking eco-friendliness on board. The 4-door, 4-seater Panamera S Hybrid is powered by both the conventional supercharged 3-litre V8 engine and a 47hp electric motor and can run on either or both drives combined. Performance figures are impressive and no doubt those in the Porsche camp will welcome the extra feel-good factor produced by this nod to the planet.

For those still dreaming of that lottery win that will buy them the car of their dreams, the battle is still good entertainment, but when most drivers step out of their economy models to get new tyres, replace windscreens or simply to fill up, and have the good fortune to glimpse one of these babies, they may just have to admit that either one would do nicely!