Creating special, unique, and rare super cars that are meant to satiate the cravings of collectors for whom the price is of no consequence is a growing trend. Uber luxury, super performance car brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Porsche and even Jaguar have been or are creating one-offs and limited-runs for the discerning amongst their buyers. Ferrari’s tradition for creating limited editions takes on a distinctive turn with its unveiling of the new Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2.

Debuted at Maranello, Italy, earlier this week, these limited-edition special-series cars are the first in a new segment called ‘Icona’ and draw inspiration from the most evocative Ferraris of the 1950s and are said to feature the most advanced sports car technology available today.

BL21FerrariMonza2

Bespoke options A line of accessories and apparel has also been created for owners of these two cars

 

Aimed at dedicated clients and collectors, the Monza SP1 and SP2 reference the iconic Ferrari racing barchettas of the past, not least the 1948 166 MM, which originally inspired the name ‘barchetta’, and the 750 Monza and 860 Monza.

The new Ferrari Monza SP1 has been designed as an uncompromising single-seat road car that offers a truly unique experience behind the wheel. The second configuration, the Monza SP2, thanks to the elimination of the tonneau cover and the addition of a second protective screen and a second roll-bar, is instead a two-seater enabling the passenger to share the same driving sensations.

Built for speed

The Monza SP1 and SP2 feature a unique design, the best weight-to-power ratio of any barchetta, thanks to the extensive use of carbon-fibre in construction, and distinctive details, such as head-and tail-lights, wheels and interior, which further enhance the cars’ exclusivity. Equipped with the most powerful engine Maranello has ever built, a 6.5-litre, 810CV, V12, they can sprint from 0-100 kmph in 2.9 seconds and 0-200 kmph in 7.9 seconds.

The architecture of the two cars is based on a monolithic form with an aerodynamic wing profile where the complete absence of a roof and windscreen gave the designers the freedom to create unique proportions that would not have been possible on a traditional spider. The result is the feeling of blistering speed normally only experienced by Formula 1 drivers, which derives from the concept of a cockpit carved from the car’s very volume that wraps around the driver. Created by the Ferrari Design Centre, visually complex solutions, such as those seen on recent racing cars, have been avoided, giving way to a more understated formal design language. A radical choice was made for the design of the cars’ compact doors which open upwards. Equally important is the all-carbon-fibre one-piece bonnet-wing assembly which is hinged at the front to showcase the imposing V12 engine once open.

As with racing models, the bodyshell of both cars is made entirely from lightweight carbon-fibre. The entire interior is trimmed in the same material with a natural finish to enhance the sporty impact of the design. Weight reduction and the ‘barchetta’ configuration guarantee unique vehicle dynamics: perfectly balanced with no roll whatsoever for pure, uncompromising sports-car handling.

Because these are authentic “en plein air” sports cars, one of the greatest challenges in their design was managing the aerodynamic flows inside the cockpit in the absence of a windscreen. The solution was the innovative patented “Virtual Wind Shield” which has been incorporated into the fairing ahead of the instrument panel and the steering wheel. The “Virtual Wind Shield” deviates a part of the air flow to maintain driving comfort.

comment COMMENT NOW