Design studies for a V12 hybrid flagship began in 2011, when nine concepts were considered and reduced to five. Two full-size concepts were constructed: the Manta and the Tensostruttura, displayed at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello and Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. The final production car closely follows the Manta concept, while design cues from the Tensostruttura subsequently appeared on later models including the SF90 Stradale. The carbon-fibre monocoque structure was designed by Rory Byrne, Ferrari's F1 technical director, achieving 27 per cent more torsional rigidity and 22 per cent more beam stiffness than its predecessor. LaFerrari was the first Ferrari since the 1973 Dino 308 GT4 not to carry Pininfarina bodywork, with all design work conducted by Ferrari's in-house Centro Stile Ferrari under Flavio Manzoni.
Development drew on findings from the FXX test programme and the Millechili Project at the University of Modena, the latter having initially raised speculation that the car might weigh under 1,000 kg. The production car carries a claimed dry weight of around 1,255 kg.
The LaFerrari is powered by a longitudinally rear mid-mounted Ferrari F140 6.3-litre V12 engine with a 65-degree V-angle, four valves per cylinder, direct fuel injection, and a 13.5:1 compression ratio. The V12 produces 800 PS at 9,000 rpm and 700 N·m of torque at 6,750 rpm. A HY-KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) electric motor adds 163 PS, for a combined output of 963 PS and 900 N·m. The system captures energy during braking and deceleration, releasing it on demand rather than for fuel economy. Power is transmitted through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission to the rear wheels.
Ferrari claims a top speed in excess of 350 km/h and a 0–100 km/h time of 2.6 seconds. The car lapped Ferrari's Fiorano test circuit in 1:19.70. Active aerodynamics, magnetorheological dampers, an E-Diff 3 electronic differential, EF1-Trac traction control, and ABS are managed by 21 onboard computers developed with Magneti Marelli. Brakes are carbon-ceramic Brembo units measuring 398 mm at the front and 380 mm at the rear. Tyres are Pirelli P Zero Corsa, sized 265/30 R19 front and 345/30 R20 rear.
The coupé was produced in a run of 499 units, each priced above one million euros. Butterfly doors and a cockpit in which the seat is moulded into the chassis — with adjustable pedals and steering wheel rather than a movable seat — give the interior a race-car character. A 12.3-inch TFT display provides the driver with selectable instrument layouts and telemetry data.
Unveiled at the 2016 Paris Motor Show to celebrate Ferrari's 70th anniversary, the Aperta is an open-top variant. It was produced in 209 standard units plus nine reserved for the anniversary celebrations, with one additional example later sold at auction. The Aperta comes with both a removable carbon-fibre hardtop and a canvas soft top. Aerodynamic changes include re-angled radiators, a longer front air dam, and L-shaped flaps on the windscreen pillars to manage airflow with the roof removed.
The FXX-K is a track-only research and development vehicle derived from the LaFerrari, first shown at Yas Marina Circuit in late 2014. Forty units were built. Its hybrid powertrain produces 1,050 PS total, with 860 PS from a tuned version of the V12 and 190 PS from the electric motor, over 900 N·m of torque, and a dry weight of 1,165 kg. At 200 km/h, it generates 540 kg of downforce. The FXX-K offers four driving modes: Qualify, Long Run, Fast Charge, and Manual Boost. Like the preceding FXX and 599XX, it is part of Ferrari's Client Test Driver programme. The FXX-K Evo aerodynamic package, unveiled in October 2017 at the Ferrari Finali Mondiali in Florence, increases downforce by 23 per cent over the standard FXX-K and by 75 per cent over the road-legal LaFerrari, through a modified front fascia, large rear wing, and underbody diffusers.
The LaFerrari was positioned against the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder, the three cars collectively known as the hypercar Holy Trinity. All three combined combustion and electric power, but with different philosophies: Ferrari used a naturally aspirated V12 with KERS for performance, McLaren chose a twin-turbo V8 with a plug-in hybrid system, and Porsche employed two electric motors alongside a V8 for all-wheel-drive capability.
The 500th coupé was auctioned on 3 December 2016 at the Ferrari Finali Mondiali weekend at Daytona International Speedway to benefit earthquake relief following the August 2016 Central Italy earthquake, raising US$7 million. In 2017, the final LaFerrari Aperta unit was auctioned for charity for US$10 million.
The LaFerrari established Ferrari's hybrid development path, with its HY-KERS system directly informing subsequent models including the SF90 Stradale and 296 GTB. It marked a definitive break from the long Pininfarina collaboration, with every production Ferrari since designed entirely in-house. The FXX-K programme fed data back to Ferrari's road and race car development teams in the tradition of the XX series.
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