With 950 hp from a V-12 linked to a hybrid electric motor, Ferrari says the LaFerrari - the successor to the Enzo - stands as Ferrari's fastest road car ever built!
Ferrari’s replacement to the
legendary Enzo supercar was unveiled today at the Geneva International
Motor Show. Called LaFerrari, (it translates to TheFerrari), it’s Ferrari's first hybrid model and the
fastest road car ever built by Ferrari.
The name of Ferrari’s new flagship has been guessed for some time. Many fans expected it to be called the F70 and it was even rumored
to be the F150.
When the car was unveiled the
Ferrari stand at Geneva at once erupted into thunderous cheers and clapping. The LaFerrari is simply beautiful. It presents sleek,
swooping lines and limits the aggressive edge of the Enzo. That
ferociousness is still present at the front with its massive hood vents
and sharp chin. It blends elegance and speed in a wondrous fashion.
The interior looks as breathtaking and futuristic with its cool digital display cluster and Alcantara wrapped surfaces.
As expected , LaFerrari does not disappoint beneath the skin. A V-12 motor punches
out 800 hp and when you add the 163 additional hp provided by the
coupled electric motor, a grand total of 963 raging horses are
unleashed, comfortably outdoing the 903 hp produced by LaFerrari’s arch enemy, the McLaren P1.
The P1 and LaFerrari both boast
663 lb-ft of torque, and with the electric motor allowing Ferrari to
tune the engine performance for higher revs, leaving the electric
portion to deliver the low rev punch, LaFerrari should simply explode
throughout the entire range, just like the P1.
The hybrid system is composed of two electric motors developed with
Magneti Marelli. One motor powers the driven wheels while the other the
ancillaries. The battery is located on the floor of the all-carbon
chassis, and consists of cells assembled in the same department as their
Formula One team’s KERS system.
Battery regeneration switches on under braking as well as when the
V-12 produces more torque than needed e.g. when cornering. Rather than
sending that excess torque to the wheels the torque is converted into
energy and stored in the batteries.
Unsurprisingly, the motor is coupled to a seven-speed dual-clutch
gearbox and large carbon ceramic Brembo brakes. Combining all of this ensures
LaFerrari will burst to 60 mph in well under three seconds, and surpass
124 mph in under seven. It will also eclipse the 1 minute, 20 second
barrier for lapping Ferrari’s Fiorano test track, which is five seconds
faster than the Enzo and three seconds faster than the F12 Berlinetta.
Prices for the beast were not revealed but do expect the sticker to read
an equally impressive $1.3 million. And it's certainly worth the price tag.
Only 499 LaFerraris will be produced. Ferrari has apparently 700 written requests already from eligible
buyers! With the big guns in the hypercar world now unveiled, only time
will tell whether LaFerrari has what it takes to become the reigning champion of
the world's roads!
For rich men suffering from midlife crises or aficionados of fine,
maximum-overstatement automobiles who are environmentally aware, Ferrari
has the ride for you!
Now an entirely new era begins for the enthusiast.... Every boy and man on this planet will not stop dreaming of owning one!
