There's never any rushing the development of a new Ferrari, and that was certainly true of the marque's first full hybrid model, the LaFerrari. Its gestation began with the track-only development prototype FXX, which was the direct descendent of the Ferrari Enzo, but built only for track use by specially-invited Ferrari customers who were asked to pay at least £2million for the privilege. For their money, those clients get an extensive debrief of how the car performs - but arguably, Ferrari is the real winner here, as it has used the data gathered from these willing guinea pigs in helping design the LaFerrari road car.
The original LaFerrari was limited to just 499 cars. It was followed three years later by an Aperta open-topped version, which has both carbon-fibre and canvas removable roof sections. The driver sits inside a carbon fibre monocoque shell, designed by Ferrari F1 technical director Rory Byrne, and has a host of electronic wizardry at their disposal, including the F1-derived electronic traction control, an electronic differential, and magnetorheological dampers - all controlled by 21 on-board computers. A 0-60mph time of 2.6 seconds and rest to 200khp (124mph) in under seven seconds are both claimed by Ferrari.
LaFerrari is the first Maranello car for more than 40 years to have had no design input from Pininfarina, but rumours that this meant an end to the two firms' relationship were quickly scotched. The fuel-injected hybrid engine consists of a conventional 6.3-litre naturally aspirated V12, and a lithium-ion battery powering a 25.7kg electric motor. The momentary boost from an F1-style KERS system can lift the total maximum power available from the 6.3-litre V12 from 789 to 950bhp, all channelled through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The driving position in the LaFerrari deliberately mimics a bare-bones single-seater racing car, and there's just a single button on the Ferrari-standard steering wheel-mounted manettino dial to call up the various driving modes.
Autocar's Steve Sutcliffe was left in no doubt about the brilliant job Ferrari had made of marrying the electronic driving controls with the two engines' massive power. "Its responses may be massive, its grip vast and its performance envelope borderline insane, but it also feels surprisingly normal in the way it drives", he said after taking the car for a track outing. "You always know where you are with this car. And considering just how insanely fast it is, that is arguably its greatest achievement", he concluded.
The very strict criteria which Ferrari laid down to allow people to have their names of the list for one of the 499 LaFerraris - for example, you needed to have bought at least two new Ferraris through the dealer network and owned at least six in the past 10 years - meant ownership of these cars is always likely to be highly exclusive. That said, even if you're the most assiduous owner, you need to pay attention to how your LaFerrari is performing at all times, and how the gut-wrenching performance takes its toll on many of the car's consumable parts.
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