Ferrari has been going vintage over the last few years. The Italian automaker that’s known for its luxury sports cars is taking buyers back with new vintage designs that are only seen in car shows. Both models that were revealed at this week’s Paris Motor Show are bringing this magic back but they do also have a few new features to talk about. Although the Monza SP1 and the SP2, the two new models from Ferrari, do have that vintage and retro appeal, there’s a lot of modernity under their carbon fiber skin. They also share the fastest V12 engine that Ferrari has ever used. The cars can hit 125 miles an hour in just 8 seconds. Now that’s an insane amount of power.
The two models are in fact part of a new concept dubbed Icona Ferrari. The intention is to bring back popular classic design concepts from the past with the hope of attracting new customers. The strategy is part of a new long-term growth plan that was launched after 2015 when the company went public. The Italian automaker is confident that offering more variety could be a great way to increase demand for its cars. But even then, the Monza models will, of course, be highly exclusive. Ferrari plans to build only 499 of them which will be sold only to the best customers and the best collectors. This may likely mean that the purchase will be invitational only.
The two cars are almost identical. The only difference is that the SP1 is designed for one person while the SP2 has created room for a passenger by getting rid of the tonneau cover. The carbon fiber bodies also represent a major shift in design. The fiber is super light and super strong. It’s designed to add to the efficiency of the car as well as guarantee its super speed.
But there’s one unusual feature. The cars don’t have a windshield. Sounds strange, right? Well, Ferrari says it’s relying on a new concept called “Virtual Windshield.” The company says that this concept leverages on aerodynamic tricks to route air around occupants. This is a very interesting concept and it’s designed to completely replace the windshield. In addition to this, the two cars share the 6.5-liter V12 engine that can deliver up to 809 horsepower. The cars only need 2.9 seconds to hit 50 miles an hour and less than 8 seconds to hit 120 miles.
No doubt this kind of performance was not even imaginable in the ’60s. But the designs then were quite elaborate and as such, Ferrari is hoping to combine this prowess in vintage designs with advancements in technology to deliver high performing retro looking cars.
Ferrari claims that the SP1 and the SP2 will be street legal even though the cars are modeled after exotic race cars. It’s not yet clear how much they will cost but speculations suggest that they may range between $2 and $3 million. The cars are expected to be available very soon.
