Overview
Ferrari unveiled the LaFerrari at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show as the successor to the Enzo, and it was the company’s first hybrid road car. The name simply means “The Ferrari” in Italian, a statement that this was meant to be the definitive expression of what the brand could build. The design came from the Ferrari Design Centre under Flavio Manzoni, and it’s low, wide and sculpted, with a short nose, flowing buttresses over the rear wheels and a cabin pushed forward. Almost every surface has an aerodynamic job. It looks dramatic without being fussy, and it’s easily recognised as a Ferrari flagship.
Engine and Performance
Behind the cockpit sits a 6.3-litre V12 producing about 800 PS (588 kW), paired with an electric motor that adds around 163 PS. Together they deliver a combined output of roughly 963 PS (708 kW) and about 900 Nm of torque. The engine revs to around 9,250 rpm, and its sound is hard and ringing, much closer to a race car than any road V12. Power goes through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and there’s no manual. The LaFerrari reaches 100 km/h in under 3 seconds and 200 km/h in about 7 seconds, and it tops out at over 350 km/h (217 mph).
Chassis and Handling
The LaFerrari is built around a carbon-fibre monocoque developed with Ferrari’s Formula 1 team. The hybrid system, called HY-KERS, stores energy in a battery pack mounted low in the floor and uses the electric motor to fill in torque and sharpen throttle response. It’s not designed for silent electric driving. It’s there for performance. Active aerodynamics adjust flaps at the front and rear to balance downforce and drag, and the car also has carbon-ceramic brakes, an electronic differential and a version of the manettino dial. It feels immediate and very precise, with a great deal of grip, though it asks a lot of the driver.
Interior and Comfort
The cabin is minimal and purposeful. The seats are fixed to the carbon tub, so the pedals and steering wheel adjust to fit the driver instead. That was a clever way to save weight and lower the driving position. The dashboard is clean, with a digital display and controls on the steering wheel, much like an F1 car. Comfort is limited, and luggage space is minimal, but it’s far more usable than you’d expect from a car with this much performance.
Production and Legacy
Ferrari built 499 coupes between 2013 and 2016, and every one sold before the car was officially revealed. A convertible called the LaFerrari Aperta followed in 2016, with 210 built, and a track-only version, the FXX K, was also made. Ferrari also built a single extra LaFerrari for charity in 2017. The car was followed by the SF90 Stradale. Today it’s seen as one of the great modern hypercars, part of a trio with the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder, and prices at auction continue to climb.
