Ferrari LaFerrari: The Birth Of A Legend

Updated: Monday, March 18, 2013, 11:49 [IST]

The covers have finally been taken off the Ferrari Enzo successor at the Geneva Motor Show. Unlike McLaren, which showcased the McLaren P1 before it was production ready Ferrari had kept its mega launch a secret until the very last moment. Rather oddly named as LaFerrari, this Ferrari embodies the company's excellence.

"We chose to call this model LaFerrari," declared Ferrari's President, Luca di Montezemolo, "because it is the maximum expression of what defines our company - excellence. Excellence in terms of technological innovation, performance, visionary styling and the sheer thrill of driving. Aimed at our collectors, this is a truly extraordinary car which encompasses advanced solutions that, in the future, will find their way onto the rest of the range, and it represents the benchmark for the entire automotive industry. LaFerrari is the finest expression of our company's unique, unparalleled engineering and design know-how, including that acquired in Formula 1."

Powertrain

LaFerrari is a hybrid, but it cannot be driven in EV mode like the McLaren P1. The system, called HY-KERS, is a combination of the KERS and the hybrid system, which provides optimum power as well as efficiency.
The engine is a 6262cc, V12 unit with a power output of 800 CV, while the electric motor delivers 120 kW.
Combined power and torque figures are 949 HP and more than 900 Nm.
Gearbox is a 7 speed dual clutch transmission.

Electric Motor

There are two, one for the driving wheels and the other for the driven. High torque at lower revs comes from the motor, which has enabled the Ferrari engineers to optimize the engine for higher revs. These were developed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli.

Battery

The battery, specially developed by Scuderia, Ferrari's racing division, weighs just 60kg. The critical component for the KERS system, the battery gets charged under different circumstances, such as while braking and when the V12 engine produces excess torque, such as while cornering.

Aerodynamics

Many sections of the car were developed in the same facility where F1 cars are developed. This is true when it comes to LaFerrari's aerodynamics as well. Thoroughly tested in Scuderia's wind tunnels, the car features active aerodynamic components, which actively direct airflow where ever required. LaFerrari has a drag coefficient of just 3.

Brakes And Tyres

Carbon ceramic braking system from Brembo, with the following disc measurements
Front 398 x 223 x 36 mm
Rear 380 x 253 x 34 mm

Pirelli P-Zero
Front 265/30 - 19
Rear 345/30 - 20

Performance

Maximum speed over 350 km/h
0-100 km/h: less than 3 sec
0-200 km/h: less than 7 sec
0 - 300 km/h: 15 sec
Around's Ferrari's Fiorano test track the LaFerrari is 5 seconds faster than the Enzo and 3 seconds faster than F12berlinetta