The first images of Ferrari’s new limited-run supercar, called the Monza, have been leaked online ahead of the official launch.
Photos and video taken on Tuesday at a behind-closed-doors event exclusively for the Italian manufacturer’s dealers and most loyal customers have shown the new model’s extreme design based on racing cars from the 1940s and 50s.
Two variants will be available – the SP1, with a single-seat layout – and and two-seat SP2 version.
Leaked: These are the first images of the limited-edition Ferrari Monza, taken during a behind-closed-doors even in Maranello on Tuesday
Footage of the event – held at the car maker’s headquarters in Maranello – have been posted on two Instagram accounts – @ferrari.icona and @ferrari_monza_official – both of which are dedicated to the new Ferrari.
The private viewing of the car shows one of the models being driven out from behind a screen and into the full view of the onlooking audience.
The owner of one of the Instagram accounts suggests that only 200 Monzas will be made, though failed to confirm if this would be an even split between SP1 and SP2 variants. However, others have reported that the output will be 500.
They went on to suggest that both are based on Ferrari’s current 812 Superfast model.
If that is the case, it will use a 6.5-litre V12 engine mounted in the front of the car that will send a colossal 789bhp to the rear wheels.
That engine is enough for the 812 Superfast to accelerate from a standstill to 62mph in just 2.9 seconds and onto a monumental top speed of 211mph.
With a completely roofless design and the tiniest of windscreens, it suggest this could be a track-only car – like Ferrari’s bonkers range of FXX models – and is the closest thing customers can get to feeling like the official Scuderia F1 drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.
The limited run car – of which between 200 and 500 will be made, according to reports – will be available as this single-seat SP1 or a two-seat SP2
The car will be based on the current Ferrari 812 Superfast and use the same V12 engine
The Monza is expected to be a track-only model and features no roof and the smallest of windscreens
The image descriptions added that the entirety of the bodywork is carbon fibre, while the chassis is aluminium to make it as flyweight as possible.
Most of the pictures show the SP1 version with a single seat format and a single piece of fairing behind the driver’s head,
The SP2 also features a second fairing fin behind the passenger.
Up front, the low-slung nose is similar to that of the 812 Superfast it’s based on, while the rear is a simple design with a full-width light bar and four exhaust outlets.
The flanks of the Monza taper towards the rear, exposing a pair of very broad wheel arches at the back.
The elegant design harks back to racing Ferraris of the 1940 s and 1950s
The stunning design is part of Ferrari’s new mission to create a stream of limited-edition, high-cost, models
We have seen similar examples before, such as the £130k Jaguar F-Type Project 7 (left). The closest thing to the Monza is possibly the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss (right), which cost around £1m and only 75 we made
While extreme in its design, it’s not entirely unique.
Jaguar’s £130,000 F-Type Project 7 – of which 250 we made in 2015 – has a similar finned read deck, while the 75-only £1million Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss from 2009 also has an exposed cabin with tiny windscreens for the driver and passenger.
The Monza – which shares its name with the famous Italian race track – will be the first new model launched since the passing of chief executive Sergio Marchionne in July.
Part of his plans were for the brand to increase its production volumes and grow the number of limited-run special models.
A number of images of the exterior and cabin were taken during the secret event for customers and dealers
The reports say the car will be based on this – the Ferrari 812 Superfast
The 812 Superfast has a 6.5-litre V12 engine mounted in the front of the car that sends a colossal 789bhp to the rear wheels. That engine is powerful enough for the car to accelerate from a standstill to 62mph in just 2.9 seconds and onto a monumental top speed of 211mph
New chief executive officer Louis Camilleri will now look to spearhead the project, which aims to double the company’s profit to 2billion euros ($2.3billion) by 2022.
Back in May, Ferrari revealed the last example of a special edition model.
Called the SP38 and revealed in May, it’s a one-off car based on the 488.
Ferrari is also due to release its first ever SUV as part of the project.
The Monza is likely to be revealed to the public shortly. As it is a limited edition car, it is likely to have a price tag of more than £1million.
Ferrari’s last limited-edition open top car – the LaFerrari Aperta – cost £1.6million.
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