Ferrari's LaFerrari debuts as Alpha Supercar in Geneva

Since the late 1980s, Ferrari, with a series of extremely powerful limited-edition production cars, has risen to the top in engineering and design inspired by racing cars. First of all, the Ferrari F40, not the F50, and the recent Enzo supercar, have the sole purpose of enhancing the already exemplary performance reputation of the Italian sports car manufacturer. More than ten years later, Ferrari Enzo has become a near-perfect car spokesperson.

the successor debuts

at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Ferrari’s new name in super high-performance is LaFerrari.

Reflecting immediately on the model name, LaFerrari comes off as a little unimaginative or confusing. Are we supposed to call it the Ferrari LaFerrari or just the LaFerrari? Combining the company name with “la” (recognized in Italian as a feminine use for “the”), this latest supercar is described as the essence of Ferrari’s present and future moving forward. “We chose to call this model LaFerrari because it is the maximum expression of what defines our company- excellence,” said Ferrari’s President Luca di Montezemolo. Ferrari’s new LaFerrari will attempt to stir debate along admirers inquiring does the brand makes the car or does the car make the brand.

In the same fashion that

the Lamborghini Veneno

(another 2013 Geneva Motor Show premiere) took lessons of their recent vehicles like the Aventador to another level, Ferrari has evolved their design and construction expertise in creating the LaFerrari. A shape tuned with computer fluid dynamic programs and a Formula 1 wind tunnel, the LaFerrari supercar has still evolved into a pure Ferrari within the confides. Created in-house by a team led by Flavio Manzoni, the newest Ferrari supercar accepts modern design practice and reconnects with the brand’s sport prototype cars of the 1960s. Cues from

the 458 Italia

and the F12berlinetta are apparent in the headlamps, front air intake, and through the side glass detail. Outer mirror pods are pushed far from the beautifully contoured body to not significantly obstruct the aerodynamics of the LaFerrari. Featuring active aerodynamics, the front, and rear diffuser, as well as a spoiler, can be augmented in real-time to properly match the LaFerrari’s dynamics. Classic styling attributes such as the greenhouse area and the hood outlet are reminiscent of the fantastic Ferrari 330 P4 that won the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona event.

Technologically, the LaFerrari becomes a monumental creation. The first Ferrari production vehicle to incorporate their HY-KERS hybrid technology, the combination of a gasoline engine and two electric motors deliver an efficiency boost over traditional supercar performance. Not only reduce tailpipe emissions, HY-KERS is configured to enhance all-around power from the LaFerrari’s V12 engine. Supplying bulk of the supercar’s performance is an 800 CV (789 horsepower) 6.3-liter V12 powerplant mounted behind the cockpit of the LaFerrari. Weighing an impressively light 60 kilograms (132 pounds) when accounting for all components, including the battery pack, the electrical drive system co-developed with Magneti Marelli produces an additional 120 kilowatts through the HY-KERS powertrain. Collectively, an enormously large 952 horsepower propels the LaFerrari supercar. Introducing the HY-KERS technology on the LaFerrari, Ferrari defines the powertrain as something that will become a greater factor in

the development of future Ferrari models

Riding on a double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension layout, the LaFerrari supercar delivers the perfected sport feel dedicated Ferrari owners have grown to expect. Magnetorheological damping incorporated on the LaFerrari adapts to changing road conditions quickly for a more agile ride. Pirelli P-Zero tires spin on 19-inch wheels at the front, and 20-inch rear wheels deliver performance in style. A host of high-tech aids such as F1 traction control, electronic stability control, and an electronic differential will guarantee the LaFerrari’s 952 horses are not running wild. Brembo carbon-ceramic braking system provides firm stopping power in addition to recovering energy for the hybrid powertrain.

Channeling power through a dual-clutch transmission, engine performance to the Pirelli tires is spectacular. Less than 3 seconds after applying the supercar’s accelerator, the LaFerrari launches from a standstill to 62 miles per hour. Following 15 seconds of constant straight-line power, a driver is taken to 186 miles per hour on route to top speed appraised at 350 kilometers per hour (roughly 217.5 miles per hour). Besides speed going straight, over sixty years of the sports car and Formula 1 racing expertise has gone into making the LaFerrari a superior track performer. On Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit, Fernando Alonso rode the LaFerrari around the 1.862-mile course in 1 minute and 20 seconds for a new production car lap time record.

Upward-opening doors invite a driver and a passenger into the LaFerrari’s performance-optimized cabin consisting heavily of carbon fiber material. Considering primarily the vehicle‘s center of gravity as well as the driver, the interior is clearly an office space devoted to the pursuit of speed. Consulting with current Ferrari Formula 1 racing pilots Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, the driver’s position inside the LaFerrari is fixed for prime efficiency. Near identical to Ferrari’s F138 Formula 1 car, many of the vehicle controls are located on the steering wheel. Paddle-style gear selectors are another ergonomic touch assuring the LaFerrari will be handled with both hands constantly on the steering wheel.

Like the ultra-high performance Ferrari supercars that came before, the LaFerrari will be a limited production product. With 499 examples of the LaFerrari planned, pricing details are being withheld for the meantime preserving the dream car as a dream for almost everyone.

Source of information and photos: Ferrari