Geneva On-Site Report | Ferrari

Ferrari LaFerrari | Ferrari LaFerrari

LaFerrari: A Statement

Ferrari's new flagship, LaFerrari.” Since its announcement yesterday, this model has dominated conversations among car enthusiasts, and the unveiling event was filled with palpable excitement. A report from Tatsuya Otani in Geneva.

Text by OTANI Tatsuya

The Spectacle of Geneva 2013

The show floor was enveloped in an unusual fervor. Some journalists had even ventured onto the adjacent Jeep booth in search of a better vantage point. The stairs visible in the background were packed with people, and naturally, multiple human barriers had formed around the stage, completely obscuring the "car" itself.

Ferrari's flagship sports car, the "LaFerrari," was positioned as "the star of this year's Geneva show" alongside McLaren's P1but the level of excitement was truly astonishing. Luca di Montezemolo, who first took the stage, greeted the crowd with "I am truly happy to see so many of you gathered here," and it felt like a genuine sentiment.

The unveiled LaFerrari was strikingly futuristic, race-car-like, and above all, exuded a powerful aura.

Is the Design a Bit Busy?

The design, reminiscent of the prototype racers competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, features a narrow monocoque for the cabin and aerodynamic fenders extending forward and back to cover the wheels, a concept echoing the previous "Enzo." However, a new element of avant-garde has been added.

However, the design felt somewhat cluttered, and the rear section of the body lacked the taut impression essential for a sports car. This older generation writer can't help but feel nostalgic for the Ferraris of the Pininfarina era.

On the other hand, the evolution of the powertrain is truly remarkable.

HY-KERS x 9,250rpm

Just as McLaren, a rival in F1, introduced IPAS with the P1, Ferrari has equipped the LaFerrari with a hybrid system named HY-KERS. Interestingly, while the P1 uses a single motor for both generation and propulsion, Ferrari employs two separate motors: one for generation and one for propulsion.

The naturally aspirated V12 engine has a displacement of 6,262cc, producing 800ps. What's astonishing is that an engine of this displacement can rev up to 9,250rpm.

Furthermore, the compression ratio is an extremely high 13.5, resulting in a power output of 128ps per liter. The electric motor provides an additional 163ps, bringing the total system output to 963ps.

499 / 700

Despite its dazzling debut, there's unfortunate news for fans regarding the LaFerrari.

This flagship Ferrari will also be produced in limited numbers, but orders have already exceeded the planned 499 units, with approximately 700 applications received. Therefore, even if you were to rush to a Ferrari dealership immediately, your chances of purchasing one are virtually nil.

"We now face a difficult task," said di Montezemolo.

"We must determine who among these 700 individuals is the right customer for Ferrari."