Its Name: J50 "Japan Fifty"

The Ferrari "J50" is based on the488 Spider"488 Spider," the fastest open-top Ferrari, but its design was created from a blank slate. "The theme is futuristic," says Flavio Manzoni, Senior Vice President of Ferrari S.p.A.'s Design department. The design is said to be inspired by Ferrari barchettas of the 1950s. It also adopts a targa top, making it a two-seater mid-rear-engine roadster, drawing inspiration from the "308 GTS."

Regarding the design features, Manzoni states, "The side line is distinctive, dividing the car into upper and lower sections. As a result, it gives an impression of a spaceship. Furthermore, the exposed engine bay is also a characteristic feature." When asked about showcasing the engine, he added, "For Ferrari, the engine is like a jewel. Designing carefully around that jewel is important to us."

The engine is a 3.9-liter V8 twin-turbo, winner of the International Engine of the Year 2016. It eliminates turbo lag, a common issue with turbos, and improves responsiveness. While this engine produces 670 ps in the 488 Spider, it has been boosted to 690 ps in the J50.

Additionally, it features newly designed wheels and Ferrari's first full LED headlights.

The price starts at 2.35 million euros, with deliveries scheduled between 2017 and 2018. As mentioned, it is a limited edition of 10 units exclusively for Japan, and all have already been sold out.

Japan: The Fourth Largest Market in the World

Ferrari places significant importance on the Japanese market, as evidenced by the creation of a "Fuori Serie" model exclusively for the country to commemorate 50 years of imports.

Piero Ferrari, Vice Chairman of Ferrari S.p.A., also stated in a video message, "50 years ago, my father Enzo Ferrari was already thinking about Japan. At that time, Japan was the only market in Asia. Since then, Japan has always been a very important market for us." He continued, "Japan is also a very important country for F1. Since the start of the Japanese Grand Prix, Japan has played a significant role in Ferrari's racing history. Although Ferrari's performance isn't optimal right now, the people of Japan have supported us with passion through both good and bad times. I would like to express my gratitude once again to our customers, collectors, and friends in Japan, who have always been a model for Asia."

Enrico Galliera, Senior Vice President of Commercial and Marketing at Ferrari S.p.A., shared an anecdote from the past: "In 1966, Ferrari was a very small company, unlike today, and was involved in racing like F1. At that time, someone traveled from Japan by plane, taking a much longer time than now, with the intention of buying a Ferrari. That person chose the "275GTB," a work of art. This was the first Ferrari officially sent to Japan."

Regarding today's Japanese market, he commented, "Japan is one of the countries where Ferrari's automotive culture is highly established. Some of our most important collectors are in Japan. Our relationship with Japan continues to strengthen. Furthermore, Japan is Ferrari's fourth-largest market globally and is constantly growing." This is precisely why, to celebrate this 50th anniversary, Ferrari created its first-ever model specifically for the Japanese market.