Sweet lord, what is that?
This is the new Ferrari Daytona SP3 – the third Icona model (the first two being the beautiful but largely pointless Monza SP1 and SP2 from 2018, yep the ones without windscreens) and Ferrari’s homage to its impossibly glamorous sports prototype racecars from the 60s.
Ferrari says you won’t catch it knocking out any straight resurrections from the past like the new Lamborghini Countach, but it is happy to reference its history. A lot. Which is where its Icona range comes in: “To distil the very essence of an era and use it as a springboard to create new concepts that become icons for future generations.”
A hybrid I assume?
Incorrect. This 1-of-599, sold-out, £2 million, mid-engined psychopath is powered by the 812 Superfast’s magnificent naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12, albeit uncorked further with upgraded internals – like titanium con rods – for 828bhp. That makes this the most powerful engine Ferrari has ever fitted to a road car, which focuses the mind. It also now revs to a screaming 9,500rpm… the same redline as the 812 Competizione.
Sure, it might lack the LaFerrari’s 986bhp e-assisted knockout punch, but 0-62mph in 2.85secs and 211mph (almost identical power and performance figures to the much more affordable V6 hybrid 296 GTB, stats fans) isn’t exactly shabby.
And just to head off rumours nice and early – yes this is an all-carbon, mid-engine, V12 supercar much like LaFerrari, but this is not simply a LaF with the hybrid bits pulled out. That chassis had to accommodate batteries behind the seats and an e-motor so a straight copy and paste wouldn’t have made sense.
Is it an analogue LaFerrari in spirit, though?
Ferrari will strenuously deny it, but this is a safe space, and we say… sure, why not?
Let’s cut to the chase then, how good is that engine?
We’ve heard astonishing things about the 296’s new twin-turbo V6, nicknamed ‘piccolo V12’, but there’s still no substitute for…