From performance on the track, the Scuderia Ferrari team has once again showcased at Paris, and thereafter online, how they have translated racing success into the design of their next supercar.
The birth of the carbon chassis for the new limited-edition special series was brought to life at the Paris Motor Show recently. For those who could not travel to France, two great new videos provide some behind-the-scenes glimpses of how the technology and development from Ferrari’s Formula One team has found its way into the Enzo successor.
The incredible attention to detail and space-age materials that form the skeleton were revealed in all their bare-bones glory at the International Motor Show. They are now wonderfully exposed in two short films. Being under the spotlight in Paris the car was up against the McLaren P1 also on show. Now that the lights of the show have dimmed, its hybrid competitors including the Porsche 918 Spyder, which has appeared in our blog before, as well as the Jaguar C-X75 are started to compare themselves. Being only at this backbone stage of development, the Ferrari is however no slouch. After all, the best things come to those who wait.
The videos now show all the detail that is going into the development as the carbon fibres of T1000 and T1000D are hand-crafted and then seamlessly blended with high-tech processes to form the super-structure of the car. The clips reveal how F1 composite technology is deployed in the car to increase structural performance while minimising weight. The car is expected to weigh 20% less. Strategic placement of materials such as high-strength carbon, or T800, cloth in the overall chassis and roof guarantee the functional requirements of each individual area of the chassis. The design of complex shapes allows an efficient use of the materials while optimising packaging and weight. Unidirectional carbon fibres of T800D and M46J improve overall stiffness and strength in key areas. The car is expected to have 27% more torsional rigidity with 22% more beam stiffness.
Given that such a power-to-weight ratio will undoubtedly lead to increased speed, safety receives its requisite share of attention as well. Ultra high tensile-strength carbon fibre in the form of T1000 unidirectional tape and fabric is positioned in the sill to optimise side crash performances. Kevlar is incorporated on the under-body to protect the carbon-fibre structure from road debris damage.
It is mouth-watering to imagine the total package that will be built on top of this space frame. With the addition of the heart with the V12 Ferrari engine and HY-KERS electric motor, one can only imagine the horsepower heaven to which it will take you. The F1 bloodline will truly flow through these veins.
For an authentic taste of Formula 1 passion right now, a self-drive hire in our Ferrari 458 Italia Coupé delivers on its promise. Engineering, power and, of course, style combine in this mid-rear engined supercar. The V8 engine, aluminium chassis, dual-clutch 7-speed gearbox and Michael Schumacher-assisted design ensure that everything you have dreamed of comes true.