The spider cousin of Maranello’s most ambitious project to date, the LaFerrari Aperta took Ferrari’s most extreme road-legal performance car and removed the roof. The Aperta represented the finest expression of Ferrari’s technical capabilities in both GT and Formula 1 engineering, pushing the boundaries of road car technology. Such was the demand for the first convertible Ferrari hybrid, that all 200 cars were sold, via invitation only, before the car was even launched.
The F1-derived hybrid system, known as the HY-KERS system, seamlessly blended extreme performance with maximum efficiency and was more evolved and complex than the KERS system utilised by the Scuderia’s Formula 1 cars. The 6.3 litre naturally aspirated V12 combustion engine, already the most powerful incarnation yet of Ferrari’s classic V12, was twinned with a 150hp electric motor to produce a staggering power output of 960 CV. This electric motor provided unending power throughout the rev range and a maximum torque peak of over 900 Nm. The combined powertrain was designed to consistently yield maximum output whilst the car is on the move, meaning there was no separate electric mode to be engaged; instead, the combustion and electric units constantly worked in perfect tandem, with energy harvested via a variety of systems, including the brakes and traction control, and stored in a 132 lb. battery pack. This hybrid system fired the Aperta to 124 mph (200 km/h) in less than seven seconds, on to a top speed of 217 mph (349 km/h), making it the fastest road-going spider in the marque’s history. The F1 seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox was coupled with the electric motor and an auxiliary electric motor replaced the traditional alternator, saving weight and reducing the size of the unit.
Designed for Ferrari’s most passionate clientele, the Aperta’s futuristic and extreme styling retains the essential characteristics of the coupé, seamlessly marrying form and function whilst still retaining clear cues great to Ferraris of the past. The lack of a roof provided a new challenge for the engineers at Maranello, with the goal to achieve the same torsional rigidity and drag coefficient figures as the coupe. Targeted modifications strengthened the chassis, whilst innovative integrated airflow solutions ensured no increase in drag, placing the Aperta at the top of the supercar category in terms of dynamic performance. The LaFerrari’s architecture represented the pinnacle of innovation even by Ferrari’s legendary standards. Maranello’s engineers delivered increased aerodynamic efficiency, an ideal weight distribution, a lowered centre of gravity, all in a sleek body made of four different types of carbon fibre. The sweeping bodywork, designed entirely in-house by Ferrari’s chief designer Flavio Manzoni, incorporated the aero technology and many styling elements clearly inspired by Ferrari’s Formula 1 program, such as the front splitter, and GT competition cars, like the rear spoiler and fog lamp. The rear wing and underbody were key components of the active aerodynamics package, deploying and retracting in response to vehicle speed, braking, throttle position, and steering angle.
This fine 1:18 scale model of the Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta has been handcrafted and finished in our workshops using CAD directly from Ferrari’s design office allowing us to perfectly recreate every detail at scale. Finally, the prototype model has undergone detailed scrutiny by Ferrari’s engineering and design teams to ensure complete accuracy of representation.