Scuderia Ferrari Unveil the Ferrari Monza Models

Ferrari chose its 2018 Capital Markets Day to unveil two limited-run Icona creations, the single-seat Monza SP1 and dual-seat Monza SP2 Barchettas – the first cars from what Camilleri describes as the fourth pillar of modern Ferrari, alongside its special series, GT and sports cars.

Described as ‘a glorious manifestation of Ferrari’s DNA’, the Icona cars will be built in limited numbers and to a cadence Camilleri refused to be drawn on. They’ll boost revenue without adding considerably to production volumes or damaging brand equity.

It’s a project instigated under Marchionne’s watch, with fewer than 500 Monzas being offered to loyal Ferrari buyers. Based on the 812 Superfast (complete with rear-wheel steering), the Monza ups the naturally-aspirated V12’s power output to 810PS (799bhp) while cutting weight for a 0-62mph time of 2.9sec and 0-125mph in 7.9sec.

The absence of a roof and a windscreen (Ferrari talks of a RenaultSport Spider-like ‘virtual windscreen’) is key to the Monza’s appeal, which head of product marketing Nicola Boari describes as ‘the embodiment of the passion of our founder; the purest and most intoxicating driving experience, with very little between you and the asphalt’.

An upper body in F1-grade composites, including kevlar and carbonfibre, cuts weight while giving design director Flavio Manzoni and his team the freedom to realise what he describes as ‘the elegance of the past fused with an uncompromising architecture and a modern approach, and not a nostalgic approach’.

Inspired by the 750 Monza racer of the ’50s, Manzoni’s creation is a thoroughly contemporary Ferrari form, one that deftly draws on the past while refusing to acquiesce to retro.

In both versions the driver is encircled in a sweep of elliptical carbonfibre, the sparse driving instruments supplemented by an offset lower panel housing supplementary controls. The car debuted in three colours – black, red, and silver with yellow race graphics, with the latter looking particularly striking on the car’s unique 21-inch forged wheels.

The Monza’s price and production run will be confirmed at next month’s Paris motor show, with first deliveries from summer 2019.