Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2

The new Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 were unveiled yesterday at the Capital Market’s Day at the factory in Maranello (Ferrari also announced 15 new models you may want to check out). These limited-edition special-series Ferraris are the first in a new category that Ferrari calls ‘Icona’, essentially custom cars made for collectors. The company has experience with building special edition and one off Ferraris for collectors so this seems like a natural extension. The Icona cars will essentially be cars that look like classic yesteryear racers, underpinned with the latest chassis, electronics and engines. Think of classic Ferraris of the 1950s coupled with the most advanced sports car technology available today and you pretty much nailed it.

The first iteration of the program is the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2. Reminiscent of racing barchettas of that late 1940s and early 1950s, both cars look amazing. The Ferrari Monza SP1 is a single-seat sports car with no windscreen while the Ferrari Monza SP2 is a more classic two-seater. Both cars feature no roof, no windscreen and no side air bags.

Both the Monza SP1 and SP2 are based on the Ferrari 812 Superfast and come with a 6.5 liter V12 engine with 810 hp to the rear wheels. Aluminum chassis and carbon fiber body make for a lightweight car and absurd power to weight ration. Expect sub 3 second sprint from standstill to 60 mph and scintillating 7.9 seconds to 125 mph. Top speed will be around 186 mph.

We don’t think these cars will be approved for road use, so expect them to be track-day only machines.  Maybe that is why Ferrari said buyers will get a racing jumpsuit designed by Italian high-end luxury brand Loro Piana. Speaking of buyers, only a maximum of 500 units will be produced although we expect that this is slightly inflated and that we will only see a few hundred units max.

If you’re looking for a 1950’s style design with modern technology underneath and you like to track your cars, this may be the Ferrari for you. All you have to do is pony up the more than a million dollars these cars will cost.

We stated the obvious earlier, that the SP1 is a single seater, while the SP2 is a two-seater. That is the biggest design difference as it impacts other parts of the car. The Monza SP1 has a tonneau cover while the SP2 gets rid of the cover to make room for the second passenger. There is small windscreen and a second roll bar hoop in the SP2 which further differentiates the designs.

At the front, both cars have carbon fiber front slitter which resides below a wide grille and protruding LED daytime running lights. Bigger changes occur further back as the windscreen has been removed and this promises to give owners a taste of the “blistering speed” that Formula 1 drivers experience.

Further back, the models have been equipped with unique half-doors that open upwards. They provide access to a compact cabin which features a three-spoke steering wheel, special switchgear and plenty of exposed carbon fiber components.

Getting back to the windscreens for a second, Ferrari says they have developed and patented an innovative “Virtual Wind Shield” technology which is integrated into the fairing ahead of the instrument panel. While it doesn’t look like much, Ferrari says the virtual windscreen deviates enough air to maintain driving comfort.

Ferrari was coy on additional details, but the Monzas have a 6.5-liter V12 that is the “most powerful engine Maranello has ever built.” It produces 799 hp (603 kW / 810 PS) and 530 lb-ft (719 Nm) of torque. This enables the cars to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 2.9 seconds and 0-124 mph (0-200 km/h) in 7.9 seconds. If the driver is brave enough, they can hit a top speed in excess of 186 mph (300 km/h).

Press Release

THE FIRST MODELS IN A NEW CONCEPT OF LIMITED-EDITION SPECIAL SERIES CALLED ‘ICONA’
The Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 unveiled – Iconic cars whose sophisticated design and engineering is inspired by legendary Ferrari Sports cars of the past

Maranello, 18 September 2018 – The new Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 have been unveiled on occasion of the company’s Capital Market’s Day at the factory in Maranello. These limited-edition special-series cars are the first in a new segment called ‘Icona’ and draw inspiration from the most evocative Ferraris of the 1950s and feature the most advanced sports car technology available today.

Aimed at dedicated clients and collectors, the Monza SP1 and SP2 reference the iconic Ferrari racing barchettas of the past, not least the 1948 166 MM, which originally inspired the name ‘barchetta’, and the 750 Monza and 860 Monza. Designed with the sole aim of winning, these uncompromising models helped build the Ferrari legend in the 1950s by delivering numerous victories in the World Sports Car Championship.

The Ferrari Monza SP1 was designed as an uncompromising single-seat road car that offers a truly unique experience behind the wheel. The second configuration, the Monza SP2, thanks to the elimination of the tonneau cover and the addition of a second protective screen and a second roll-bar, is instead a two-seater enabling the passenger to share the same driving sensations.

The Monza SP1 and SP2 feature a unique design, the best weight-to-power ratio of any barchetta, thanks to the extensive use of carbon-fibre in construction, and distinctive details, such as head-and tail-lights, wheels and interior, which further enhance the cars’ exclusivity. Equipped with the most powerful engine Maranello has ever built, a 810 cv V12, they can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 7.9 seconds.

The architecture of the two cars is based on a monolithic form with an aerodynamic wing profile where the complete absence of a roof and windscreen gave the designers the freedom to create unique proportions that would not have been possible on a traditional spider.

The result is the feeling of blistering speed normally only experienced by Formula 1 drivers, which derives from the concept of a cockpit carved from the car’s very volume that wraps around the driver.

The Ferrari Design Centre has sought to create a very pure design, as though born of a single pencil stroke, to convey an ideal of timeless elegance, minimalist form and refined detail. Visually complex solutions, such as those seen on recent racing cars, have been avoided, giving way to a more understated formal design language. Never has a model expressed such a narrative power, highlighting its appeal as a driver’s car where the link between man and automobile becomes symbiotic.

A radical choice was made for the design of the cars’ compact doors which open upwards. Equally important is the all-carbon-fibre one-piece bonnet-wing assembly which is hinged at the front to showcase the imposing V12 engine once open.

As with racing models, the bodyshell of both cars is made entirely from lightweight carbon-fibre. The entire interior is trimmed in the same material with a natural finish to enhance the sporty impact of the design. Weight reduction and the ‘barchetta’ configuration guarantee unique vehicle dynamics: perfectly balanced with no roll whatsoever for pure, uncompromising sports-car handling.

Because these are authentic “en plein air” sports cars, one of the greatest challenges in their design was managing the aerodynamic flows inside the cockpit in the absence of a windscreen. The solution was the innovative patented “Virtual Wind Shield” which has been incorporated into the fairing ahead of the instrument panel and the steering wheel. The “Virtual Wind Shield” deviates a part of the air flow to maintain driving comfort.

Especially for Monza SP1 and SP2 owners Ferrari, in collaboration with two leading luxury brands, Loro Piana and Berluti, has created elegant gentlemen-driver-inspired apparel and accessories. The driver’s selection includes racing overalls, jersey, helmet, gloves, scarf and driving shoes. These feature a number of technical solutions to guarantee a comfortable fit and ensure freedom of movement while driving.

Engine & Specifications

While Ferrari were a little light on the specs for the Monza cars, we did manage to find the following information on the cars.

Photo & Image Gallery

Ferrari Monza SP1 Pictures

These open-top Ferraris are absolutely stunning. We pulled all the press images and photos of both the Monza SP1 and SP2. The SP1 has the single seat old-school LeMans racer about it. We love the silhouette and simplicity of its design.

Ferrari Monza SP2 Pictures

With its two-seat layout the SP2 is a more traditional set up. Despite the two-seats it still is stunning and sexy from every angle. These photos of the SP2 in black with that red interior really make it stand out. For me this is my favorite of the two.

Ferrari Monza SP1 & SP2 Unveiling