As you probably know, Ferrari doesn’t build as many cars per year as its rival brands, which makes getting hold of a brand-new Ferrari somewhat of a challenge. What that means is, if you are not a Ferrari VIP or don’t have a history of owning Ferraris, the dealers will push you to go for a pre-owned model first, despite you being capable of paying for a brand new Ferrari. Which, needless to say, can be very annoying. Ask Jay Leno. You might say that is a good thing since Ferrari prioritizes repeat customers, which somewhat increases the “exclusivity” factor. Of course, not everyone shares that perspective. This client, for example, probably didn’t see buying a “regular” 296 GTB as being exclusive. Which is probably why they commissioned the SC40.
So, is the SC40 just a rebodied 296 GTB? Well, yes, as is the case with most such one-offs. The name and the design are apparently inspired by the F40, but personally, I think some of the design elements are a bit overdone, such as those black headlight housing extensions connecting with the lower air intakes. But otherwise, the design looks pretty good, and you can see the design connection between this and the F40. Those 20-inch wheels are exclusive to this one-off. The brakes measure the same (398 mm front and 360 mm rear).
Under the engine cover, you’ll notice the generous application of Carbon-Kevlar throughout. The hybrid powertrain remains unchanged, obviously. It’s a combination of a 3.0-litre (2,992 cc) twin-turbo V6, a YASA axial-flux electric motor, and an 8-speed DCT. The combined figures remain unchanged as well, which are 610 kW (830 metric hp) and 740 Nm (553 lb-ft). The dry weight of the SC40 is claimed to be 1,550 kg (3,417 lbs). Just to compare, the 296 GTB with optional lightweight content is claimed to weigh 1,470 kg (3,241 lbs).
But what’s interesting is that the performance figures are claimed to be the same as those of the 296 GTB, despite an increase of 80 kg (176 lbs). I’m talking about 0-100 km/h (62 mph) and 0-200 km/h (124 mph) sprint times of 2.9 seconds and 7.3 seconds, respectively.
Inside, you’ll not find significant differences except for bespoke Carbon-Kevlar appliques. The seat upholstery is a combination of Charcoal Alcantara and a red Jacquard technical fabric.
In order to get a Ferrari one-off, one not only has to be on the Ferrari VIP list but also needs to be a VIP in that VIP list. A VIPception, if that makes any sense. The VVIP will closely work with the design team from Ferrari’s Styling Centre. Once the car’s proportions and forms have been defined, detailed design blueprints and a styling buck are produced before the manufacturing process for the new one-off begins. The entire process takes around two years on average.
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