2019 Ferrari P80/c

Ferrari. I’ve talked about them on this blog before. Throughout automotive history, Ferrari has been known for making rare, beautiful and fast cars. When I think of classic cars that I would want to own one day, the 250 California is almost always at the top of my list. However, no company is without its ups and downs and Ferrari’s recent history hasn't exactly been spotless.

Since the turn of the century, Ferrari has shifted its focus from a balance of beauty and speed to simply wanting to go fast. Cars like the 2002 Ferrari Maranello (shown below in silver) emphasize this as it is by far the ugliest car to ever break the 200 mph mark.

This isn't to say that Ferrari hasn’t produced some amazing cars since the year 2000. The 360 Challenge Stradale (top) and 488 GTB (bottom) are certainly proof of this, but they haven't been consistent.

However, those days may be behind us with Ferrari’s latest high-speed offering.

First, a bit of background information. Towards the end of 2018, last year, Ferrari hired a new and specialized design team to focus solely on creating their special releases. So far this team has done a very good job, creating such cars as the Monza SP1. (shown below)

And now they have revealed their newest 4-wheeled wonder, the Ferrari P80/c.

First of all, let me just say that this car is gorgeous. It is, without a doubt, the greatest looking car set to release this year. Many other supercars set for release in 2019 are simply remaking their old styles, but Ferrari is doing something new. Anyway, now I've gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about the car itself.

If you know Ferrari, you'll probably realize that the car isn't exactly new. It's actually a 2019 Ferrari 488 GT3 Race Car with some serious modifications. The second thing you need to know about this is that you probably won’t ever get a chance to see the car in real life. That is due to the fact that there will only be 1 unit produced as it is a custom vehicle. Also, even if you do manage to get behind the wheel of a P80/c, you won't be able to drive it on the road. That's right, the P80/c is a track only specialized vehicle.

Now let’s take a look at the car itself. First of all, unlike the other main Ferrari track car, The FXX-K, the P80/c won’t be a hybrid. Instead, the car will draw all its power from its 3.9 liter naturally-aspirated V8 that will produce approximately 735bhp. The P80/c uses this power to its advantage as it goes from 0-60mph in a tarmac melting 2.7 seconds. Couple that with the explosive 211 top speed and you get one insanely quick track car. The car also features a reworked version of the due-clutch gearbox found in the 488 GT3. The P80/c’s gearbox is the highest tech paddle-shifter  Ferrari has ever created, built to handle the quick shifts with the raw power of the V8 engine. The car also used the same rear-wheel-drive system found in the 488 lineups.

Moving on to the exterior, it's pretty obvious that this was a go big or go home build. Almost every single panel is new. There is a massive rear wing that gives the car enough downforce to easily keep it on the track, even at full speed. Every panel has a purpose, nothing is just for show. The massive dips in the car’s hood, along with the grooves down its side allow for increased airflow, decreasing the car’s drag. Both the body of the car and its massive rear wing are made of solid carbon-fiber, saving quite a bit of weight, allowing for better cornering, faster acceleration, and higher top speed. And of course, it wouldn't be a racing Ferrari without the blazing red paint job.

Continuing to the inside of the car, we get a look at many new features as well as some old ones making a return. The layout is designed to feel more like the cockpit of a small fighter plane than a

track car, which, at high speeds, only adds to the very real sensation of actual flight.

Many of the instruments and paneling are either entirely, or mostly, made of carbon-fiber to save as much weight as possible. The cockpit also includes brand new bucket racing seats for both the driver and passenger. A screen in the center if the console, directly behind the wheel, gives the readouts and details on every possible piece of the car while also acting as a general control center for the vehicle. Everything, apart from the essentials, has been stripped away to save weight. This is another reason why you can’t drive this car on the road.

All in all, I love this car. Everything about it is what I think a Ferrari should be. It is blazingly fast without compromising on the beauty of the design. This is the best Ferrari the world has seen in several years and I seriously hope we get to see more amazing designs like this in the future.