When you buy a Ferrari
, you generally know what you're getting, even if you're buying it for your kids. Ferrari is known for developing unique cars with superior performance that will turn heads no matter what. However, the Italian automaker once created a car so unique that it almost defies description. Ferrari needed a contender to keep up with other supercars
Introduced in 2013, the LaFerrari was a limited production mid-hybrid supercar. LaFerrari means "The Ferrari" in Italian and several other Romance languages. Though it was internally codenamed the F150 during production, which was an obviously confusing moniker despite following the F140 designation given to the Ferrari Enzo before it, the clear statement that the LaFerrari name made was that this was the quintessential Ferrari to own above any other vehicle.
Ferrari introduced the LaFerrari to compete with other companies that were producing supercars of their own. As a result, the LaFerrari would become part of an iconic supercar triumvirate, alongside the Porsche 918 Spyder and the McLaren P1.
In terms of power, performance, and style, the LaFerrari lived up to its bombastic name. With a direct fuel-injected V12 internal combustion engine supported by a full hybrid Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), the LaFerrari carries a total power output of 950 horsepower with 664 lb-ft of torque. In addition, this high-performance engine is attached to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that delivers a smooth ride.
However, every supercar has to start somewhere. And the prototype for the LaFerrari is as unique a starting point as any automaker could dream of devising.
Should you judge this book by its cover?
As reported by Road and Track
, the F150 M6 started as the phase one LaFerrari prototype during the earliest stages of development. One look at the test vehicle, and it's easy to see what makes it so unique among Ferraris. Its chassis also served as the basis for the 458 Italia, giving the prototype an almost Frankensteinian appearance between the 458 and the F150 that would become the LaFerrari. Multiple chopped-up components held on by fasteners and riveted panels give the F150 M6 a cyberpunk vibe. Special camouflage panels included with the vehicle only add to the sense of a barebones aesthetic. The F150 M6 has also been fitted with multiple vents and ersatz access hatches with little regard for styling.
Fortunately, the purpose of the prototype wasn't styling. Instead, it was to be a testbed for the F140FB V12 engine and other mechanical components that would later be refined for the LaFerrari. The F150 M6 was also where Ferrari tested the KERS hybrid system that would define the LaFerrari.
The F150 M6 prototype will give a glimpse into the development process
For anyone with a deep appreciation for engineering, there is good news. The Ferrari F150 M6 prototype will be available for sale. RM Sotheby's will be placing the high-performance test vehicle on the auction block in Monaco later in 2022.
Because the F150 M6 exists as a prototype vehicle primarily meant to test the engine and other mechanical systems, it isn't considered road legal. However, there's no law against taking it out on private property or secluded roads and putting the V12 engine through its paces.
Because of the nature of the sale, with people putting in bids for the prototype, there's no way to give an accurate estimation of the final price. However, there have only been 499 LaFerrari models produced. That level of exclusivity combined with the rarity of being able to purchase a prototype vehicle will guarantee that the final price will most likely be stratospheric.
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Jerry
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