Garden variety rich people buy theirs Ferraris off the rack Those in a more obscene category of wealth will spend an entire political campaign’s money on a single custom made from the Italian automaker. The Ferrari KC23 is one of the latter.
Far from being a concept car, the KC23 is a one-off special commission built with a focus on track performance. The design comes from Ferrari’s Centro Stile studio, which is responsible for developing the company’s special projects. According to the automaker, the design was led by Flavio Manzoni and was built for “a very imaginative, passionate and demanding customer.”
Ferrari
The overall aesthetic seems to be inspired by a neo-80s vibe, with innovative elements like the drastic headlights and the “light leaf” at the back that glow from within while spanning the entire width of the car. Air vents and ducting abound, while rim-vented wheels simply look the business. Meanwhile, all of the glass blends seamlessly into the surrounding panels, with no visible bezels or seals. It also sports a set of butterfly doors, just like the LaFerrari.
It’s a look that seems to come from the same future that the Hyundai N Vision 74 lives in. It wouldn’t hurt for Ferrari to push further in this new direction with the next generation of its flagship designs. The four-coat ‘Gold Mercury’ paint also does wonders for the car’s lines.
Ferrari
The KC23 also features active aerodynamics that hide when the car is stationary. Turn it on and the KC23 transforms, opening large air intakes and drop-down panels all over the body. As a racer, it also features a huge GT-style wing, although this can be removed if desired.
The KC23 is based on the 2020 488 GT3 Evo, albeit with all the exterior lines redesigned in the process. In particular, it has become one of Ferrari’s most successful track cars of all time. He has more than 530 race wins and 119 championships to his name. It therefore serves as the perfect platform for a custom track car. Unlike the 488 GT3, however, the KC23 is intended for non-competitive use, allowing more freedom in design. Horsepower isn’t mentioned, but one would imagine that output is at least the same 591 horsepower as the race car, if not higher due to the lack of race restrictors.
Ferrari
So on the inside, the KC23 is a straight-up race car. The driver is faced with a wheel full of buttons and dials to control the most details to the limit. Naturally, you’ve got racing seats and harnesses to hold you in during high-G manoeuvres, while there’s a safety box to protect you in case you go too far.
It’s pretty typical for Ferrari to keep their Special Projects (SP) cars under wraps. However, the owner of the KC23 wanted to show the collaboration to the world. In keeping with that ethos, the KC23 will make a public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this month, before spending a stint at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello. It’s a great opportunity to see what is perhaps the most futuristic Ferrari ever built.
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