By the early 2010s a new breed of hybrid-electric hypercar had evolved, most notably embodied by the Porsche 918 Spyder and the McLaren P1. Relying on the spirit of competition that had served it so well on the track for 65 years, Ferrari duly met this challenge with yet another limited-production supercar—one that would dwarf its predecessors in power, technology, and scope. Unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Salon, the new model was simply called LaFerrari—literally “The Ferrari”. When the media and enthusiasts eventually dissected performance numbers and build approach, it was difficult to argue with the model’s boastful name.

For motive power, the LaFerrari was bestowed with a 6.3-litre V-12 directly lifted from the developmental FXX model. With a compression ratio of 13.5:1, the V-12 developed a whopping 789 horsepower while redlining at a high-revving 9,250 rpm. The 516 pound-feet of torque arrived relatively high in the power band, just shy of 7,000 rpm, so an electric motor derived from the company’s Formula 1 KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) was installed in the rear to add 161 horsepower, most of which was tapped for use at lower revs. Power was routed directly to the rear axle via a lightning-quick, seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle.

In total, the two engines combined for a dizzying 949 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. That propels the slippery LaFerrari to 100 km/h from a standstill in as little as 2.6 seconds. The quarter mile arrived in 9.7 seconds, besting both the Porsche 918 and the Bugatti Veyron. As Road & Track writer Larry Webster noted after his test drive: “It’s closer to driving an LMP car than, say, a 458 Speciale.”

The LaFerrari’s carbon fibre tub was baked alongside those of Scuderia Ferrari’s Formula 1 cars. The hypercar’s entire architecture was based around the driver’s seating position, which was six centimetres lower than that of the Enzo. This was achieved, ironically, by removing the seat. That is to say, the LaFerrari’s seats were little more than Alcantara-swathed pads directly attached to the floor and the rear firewall. Accordingly, the pedals were adjustable and the “seat” was custom fitted to each individual buyer.

Ferrari’s in-house designer Flavio Manzoni penned the arresting coachwork, which is beautifully sleek and a beauty to behold, drawing admiration from every angle. To manage the speed, the body was adorned with a host of electronically deployed active aerodynamic elements. These included smart front and rear undercarriage panels and a rear spoiler, which continuously attenuated a range of 200 to 800 pounds of downforce. Mammoth cross-drilled and vented Brembo carbon-ceramic disc brakes and proprietary Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres completed the technical profile, keeping the LaFerrari as grounded as possible through switchbacks.

Concluding production in January 2016, manufacture of the closed variant of the LaFerrari was capped at 499 examples, lending the model the degree of exclusivity expected of a top-shelf Maranello hypercar. All were sold to preferred clients before the first example had even completed assembly.

But in true marque fashion, Ferrari was not content to let this paradigm-changing model go without improvement. Customers always demanded a spider version of any coupé, so the company’s engineers soon devised a way to fulfil this market niche. By the 2016 conclusion of LaFerrari production, the timing was perfect for a dedicated 70th anniversary model in the tradition of the F40 and F50. This design brief marked the birth of the LaFerrari Aperta.

The Aperta’s coachwork was redesigned without a roof section, which could be covered with either a canvas soft-top or an optional carbon fibre hardtop. A host of improvements on the Aperta included a strengthened chassis to maintain structural rigidity, angled radiators to reduce cabin heat, a longer front air-dam to improve downforce, and a reconfigured angle for the butterfly doors with correspondingly altered wheel arches.

By the time the LaFerrari Aperta was officially unveiled at the 2016 Paris Salon, all 200 examples had already been pre-sold, ensuring a level of rarity that most of the earlier Ferrari hypercars never achieved. Nine pre-production examples were additionally built, most of which served the manufacturer during its 70th anniversary celebratory events. A final car was offered for a charity auction held by RM Sotheby’s, bringing total production to 210 examples. The consensus on this short manufacturing run remains unanimous: Ferrari once again achieved the impossible, taking a perfectly engineered speed machine and making it even better.

CHASSIS 223352: LIVING LA DOLCE VITA IN SWITZERLAND

This beautifully presented LaFerrari Aperta benefits from a gentle life of minimal use by only one owner. Ordered through the Atelier programme of Ferrari, it has been finished in a stunning and rare colour combination of Bianco Italia triple-layer paint over an interior of Nero leather upholstery with Giallo accents. This LaFerrari Aperta was supplied with a glossy black hardtop. Chassis number 223352 was delivered new to The Tailored For Speed Collection in late-March 2017. Upon delivery, the car was issued Ferrari “Special Series Yellow Book” certification that details its matching-numbers engine and gearbox. Dated entries in the warranty booklet demonstrate the car has been faithfully maintained with routine service appointments, with the most recent completed by Kessel of Zug in April 2025.

Currently displaying just 3,931 kilometres on its odometer, this showroom-quality Aperta is accompanied by owner’s manuals with the model-badged pouch and tools including a fuse kit. For the collector seeking to skip straight to the open-top version of Maranello’s sensational LaFerrari without having to first acquire the original, or marque collectors focused on the company’s latest cutting-edge hypercars, this Aperta presents a rare opportunity.

Exquisitely finished, exceptionally maintained, and nearly unequalled in build specification, this single-owner, striking LaFerrari Aperta is unmistakably a veritable chariot of the gods, sure to deliver primal thrills to the next lucky caretaker.