Presented by Mecum Auctions – Unveiled to the world at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the boldly named LaFerrari, translated as “The Ferrari,” was described by Ferrari President Luca Di Montezemolo as “… the expression of what defines our company.” Following in the hallowed lineage of the 288 GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo, the LaFerrari immediately lived up to its provocative model name as Ferrari’s most advanced road car at introduction and well beyond. Built around an FIA prototype-worthy, arrowhead-shaped carbon-fiber tub main structure, the LaFerrari features a lower ride height and center of gravity than even the radical Enzo preceding it, with an F1 cockpit-style seating position and sills built into the front-hinged, scissor-type doors. Breaking from tradition, bodywork for the LaFerrari was not the work of an external design house/coachbuilder, but rather the work of an in-house design team at Ferrari headed by Flavio Manzoni. While certainly attractive, the purposefully aggressive body of the LaFerrari features a “form following function” approach while paying homage to some of Ferrari’s most successful racing cars leading up to LaFerrari.
Powering the LaFerrari is a stunning hybrid powertrain delivering 950 HP and quite possibly eclipsing Ferrari’s then-current F14 T Formula 1 racing car by about 200 HP. LaFerrari power-to-weight is a mind-bending 3.7 pounds-per-HP ratio. Dubbed HY-KERS, the LaFerrari Hybrid Kinetic Energy Recovery System powertrain features a 6.3L/789 HP DOHC, 48-valve V-12 engine at its core, equipped with variable-length intake runners, 13.5:1 compression and a 9,250 RPM redline. An oil-cooled electric motor resides at the rear of the 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission and delivers an additional 161 HP. A low-mounted, liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack stores power and serves as a stressed structural member behind the passenger compartment. Electronic controls activate the electric motor, which essentially provides a kind of boost, filling in the lower rev ranges of the howling V-12 piston powerplant for near-instantaneous throttle response and a shockingly visceral, gut-wrenching experience for the driver and passenger.
Obviously, LaFerrari performance is stunning, nay, ridiculous, with the 0-60 MPH dash completed in 2.5 seconds, 0-100 MPH in 4.8 seconds and the quarter-mile in a dragster-worthy 9.8 seconds at 149 MPH through the traps. Given sufficient space, top speed is a factory-claimed 217 MPH. Helping to harness its staggering performance, the LaFerrari body bristles with amazing active and passive aerodynamic features delivering the required engine cooling and maximizing performance with massive downforce, including a large adjustable spoiler and movable diffuser flaps. Other race-derived systems include stability control and performance anti-blockage/electronic brake balance. An F1-type electronic traction control system is integrated with the hybrid powertrain system and third-generation electronic differential for incredible response to driver inputs. Maximum road contact is delivered by Ferrari’s magnetorheological damping system with twin solenoids, and track-worthy adhesion is achieved via a set of extreme-performance Pirelli P-Zero tires surrounding 19-inch front and 20-inch rear forged aluminum wheels. According to published road tests, the LaFerrari generates up to 1.16 G lateral acceleration on the skidpad and requires just 136 feet to stop from 70 MPH.
Two LaFerrari variants were sold: the coupe, with 500 produced in 2013-2016, and the Aperta convertible, 210 of which were built in 2016-18. Stunning in Rosso Corsa (Competition Red) over Nero (Black) leather upholstery with red piping and stitched Ferrari Cavallino Rampante accents, this 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari is virtually as-new with only 131 miles on the clock. Other accents include Scuderia Ferrari front-fender shields, carbon fiber dash trim and red calipers for the cross-drilled and vented Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes. Creature comforts include an adjustable steering wheel and pedal box, reconfigurable digital instrument panel and both main and secondary controls for audio, navigation, climate and telemetry systems.
Creating a sensation from the introduction and generating frenzied orders and deposit checks from hopeful buyers, the LaFerrari created an instant legend among Ferrari owners and collectors, one that will continue well into the future. Offered with incredibly low mileage, this Rosso Corsa LaFerrari offers an incredible opportunity to experience the design and engineering prowess that has firmly kept Ferrari at the forefront of motorsports since its inception.
This 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari will be auctioned off during Mecum Auctions’ Monterey 2021 event, which runs August 12 to 14.
