Every Ferrari announcement or release is a pleasant little event. It’s even more of an event when the model in question happens to be a new sibling in the Icona family, one whose family tree is composed of anachronistic version of glorious model of yesteryear, equipped with todays technologies and aesthetics. The Monza SP1 and SP2, inspired by the 1950s barchettas, paved the way for their little sister, back in 2017. The Daytona SP3 is following in its older sibling’s tracks as the third iteration in this already iconic family.
If you aren’t familiar with this division of Ferrari’ products, the Daytona name is no outsider to you, as it references the legendary Ferrari trifecta in 1967 on Ford territory, thanks to the 330 P3/4, 330 P4 and 412 P during that year’s 24 hour Daytona marathon. Subsequently, it’s no surprise that the SP3’s silhouette reminds us that of the 330 P4, one of Ferrari design director Flavio Manzini’s personal favorites.
We will let you be the sole judge of this iconic Italia’s timeless design while we push ahead and take a look at the car’s specs, which, as it is custom at Ferrari, is rather enticing. The Italian manufacturer has taken its 6.5 liter V12 from the 812 Competizione and has put at the middle of the new model’s rear. The SP3’s V12 has titanium rods, 40% lighter than its counterpart’s, and the pistons have been treated with diamond-like carbon and the crankshaft, 3% lighter, has been rebalanced. Another important detail: the direct injection system’s management has also been tweaked to perfection, allowing for a 30% reduction of polluting emissions.
With its 840 horsepower and its 697 Nm torque, this specific V12 is the most powerful thermal engine Ferrari has ever built, and it performs accordingly; it goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.85 seconds, and from 0 to 200 km/h in 7.4 seconds, with a 340+km/h top speed.
IF the engine comes from the 812 Competitizione, the rest has been borrowed from another iconic Ferrari model, the Ferrari Aperta, who is the original wearer of the carbon monohull chassis. For future reference, the seats have been directly integrated into the chassis for a lower and more reclined driving position than in the other high end Ferraris. Just as a one-seater, in order to adjust the driving position, one must also adjust the footswitch.
If the outside is an obvious wink at the 1960s Ferrari models, the inside isn’t quite so. The 16 inch screen, nestled behind the wheel is the sole provider of information for the driver. The Daytona SP3’s wheel, by the way, is identical to that of the SF90 Stradale and Roma, which provides the driver with control over 80% of the car’s features without having to let go of the wheel.
In total, 559 of these are being made, all of which have already been sold. Ferrari intends to unveil around four to five more Icona models within the next few years.
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