Ferrari FXX - F1 car in red coat
When Ferrari introduced the Enzo at the Paris International Fair in 2003, many people shook their noses at the Italian manufacturer's new work. It was not amazingly beautiful, whimsical and exciting, but it was called Enzo, and it was the quintessence of the Maranello brand. The Ferrari Enzo had many surprises, but the real revolution came from the FXX, the extreme version of the Enzo. Let's find out the origin of the FXX model and what it represents.
Let's go back to the Enzo for a moment, because it's actually the forerunner of the FXX. Many identify the Enzo with the F60, which was never produced. We remember the iconic F40 and the mid-range F50 very well. For many fans, the Enzo model has become the successor to the F50, but this is not true. The Ferrari Enzo was first introduced in 2003, i.e. less than 5 years after the introduction of the F50. The Ferrari concern planned to introduce a new model in 2007, which this time was supposed to bear the official name F60, unfortunately, the plans did not come true, and the F50 model did not receive a full-fledged successor.
We mentioned that the Enzo had a lot of surprises and the speed of the car is definitely one of them. Well, the manufacturer indicated a maximum speed of 350 km / h. So what was the surprise of both observers and the manufacturers themselves when Enzo reached a speed of 355 km / h on the Italian track in Nardo, which is 5 km / h higher than the declared one. This model was released in the amount of only 400 copies. Under the hood, the top-end Ferrari engine is a 12-cylinder V-shaped unit with a volume of 6 liters and a capacity of 660 hp. All power was sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed sequential gearbox. The first "hundred" on the counter appeared after 3,3 seconds, and after 6,4 seconds it was already 160 km / h on the counter.
We'll start with the Ferrari Enzo for a reason, as the FXX is a perfect example of the work of the mentally unstable guys at Ferrari who never get enough. The Enzo model alone could cause a heartbeat, while the FXX model caused uncontrolled ventricular fibrillation and a complete hypertrophy of all sensations. This car is by no means normal, and the people who choose it must be equally abnormal. Why? There are several reasons, but let's start from the beginning.
Firstly, the Ferrari FXX was built in 2005 on the basis of the Enzo model in a very limited number of copies. It was said that only 20 units would be made, as indicated by the name (F - Ferrari, XX - the number twenty), but twenty-nine units were produced. In addition, two copies in a unique black color went to the biggest Ferrari brands, i.e. Michael Schumacher and Jean Todd. This is the first feature that makes this car less conventional. Another condition that had to be met was, of course, an obscenely fat wallet, which had to fit 1,5 million euros. However, this is one part of the price, because the FXX model was intended only for those who already had cars of this brand in the garage. In addition, each lucky person had to participate in a special two-year Ferrari performance test program, during which he learned about the car and learned how to drive it. These rules alone are impressive, and this is just the beginning…
As already mentioned, the FXX model is based on the Enzo model, but looking at the technical characteristics it is difficult to find many common elements. Yes, it has a centrally located engine, it also has twelve V-cylinders, but the similarities end there. Well, the power, including due to the boring of the unit to a volume of 6262 cm3, increased from 660 to 800 hp. Peak power is reached at 8500 rpm, while maximum torque of 686 Nm is available to the driver at rpm. And what is the performance of the FXX model? Probably no one doubts that this is madness.
This is quite interesting, because Ferrari does not provide official technical data for the model, and all parameters are taken from tests. Either way, FXX acceleration is simply baffling. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes only 2,5 seconds, and the speed of 160 km/h appears in less than 7 seconds. After about 12 seconds, the speedometer needle passes 200 km/h, and the car continues to accelerate like crazy until it reaches a speed of about 380 km/h. Equally impressive is the deceleration, with carbon-ceramic discs and titanium calipers stopping the FXX at 100m at 31,5kph. Driving such a car should deliver extreme sensations.
Such parameters are one of the culprits for the lack of a road permit. Yes, yes, a car worth a fortune cannot be driven on public roads, only on a race track. This drastically reduces the car's "coolness" because we can't compare it to the Bugatti Veyron or any other supercar, but the Ferrari FXX is in a whole different league. Currently, only the Pagani Zonda R is the brand's manifesto for what it can do when there are no rules.
As for the appearance of the car, there is nothing here that could impress him. We will not find here impressively beautiful lines, subtle breaks, curves or stylistic delights. The Enzo itself wasn't pretty, so the FXX's reworked bodywork isn't something fanatical aesthetes sigh. The headlights look like the eyes of a carp, the air intake at the front of a cat would swallow a cat, and the exhaust pipes stick out where the headlights used to be. The rear aerodynamic elements in the form of extreme spoilers look like rabbit ears, and the diffuser under the rear bumper is frightening with its immensity. But Ferrari engineers focused on performance over aesthetics, which is why the FXX is so intriguing and beautiful in its own way.
As mentioned, the lucky FXX owners took part in a research and development program coupled with a series of races specially organized for the occasion. The whole idea involved the constant improvement of cars and owners of the Ferrari FXX. So the car was stuffed with a set of sensors, and each car was monitored by a team of engineers and mechanics. The entire series, led by the FXX model, launched in June 2005 and was designed for 2 years. Less than a year and a half later, the car underwent serious modifications, and it was decided to extend the program until 2009. Perverts…sorry, Ferrari specialists decided to rewrite all FXX models a bit.
So, on October 28, 2007, the premiere of the improved Ferrari FXX Evoluzione took place at the Mugello track. According to the results of tests and races, a special package of changes has been developed. It is said that the first Evoluzione was designed by Michael Schumacher himself. In any case, the FXX has changed in terms of aerodynamics, electronics and powertrain. Oh, this “superlifting”.
The gearbox after modifications requires only 60 milliseconds to shift gears. In addition, gear ratios have changed, as each gear can use an additional range of engine speeds, which at 9,5 thousand rpm (previously 8,5) reaches 872 hp. (previously "only" 800). Another change is a new traction control system developed in collaboration with GES Racing. The new system allows the suspension to be installed in 9 different profiles. It is also possible to completely disable the traction control system, but only specialists can decide on this. Everything is done at the touch of a button in the central tunnel, and the settings can be dynamically changed during the race, choosing the right tuning depending on the corners passed.
New vehicle features and redesigned front suspension geometry allow 19-inch Bridgestone tires to last longer than ever before. In addition, reinforced Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes are even more efficient. The diffuser and rear wing assembly has also been redesigned to generate 25% more downforce than the "regular" FFX. The settings of the active front spoiler have been changed and the telemetry system has been improved, which now also monitors the pressure in the brake pump and the steering angle. It cannot be denied that this is no longer a car, but a full-fledged racing car. After all, who controls the pressure in the brake system or the angle of the steering wheel when traveling to the store for milk?
The Ferrari FXX and its evolution in the form of the Evoluzione model are undoubtedly a super-automatic. They're completely pointless, extremely dysfunctional, and actually... pretty stupid. Well, because someone smart will buy a million dollar car that he can't drive every day, but only when Ferrari organizes another test. But let's face it, the Ferrari FXX and the Evoluzione are typical non-homologation track cars, and buying one, although "lease" is more appropriate here, is dictated by an unbridled love for the Ferrari brand and the purest, extreme version of the automotive industry. Let's not approach FXX intelligently, let's not try to explain the legitimacy of its existence, because this is completely fruitless. These cars are designed to be fun, and the Ferrari FXX does that very effectively.
