While each model coming out of Ferrari’s sprawling production facility in Maranello is a superstar, a few models have an in-depth lasting impression on everyone’s hearts. One such iconic model is the Ferrari LaFerrari which debuted in 2013 at the Geneva Motor Show. The LaFerrari (Italian for 'The Ferrari') witnessed a global launch in 2014, competing with the cutting-edge flagships of Porsche, McLaren, and Lamborghini.
Ferrari sold 710 units of LaFerrari - 500 units of coupe and 210 units of Aperta, the convertible version. However, before the first unit of Ferrari LaFerrari hit the production floors, Ferrari made three prototypes of LaFerrari for testing different purposes in different phases. All these three units of LaFerrari are now up for auction, the details of which are given below.
2011 Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype M4
Internally recognized as F150 Muletto M4, this Ferrari LaFerrari prototype from 2011 is the first-ever prototype of the supercar. This particular car served as a prototype for a year between 2011 to 2012, primarily for testing all emission parameters crucial for homologation. This car sits on the Tipo F142 platform, which served as the base for the 458 Italia later on. However, this aluminium chassis got extensively modified to accommodate the drivetrain of LaFerrari, including the Type F140FB first-generation V12 engine.
The Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype M4 has fabricated panels to access the hybrid system as well as the ignition module of the car. This car also has removable composite front valance, hood, and air inlets, along with an exclusive matte black paint job, to confuse spy photographers who were out to click just a glimpse of this supercar under development at that time. Along with the matte-black paint job, it also has white vinyl roundels on its doors and Pirelli decals on the tip of the hood and rear license plate housing. The car has 20-inch five-spoke alloy wheels shod with Pirelli tires.
On the inside, this car has an all-black layout with black leather seats with carbon fiber touches on the corners of the dashboard and center console. It also has Scuderia fender shields and brown carpet for the floor.
2012 Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype MP1
It is the second prototype of the Ferrari LaFerrari used for testing the mechanical development of the car in the second phase of the test procedure. Internally named as F150 Mulotipo MP1, this prototype of LaFerrari has its engineering around a pre-production chassis, with its central tub structure in technical carbo fiber. This car served as a prototype between March 2012 and August 2013 for testing the integration of various mechanical systems and their development for the production-spec models.
The prototype powertrain of the Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype MP1 is similar to the layout of the powertrain finalized by the engineers at Ferrari. The Type F140FD second-generation V12 engine of this prototype employs a prototype hybrid HY-KERS (Hybrid Kinetic Energy Recovery System) within a prototype engine bay layout. In its test, this 6.3-liter V12 heart developed 789 hp of power output, with an additional 161 hp power obtained with assistance from the low-mounted lithium-ion battery pack.
Compared to the previous M4 prototype, this MP1 prototype has different body panels and trim levels, thus making it look unique and unrecognizable as a LaFerrari. However, like the M4 prototype, the MP1 is painted in a matte black theme, with white vinyl roundels on the door panels and Pirelli graphics at the front and rear. This car runs on 19-inch alloys at the front and 20-inch alloys at the back, all of which have Pirelli P-Zero tires.
Unlike the production-ready cabin of the M4 prototype, the interior of this MP1 prototype has a Spartan layout with Plexiglas windows. It also gets a fabricated dashboard with carbon fiber panels and a disproportionate LaFerrari digital display behind the steering wheel, which shows that the car has covered 36,068 km (22,411.6 miles).
2014 Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype PS1
If you didn't like the previous two ‘raw’ and ‘unfinished’ LaFerrari prototypes, the final prototype of the Ferrari LaFerrari, the Prototype PS1, is the one that should catch your attention. Used as a third-phase pre-series illustrator, the Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype PS1 was internally called F150 Prototipe Preserie PS1 and looks identical to the final production version of the supercar. The final version’s body panels got designed by a team led by Flavio Manzoni.
The Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype PS1 has a definitive Type F140FE V12, which makes 789 hp using prototype components and ancillaries and Ferrari’s pre-production HY-KERS hybrid system used in the final production version of the car. This prototype also got a definitive carbon fiber chassis with an arrow-head-like carbon fiber tub main structure, including definitive active-aero systems with prototype parts.
On the outside, the Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype PS1 is painted in a dual-tone Rosso Corso and Matte Black color scheme, along with white vinyl roundels on the upward-opening door panels and Pirelli graphics on the upper edge of the windscreen and side edges of the rear windscreen. Like the Prototype MP4, this car also gets Pirelli P-Zero tires wrapped over 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloy wheels. The interior also looks production-ready with red leather seats and contrast black piping, and extensive use of carbon fiber on the steering wheel, AC vents, and center console. This prototype shows a reading of 16,348 km (10,158 miles) on its odometer.
All these three prototypes of Ferrari LaFerrari mentioned above are accredited with Ferrari Classiche Certification and will be sold on a bill of sale. These prototypes are not road-legal, and cannot be registered for use on public roads.