When it comes to creating the most beautiful supercars that produce heavenly sounds and mind-bending performance, Ferrari is probably the first name that pops into everyone's mind. Rightfully so. The prancing horse company from Maranello is arguably the most influential automotive brand and its perpetual heritage in racing is definitely a factor behind it.
However, racing is not the only thing that Ferrari is known for. It is also known for creating limited run hypercars that not every Joe Schmoe could get their hands on. Historically Ferrari has always had one hypercar in its lineup, but with increasing demand of more limited edition models Ferrari has decided to introduce its new Icona Series.
A Series under which the brand will create a small number of cars inspired by iconic models of the Ferrari history. And the very first model in this range is the Ferrari Monza SP1; an all out performance machine which does not comply by rules of modern mobility. The $2.5 million hypercar from Ferrari is a work of art and is truly a masterpiece of an automobile.
However, there are still a few things that you might not know about the Ferrari Monza SP1. So, without wasting any more time, let's check out the 10 things that we now know about the Monza SP1.
10 The Ferrari Monza Is The First Car In Ferrari's Icona Series
Ferrari and heritage are synonymous with one another, and to hark back to the good times, the company has launched its newest Icona Series. Under the new, Icona Series Ferrari will be producing modern iterations of its iconic automobiles from the past and will offer them to the most special clientele of its brand.
The first cars in this Icona Series are the Ferrari Monza SP1 and Monza SP2. Models under the Icona Series will be extremely limited and will be offered to only the top-tier clients of Ferrari. The brand aims to offer its loyal clientele an opportunity to own a piece of Ferrari history without any dilution of its legacy.
9 The Ferrari Monza Is A Tribute To The Legendary Barchetta's From 1950s
If you think that the Monza is the first Barchetta from Ferrari then you could not be further from the truth. The Monza SP1 is in fact an homage to the legendary Barchettas of the past that Ferrari raced in the early and late 1950s.
The Ferrari Monza SP1 pays its tribute to the legendary 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, 1954 750 Monza, and the 1950 160 MM. All of these automobiles are now fetching upwards of tens of millions of dollars in auctions. The Monza SP1 draws inspiration from these Barchettas and presents it in a more contemporary design to suit today's taste.
8 No Roof, No Windows, And No Passenger Seat
Unsurprisingly, by now, you must have noticed that the Ferrari Monza SP1 lacks a few quintessential elements. So yes, the Monza SP1 does not come with a roof, neither does it come with a window, nor does it offer a passenger seat. Why you may ask? The answer is simple, weight savings!
Ferrari stripped everything out of the Monza SP1 to make it as hardcore as possible. The result of this is now that it has become a performance powerhouse. It is such a tail-happy car because of all that weight loss that just a small tap on the gas pedal, and it wants to slide out. However, on the flip side, it's just as useless because nobody is lunatic enough to drive their Monza SP1 in the rain.
7 The Ferrari Monza SP1 Gets A Virtual Windshield
Well, what happens to the face of the driver that drives the Monza SP1, doesn't it get smothered with high-speed air? If this is your question then you are not alone, everyone ponders the same! And Ferrari has also thought the same which is why to help the courageous drivers that are brave enough to drive this beast, it has given the Monza SP1 a virtual windshield.
As Ferrari describes it, the Monza SP1 comes equipped with an airflow system that is intended to provide the same function as a windshield without the aerodynamic trade-offs required to insert a physical one in lieu of a conventional glass or Perspex screen. When the car is moving, the air is drawn in by the substantial intake in the front and directed to a vent that faces upwards directly in front of the driver's seat. As a result, the wind just blows past the face of the driver.
6 The Ferrari Monza Is Street Legal In Europe But Not In The United States
When a brand decides to chop off the roof and windows from its car, it naturally becomes a cause of safety concern. And owing to this, the Monza SP1 has been deemed illegal to drive on U.S. streets. However, it's not too bad of a news for the owners of Monza SP1s in Europe because for some odd reasons they are street legal in European countries.
Attempts were made by the journalists to know if the Ferrari will do anything to make them street legal in the U.S. But Ferrari officials very humbly denied any of such attempts. Although it's not as bad as it seems for the owners of these raw race cars in the U.S. because they can still drive them on private roads. Notably, they can drive them on racetracks without any restrictions just like Ferrari intended them to be used.
5 Only 500 Ferrari Monzas Will Be Ever Built
Like any multimillion-dollar Ferrari, the Monza will also be an extremely limited production vehicle. Ferrari will be creating only 500 Monzas for the entire world and this number comprises both the SP1 and SP2 models. Only the most loyal clients of the brand will be offered one, and they will be able to choose between an SP1 or an SP2.
However, how many individual Monza SP1s will be made is a secret, and not everybody will know. However, a Ferrari spokesperson revealed, "Production of the Monza SP1 and SP2 will be limited to just 499 examples combined. If 498 customers want the SP1 and only one wants the SP2, then that’s what we’ll build.”
4 It's Based On The Ferrari 812 Superfast
Instead of creating an entirely new chassis for the Monza SP1, Ferrari decided to use the 812 Superfast as the base car. This was done by the Maranello outfit to keep the development costs low and its profits high. The engine, chassis, and other drivetrain components of the Monza are shared with the high-performance GT 812 Superfast.
Not only is the Monza identical to the 812 under the skin, but it also shares interior elements with the 812 Superfast as well. Although the key difference is the interior layout between the two supercars. Unlike the 812, the Monza is a little cumbersome and does not offer as much of a luxury feel.
3 The Ferrari Monza SP1 Is A Super Impractical Car
As much as no roof, no window, and no passenger seat may seem fun, it equally results in impracticality. The lack of these amenities means that the use case for a Monza SP1 is very narrow. This is not a car that you can take grocery shopping in the rain. It is designed to give you chills at the racetrack which is indeed its second home.
The Monza SP1 was created with little to no consideration for the car's utility, focusing solely on performance and aerodynamics. While the car in itself is distinctively attractive, it also has significant drawbacks, one of which is being impractical. However, if you are one of the billionaires who can purchase this machine, then it goes without saying that you won't depend on your Monza for running errands or buying groceries.
2 The Ferrari Monza Is Powered By An 800HP Naturally Aspirated V12
Speaking of impracticality but fun, the Monza SP1 comes powered by a behemoth of an engine. The first model of the Icona Series shares its heart with the 812 Superfast which is a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12. A total of 809 ponies along with 530 lb-ft of torque all rush towards the rear wheels of the Monza SP1 when the gas pedal is mashed to the floor.
Transmission duties on the Monza SP1 are handled by an F1 seven-speed dual-clutch system. The result of this drivetrain combination allows the Monza SP1 to perform a sprint from 0-62 mph in just 2.9 seconds. It can also do 0-124 mph in 7.9 seconds and the top speed for this windshieldless hypercar is limited to 188 mph.
1 Costs A Staggering $2 Million
Ferraris, in general, are no cheap feats and when you hang at top of the Ferrari model food chain you can bet that it will touch multimillion-dollar figures. The Ferrari Monza SP1 carries a base price of $1.8 million plus taxes. However, that is just the base, once added a few optional extras that price will easily jump to well over $2.5 million.
Ferrari has kept the price high in order to bring in the much-needed development funding without producing an exorbitant number of cars and diluting its brand image. Moreover, keeping the base as the 812 Superfast, Ferrari saved a ton of cost in creating the Monza which in turn increased its profits by a lot.