"We have secrets in Italy too but everyone knows these secrets", an Italian friend once told me.
So it was, every passionate Ferrari enthusiast had more or less their own idea on what the successor to the F50 should look like. There were no secrets as to when the production version of the Ferrari code named FX would make it's debut. News was released last February that it will make it's appearance at the Paris Salon in September, 2002 by none other than Mr Montezemolo.
Huge diffusers make sure the top body surface is kept clean and unclutered on the Project F140, aka FX.
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But it was a surprise when word crept out that the FX would make it's first official public debut in Tokyo, albeit in maquette (mock up) form. Soon after and 10 days prior to the Tokyo debut, a visual unveiling on the factory's website was released, sweeping away all the unneeded noise and buzz that surrounded the F50 on it's debut...
The Ferrari & Maserati Artedinamica Exhibition is being held until July 14 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Contemporary Museum of Art. Ferrari SpA chose this occasion to reveal the FX. Piero Ferrari, Ferrari SpA vice chairman said in his opening speech, "This exhibition is unique in that it looks into the future and not just the past and history. Lorenzo Ramacciotti, head of the design department and Pininfarina director had also come to far away Japan for the opening ceremonies.
The only visible legacy from the F40 are the front fender air outlet.
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One of the unique features has to be these brake lights.
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Dr Ramacciotti was most kind to explain to yours truly on the basic concept and design behind the next limited production Ferrari
Q: Dottore, the FX looks different from the F50?
A: Mr Montezemolo wanted to change the look of the Ferrari from the F40 and the F50. He wanted to make a complete and radical change. A new look for Ferrari. Well, actually the F50 was half way into this change already. But the FX is a complete change.
In practice, the front of the car continues with the aerodynamics of the 360 Modena with the two radiator intakes being carried over. But the front center section is higher due to the air flow above the body surface. The visual look is like the Ferrari F1 cars.
Q: But is there also some function ?
A: Yes. It is not only an impression and there is function. The radiator is in the front with the two radiators set apart, it is placed differently and is an improvement aerodynamically over the 360 Modena.
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The roof ends short of the tail and there seems enough space underneath for a V12 engine of 6 liter displacement.
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Q: The center part of the car. The doors are of the gull wing type?
A: No. The door is not hinged at the roof. The door is hinged at two places. Yes one is at the roof, but the other is lower. The doors do not open upward. Well, a good similarity are Ferrari's sports cars from the '60s. The P series Ferrari and the 512S. Also a portion of the roof opens together with the door. This is the definite version.
The door opening is a little same with the F50 but the F50's doors had limitations. So, the doors on the FX now go down to the sill. A portion of the door sill opens too (integrally with the door). The door sill is not so wide and it is easier to get inside the car.
The chassis is carbon fiber so there is enough stiffness even with a narrow door sill. The body is carbon fiber too. And as you may have noticed on the car, the interior has more space due to this.
Q: If the radiator is in the front, what are the functions of the openings in the back of the car?
A: The rear big ducts. On one side is the oil radiator. The smaller duct below, low on the car is for cooling of the engine bay.
Q: Moving to the rear of the FX. There are no wings. Is the FX still safe at, say.... 300km/h?
A: Yes, of course. There is enough down force. There are outlets at the front and rear, between the fenders and the center section on the surface of the body. This produces more down force with better aerodynamics .
The underside of the car also helps the aerodynamics because it is basically coke - bottle shaped. The chassis structure is shaped this way looking from the underside.
Here Dr Ramacciotti made some simple drawings for the puzzled yours truly. The carbon fiber chassis has a built in air channel similar in shape to Ferrari's F1 cars during the mid-'90s.
He concluded on the design of the FX by saying, "The rear section of the body, the low section with the venturi that diffuses air, is higher in the vertical plane than the 360 Modena. It is better aerodynamics. It is more crisp compared to the F50 as well."
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The high mount nose applied from the F1 Ferrari first seen in competition first at the 1994 French GP.
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If there is such a production model as a F1 car with a roof and two seats, well, this could very well be that shape. Perhaps the new look of the future as Ferrari proceeds into the future. No one has actually tried it in the past to any significance. Who knows?
Our eyes are so familiarised with the fastback coupe look over the decades. It would mark the first notch-back coupe from Ferrari since the experimental four wheel drive 408 of 1988 and the first non fastback two seater production Ferrari since the 330/365GTC.
The name will have to be the FX for the moment. Naming the FX is Ferraris' job, not Pininfarina's. So it goes, there were still some secrets after all. We will have to wait and see until late September in Paris.
Rumors have it that the order book has already been closed shut.
