Ferrari has just unveiled its latest supercar – the P80/C. It’s a one-off prototype, designed and built for a special customer who commissioned the vehicle back in 2015. The wait is absolutely worth it though – the P80/C is breathtaking.
Ferrari designers were inspired by the P-series sports prototypes of the 60s and 70s – specifically the 330 P3, 330 P4, and the Dino 206 S. These are all legendary cars which laid the foundation of Ferrari’s success. In 1967, two 330 P4s and one 412 P model achieved a sweeping 1-2-3 finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
True to it’s P-series ancestors, the design emphasizes the round bulging fenders and the large vent on the bonnet. The P80/C features clean smooth shapes running front to back and converging into the air intakes on the rear quarter panels. Aside from aesthetics, this design has a functional purpose, giving the twin-turbo V8 engine all the air it can suck up.
At the back, the elegant curves end abruptly to expose the hardcore performance and efficiency instilled in the Ferrari P80/C. A large removable wing and an even larger permanently fixed diffusor, incorporating the exhaust, form most of the rear end.
The P80/C is gorgeous and no doubt we will see its appearance at a Concours d’Elegance soon enough. However, the car is actually bread for the track, putting the focus on maximum performance. This is why you almost can’t see the head and tail lights. These and other road-legal necessities have been dialed back to a minimum.
The new body is built over a Ferrari 488 GT3 which is a prominent participant in the GT3 and Australian GT series. Mechanically, the two cars are identical, so the P80/C retains the Ferrari F154 3.9-liter V8 engine. Each bank is fed by a Garret ball-bearing, twin-scroll turbocharger, and an air-to-air intercooler.
Total power is 661 hp and 561 lbs/ft of torque. That’s plenty for a car that weighs under 3,500 lbs. This engine also holds the Ferrari record for specific power output – 169.4 hp and 144 lbs/ft of torque per liter of displacement.
A 7-speed dual-clutch F1 transmission, produced for Ferrari by Getrag takes power to the rear wheels. Stopping the 20-inch wheels is a set of carbon-ceramic disc brakes, derived from the LaFerrari, with rotors measuring 15.7 inches in the front and 14 inches in the back.
All this contributes to a 0-60 acceleration in 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph in the 488. The new body of the P80/C further adds a 5% efficiency to the vehicle, due to improved aerodynamics.
Overall, the Ferrari P80/C is a design and engineering masterpiece. Its owner is a special person bestowed the highest privilege by Ferrari.
