The Ferrari KC23, the newest model in Ferrari's One-Off line, was presented today. One of the Prancing Horse's top collectors commissioned this most recent special project from the brand. The KC23 one-off is a daring and outlandish interpretation of what closed-wheel racing in the future might be. It accomplishes the incredible feat of exuding elegance when at a standstill and thrilling the viewer once on the move, thanks to ground-breaking aerodynamic solutions like motorized air intake vents and an imposing rear wing. It is a superb new take on the most successful track car in Maranello's 76-year history, the 488 GT3 in its 'Evo 2020' version.
The KC23, created by the Ferrari Styling Center under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, is built on the same chassis, configuration, and engine as the 488 GT3 Evo 2020. The 488 GT3 served as the foundation for the project and has since won some of the most famous endurance races in the world, amassing over 530 victories and more than 119 titles to become the most successful racing Ferrari in history.
The KC23 was only intended for usage on non-competitive tracks due to the severe nature of its engine, chassis, and suspension setup. Its dual configuration is its most peculiar characteristic. The car's architecture is clean, sleek, and sinuous while it is still, but once it is moving, its spectacular air intakes, which open automatically, and its massive rear wing take center stage.
The Ferrari Styling Center concentrated on building a radical one-off car free of homologation restrictions, dressed in the kind of timeless lines that would make an instant classic, while also offering a tantalizing glimpse into the future of supercars, from the very beginning of the project and in agreement with the client. This demanding objective necessitated a complete redesign of the 488 GT3 Evo 2020's lines, including the glass surfaces and light clusters.
The end result is that the car appears to have been fashioned from a single piece of metal and has a monolithic beauty. Several of the car's technological features are also concealed by the design, most notably the side air intakes, which open when the mid-rear V8 twin turbo is turned on. The KC23's shape changes based on what it is being used for, giving it an almost lifelike appearance. When not on the track, the rear wing can also be removed to emphasize the vehicle's crisp, angular lines.
The KC23's surface treatment is seamless and smooth, with sharp angles kept to a bare minimum to emphasize its simplicity and sinuous purity in the pursuit of a timeless, iconic design. The KC23 changes dramatically when the driver starts the engine before putting it on the track; its racing posture and ferocity come out in full force. Its massive rear wing, which distinguishes it as a racecar built to scythe through curves and release every last horsepower the V8 can produce, is unavoidable.
Despite the KC23's radically different shape, the designers made a lot of effort to maintain the performance of the donor car in terms of downforce and cooling. When the engine starts, a panel with specialized kinematics opens to reveal a fence that increases front downforce and balances the car's aerodynamics. This panel is behind the front wheel. The intercoolers, auxiliary parts, and engine all receive the proper amount of intake air from the rear panel.
The KC23 shares an architectural design feature with another renowned supercar, the LaFerrari, in that its butterfly doors open vertically on a single front hinge. To accommodate this feature, no structural alterations to the greenhouse or the car were necessary. The clam-shell bonnet has a straightforward opening mechanism that just requires the removal of two pins to enable inspection of the front and maintenance work. The rear lights, which feature dramatic methacrylate light blades inspired by the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo, have undergone the most significant changes of the two, and they come to life when the engine is started.
The KC23's design concept even permeated the car's glass surfaces, which are perfectly blended with the bodywork and lack any discernible pillars, frames, or seals to produce an effect that is distinctly drawn from aeronautics. For optimum style consistency, their metallic finishes blend effortlessly, producing an incredibly futuristic end result.
The KC23's Gold Mercury livery, made possible by a specially created, four-layer aluminum paint, is another distinguishing characteristic. The paint's liquid metal gives it an incredibly brilliant glint in the sun, and the color itself appears to change continually depending on the type and angle of light hitting it, creating an incredibly alluring impression.
Except for the door panels and dashboard finish on the passenger side, the interior has been kept as simple and identical to the 488 GT3 Evo 2020 as possible. The unique Alcantara®-trimmed seats of the KC23 give the interior an elegant feel that blends in beautifully with the outside. The car's aerodynamics were improved since the usual wing mirrors could be removed and the line of the flanks left unaltered. Rearward visibility is provided by a video camera system.
The car has two sets of specially created wheels: 18" wheels allow the KC23 to dazzle on the world's circuits, while 21" wheels up front and 22" wheels down back will enchant the public when it is presented in its static version.
The latest addition, which took more than three years to produce, is now a member of the most elite class of vehicles offered by the Prancing Horse: custom vehicles made to a client's exact requirements, which represent the pinnacle of Ferrari's personalization strategy. Between July 13 and July 16, it will make its first public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of the most significant motorsports gatherings in the UK. It will be on exhibit at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello from August 1 through October 2, much to the joy of all the devotees anxious to see its exceptional formal and engineering solutions for themselves.
UNIQUE PROJECTS
The Special Projects program's goal is to produce one-of-a-kind Ferraris (the so-called "One-Offs") that are distinguished by an exclusive design made to the client's specifications, who becomes the owner of a unique vehicle. Each project begins with a client-provided concept and is developed together with a group of designers from Ferrari's Styling Center. Before the new one-off is put into production, complete design plans and a style guide are created after the car's proportions and shapes have been established. The complete procedure takes, on average, two years, and the client is actively involved in evaluating the design and verification phases of that period. The outcome? A distinctive Ferrari with the Prancing Horse badge that was built to the same high engineering standards as the rest of Maranello's vehicles.