Meet the all-new Ferrari SP48 Unica. It’s the latest addition to the Prancing Horse’s One-Off series which was designed for a long-standing client who was deeply involved in every step of its creation. The SP48 Unica joins the most exclusive group in Maranello’s entire production: unique, absolutely bespoke cars crafted to the specifications of a single client and designed as a clear expression of their own individual requirements. 

Breathtaking unique design

The SP48 Unica, designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, Chief Design Officer, is a two-seater sports berlinetta developed on the F8 Tributo platform. Making it instantly recognisable with respect to the original model are taut lines, an aggressive stance and an arrow-shaped front profile. Central to achieving this effect was the redesign of the headlights and the subsequent relocation of the brake air intakes.

A pivotal aspect of the design of this unique new car is the extensive use of procedural-parametric modelling techniques and 3D prototyping (additive manufacturing) which Ferrari says enabled their Styling Centre designers and engineers to completely redesign the front grille and engine air intakes. This advanced production process resulted in perfect 3D grilles that seem carved from a solid volume creating a sense of seamless continuity and dynamic fluidity.

Ferrari says the plan view emphasises the central section of the roof which includes a graphic representation of the air intakes set into the rear part of the carbon-fibre engine cover before the rear wing. This angle allows the viewer to appreciate the styling research that went into the Ferrari SP48 Unica and reveals the sophisticated interplay of symmetries and intersecting lines created by its forms.

The SP48 Unica’s thermal-fluid-dynamic design has been honed and perfected to guarantee it satisfies all cooling requirements in addition to delivering a different aerodynamic balance. The biggest changes compared to the F8 Tributo’s styling include the air intakes for cooling flows for the engine on the front bumper and beneath the rear spoiler. Each has a deep procedural grille, every section of which is optimally angled to maximise the amount of air passing through. The car’s configuration also allowed the engineers to locate an intercooler intake immediately behind the side windows, which in turn enabled them to reduce the dimension of the intakes on the flanks. The longer rear overhang reduces suction from the roof area, boosting rear downforce.

The heart of an F8 Tributo 

Ferrari are mum on mechanical upgrades however the Maranello-based automaker did mention that it’s powered by a 3.5-litre turbocharged V8 sourced from the F8 Tributo. In the latter it produces 529kW/770Nm and paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. Power in the F8 Tributo is fed to the rear-wheels and sprints from 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds. Its top speed is 340km/h.