Maranello, June 15, 2005
Ferrari has developed a truly innovative technical collaboration programme
around the FXX prototype aimed at its most dedicated and passionate
Clients.
The FXX is the most advanced GT ever created at Maranello and its
mission is to involve Ferrari’s most valued Clients as genuine Prancing
Horse Test Drivers in their own right. The wealth of data and experience
gathered in the course of this very special programme will be exceptionally
important. In fact, the feedback from these highly skilled, non-professional
Client Test Drivers will be compared and supplemented with suggestions
from Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello and Ferrari’s professional
in-house Test Drivers.
Every Client who signs up for the FXX project by purchasing one of the
estimated 20 or so cars being built, will actually be joining Team Ferrari,
and will have his driving experiences at the wheel of this new car
monitored directly by the Prancing Horse’s technicians and specialists.
The FXX is the fruit of Ferrari’s know-how in building special limited-series
sports cars combined with, of course, its racing experience. It will provide
the basic framework on which the specifics of future extreme models will
be worked out. The exceptionally powerful FXX delivers absolutely
blistering performance on all fronts.
The FXX has not been homologated for road use and thus will not be a
competition model. It will be used exclusively on the track as part of a
specific ongoing research and development programme featuring this first
ever group of Client Test Drivers.
The FXX is powered by an imposing 6,262 cc V12 engine that can punch
out over 800 hp at 8,500 rpm. Its gearbox is the result of the transfer of F1
strategies, delivering gear change times of under 100 ms. This is almost
as fast as the F1 single-seaters, themselves the absolute pinnacle of
current technological achievement.
The FXX’s aerodynamic design is particularly innovative too as it has
resulted in a shape that produces 40% higher downforce than ever
achieved before. It is also possible to adjust the FXX’s mobile spoiler
configuration to suit the specific circuit.
Ferrari’s partnership with Bridgestone has resulted in the development of
a specific 19” slick tyre for this particular model. Likewise Brembo has
created a special brake cooling and pad system for the FXX’s extra large
Composite Ceramic Material disc brakes.
The Client Test Drivers will also be able to share their unique track
experience with a passenger – in fact a second seat is available.
What really sets the FXX apart, however, is the sophisticated telemetry
system which will monitor and give feedback on 39 different vehicle
dynamics parameters in real time. The system is also able to record other
data as demanded by specific circumstances.
The information gathered will then be analysed by the Ferrari technicians
working on the programme and discussed with the individual Client
Drivers to ensure that the car is kept constantly updated.
The FXX package also includes participation in a series of track events to
be organised by Ferrari on various international-level circuits over the
coming two years. On these occasions, an official team of technicians will
be on hand to provide any assistance and support required by the Client
Test Driver.
In addition to these truly unique official events, Clients will also be able to
take their cars out on the track independently during private sessions.
Clients wishing to leave their car at Maranello will be glad to know that the
vehicles will be transported directly by Ferrari to the various European
circuits for the scheduled events.
Given the car’s exceptional performance and the unique nature of the
package, delivery of each FXX will also include an ad hoc driving course.
The instructors will, of course, be professional drivers and the courses will
take place at the Fiorano Circuit where Ferrari does its most important F1
single-seaters testing.
After the seat and the pedals have been individually tailored to each driver,
there will be a traditional “shakedown” followed by a training session
dedicated to test driving methodologies.
After a careful client order selection process, the first FXXs will be
delivered by the end of this year. The initial testing of the definitive car is
currently taking place at Fiorano. The FXX and the relative package cost a
total of 1.5 million euro (excluding taxes) and applications to join the
programme are being evaluated by a special in-house committee.
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