.
Based on the 488 Spider, the J50 is powered by a specific 690 cv version of the 3.9-litre V8 that won the
overall International Engine of the Year Award this year.
The bodywork is all new and heralds a radically futuristic design language, with a highly distinctive personality
that suits the tastes of a clientele that seeks the utmost in innovative styling. The design approach was led by
the desire to create a very low-slung roadster, encapsulating intrinsic Ferrari values of nimbleness and agility.
To achieve this, a strong dynamic was imprinted on the flank of the car by the converging interplay between
two main guiding lines: the slanted top edge of the side window, continuous with the windscreen, and the
raked black swage line which dramatically rises from the low-set nose until it vanishes in the air intake aft of
the doors.
While the “helmet visor” effect, which spawns from the window graphic, is reminiscent of Ferrari’s open
competition barchettas going as far back as the 1950s, the black dividing line is a novel interpretation of a
recurring Ferrari styling cue seen on iconic models such as the GTO, F40 and F50. Circling around the front
of the car below knee height, it is a key element which alters the perception of the beltline, setting it at a
much lower height than usual, transforming the J50 into a barchetta.
The bonnet section is lower at the centre with raised wheelarch crests giving the emphasized muscularity
typical of Ferrari mid-engined sports cars. Two carbon-fibre air channels in the front bonnet create an even
more diminutive and sharper looking front mass underlined by the full LED headlights that feature a specific
and very dynamic profile.
The J50 benefits from detailed aerodynamic development with a number of significant functional solutions.
Firstly, the radiators have been positioned closer together, and the front bumper has been completely
redesigned. The windscreen header rail has been lowered allowing more airflow over the aero foil and thus over
the rear spoiler.
The sophisticated tail section is dominated by the artful interplay of graphic design themes and
three-dimensional elements. The engine is framed by a transparent polycarbonate cover which is intricately
shaped to provide a visual extension of the two separate roll hoops protecting the heads of driver and
passenger. A transverse aero foil projects as a bridge between the hoops, effectively revisiting one of the most
distinctive features of Ferrari sports prototypes of the 1960s.
The rear is decidedly aggressive in nature, with the quad taillight design widening the car visually under a
high-downforce wing profile. The rear diffuser features an extractor shape inspired by jet engine afterburners,
giving the car a powerful stance. 20” forged rims of unique design were crafted specifically for this
limited-edition model.
Inside the cabin, specific trim adorns the sports seats, echoing the design of the rear bonnet contour to
provide a unmistakable signature feature. The carbon-fibre hard targa top is divided into two pieces which stow
conveniently behind the seats.
The J50 presented at the launch in Tokyo is finished in a special shade of three-layer red with a red-over-black
interior trimmed in fine leather and Alcantara.
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