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 enabled the Ferrari Styling Centre designers
and Maranello’s 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.
The procedural graphic solutions adopted on the bodywork dialogue directly with the grilles and influence the
SP48 Unica’s overall design: the transition from black – which includes the windows, roof and engine cover –
to the body colour is especially clear. The striking visor effect of the front is further heightened by the
reduction in the size of the side windows and the elimination of the rear screen, highlighting the powerful
muscularity of the SP48 Unica which seems sculpted from a single block of metal.
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 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.
Although the cabin retains the F8 Tributo’s technical identity – excluding the rear screen – meticulous
development work was lavished on achieving the perfect combination of colour and trim to reflect the SP48
Unica’s sleek, sporty and aggressive personality. A good example is the specially developed black
laser-perforated Alcantara® used on the seats and most of the cabin trim, beneath which are glimpses of
iridescent reddish-orange fabric that match the exterior colour. Its motif picks up the hexagonal motif of the
grilles and the procedural livery on the roof, creating an appealing continuity between the car’s interior and
exterior. In the SP48 Unica cockpit, the eye is immediately drawn to the polished sill covers with the same
laser-embossed hexagonal motif. Matte carbon-fibre imbues the cockpit with a sense of technicality and
exclusivity, and is complemented by the Grigio Canna di Fucile accents.
Designed for a long-standing client who was deeply involved in every step of its creation, the one-off Ferrari
SP48 Unica is a bold interpretation of a sports car and cleverly enhances its racing soul and vocation for
speed. The SP48 Unica achieves its goal of transforming an existing model to masterful effect, taking
inspiration from and paying homage to the company’s core values of innovation and passion.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
The Special Projects programme creates unique Ferraris (so-called “One-Offs”) characterised by an exclusive
design crafted around the requirements of each individual client to ensure each one becomes the owner of a
genuinely one-of-a-kind model. Each project originates from an idea put forward by the client and then
developed with a team of designers from Ferrari’s Styling Centre. Having defined the car’s proportion and
forms, detailed design blueprints and a styling buck are produced before the construction of the new One-Off
begins. The entire process lasts more than a year on average, during which time the client is closely involved
in assessing the design and verification phases. The result? A unique Ferrari sporting the Prancing Horse logo
and engineered to the same standard of excellence as every car that rolls off the Maranello assembly lines.
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