Ferrari F250 Revealed: Ferrari has unveiled the latest machine in its line of high-performance vehicles, with a never-before-seen, turbocharged V6 hybrid power unit and Formula 1-derived aerodynamics features
In the giddy air of motoring aristocracy, scant few rank as high in awe as Ferrari’s ultimate hypercars. From the wild, raw F40 to the technical tour de force that becomes the LaFerrari, each generation has made us reconsider what’s possible on four wheels.
Well now, after months of speculation and rumour among the Tifosi, La Scuderia’s next show stealer – the Ferrari F250 – has been spied testing with little camouflage, showcasing just how radical the prancing horse’s halo model has evolved.
Revolutionary Powertrain: The End of the V12 Epoch
In what can only be defined as a tectonic departure from Ferrari‘s flagship hypercar heritage, the F250 will be the first range-topping Ferrari not powered by a V12 in decades.
It’s a 296BTLT isn’t a homage to Ferrari’s classic 1960s racers with a naturally aspirated V12 under the bonnet but with a modern-day twist. Instead, the hypercar alternative fettles to a twin-turbocharged 120-degree V6 engine – the one found in the 296 GTB and the Le Mans-winning 499P endurance racer.
Purists may weep at the loss of 12 cylinders, but there’s good engineering behind it. This is not just an exercise in down-sizing but a fundamental rethink of what makes a modern hypercar special.
Nicknamed “piccolo V12” for its lift off and overrun sound characteristics resembling a small V12 (with reversed crankshaft rotation), the 3.0 L twin-turbo V6 is good enough to kick on 654 hp — a figure not far off in comparison to the output of the Enzo’s naturally aspirated V12.
Also, when combined with a state-of-the-art hybrid system, total output is rumored to be greater than 1,180 horsepower – a massive increase over the LaFerrari’s 950 horsepower and would even best McLaren’s recently announced W1 hypercar.
But more important, the V6 helps shave considerable weight and brings with it a lower center of gravity, which results in the kind of handling agility that has been Ferrari’s trademark.
Race-Born Aerodynamics: 499P DNA For The Road
A single look at the form of the F250 and a person knows that this is not just an evolutionary step for Ferrari, but rather a straight-up revolution.
Taking many cues from the 499P Le Mans Hypercar that restored Ferrari’s fortunes to endurance racing prominence, the F250 is in the “form follows function” category with everything at the sharp end for performance.
The biggest visual statement: a massive active rear wing, not as integrated or subtle as recent aero features of Ferrari road cars. The movable piece is then expected to have different functions, such as a DRS (Drag Reduction System) mode used in Formula 1.
Up front, the F250 features what looks like Ferrari’s most extreme version of their S-Duct system to date.
This impressive aero fix pulls air from the front of the car over the nose and down onto the bodywork, slashing drag and increasing downforce in ample portions. With the ultra-flat nose profile, you can calculate the F250 producing near 1,000 kilograms of downforce at velocity – putting it in the league of race car territory aero.
Racing-Centered Performance: Pushing the Limits
Key details of its performance have yet to be announced, but well-placed sources tell me the F250 should run from 0-62mph in around 2.15sec yet also weight-in with a top speed above 217mph. But straight-line statistics only tell half the story.
That F250 separates itself even further from its analog predecessor in circuit performance. Testing on Ferrari’s own Fiorano test track is said to have seen lap times be shaded by over two seconds per lap – an age in hypercar years.
This stunning leap forward is not only in raw power, but with an understanding of performance itself. The electric bits of the hybrid powertrain – which can also act to mask any potential turbo lag – also ensure for instantaneous torque vectoring capability.
At the same time, thanks to the advanced aerodynamics, the car never feels untied and floated through fast corners, and the driver can push the chassis to the limit without understeering.
low production and exclusivity
In keeping with Ferrari’s policy of very limited production when it comes to its flagship supercars the F250 will it is thought be built in tiny numbers.
The current rumour in the industry was 599 berlinettas (coupes) and 199 spiders (convertibles), and possibly 30 track-focused XX variants for Ferrari major customers.
Naturally, like with past halo models, money alone won’t guarantee an allocation. Ferrari hand-picks prospective owners from their most loyal customers to make sure these special machines end up in the hands of enthusiasts and not speculators.
Interior: The Driver’s Space or Command Center
Interior specifics are in short supply at the moment, but we anticipate the F250 to be treated to a cabin design focused on driver enjoyment above all.
Look for little visual clutter, with crucial controls placed within convenient reach and a driver-centric dash design.
While it’s unlikely to be quite as grand touring focussed as some of Ferrari’s other models, the F250 will be a race-bred environment with features like minimalist carbon fibre interiors with little sound deadening and seats featuring proper bolsters to keep you in place during high-G cornering.
Market Position and Price
Highest up the technical ladder of Ferrari’s current crop the F250 will carry a premium that would even Monsters Inc kill for. Official pricing has not yet been released but industry analysts are predicting a starting number around $3.9 million – far more than the LaFerrari’s original cost.
This firmly places the F250 head-to-head with other upcoming hypercars such as the McLaren W1, Mercedes-AMG ONE and Aston Martin Valkyrie that also use racing technology to deliver ultimate road car performance.
From Le Mans to the Driveways of Your Home
But the most interesting thing about the F250 may be just how directly it’s related to Ferrari’s return to top-level endurance competition.
The Le Mans winning 24 Hours of Le Mans winning 499P race car has the same basic structure of the F250 which allows Ferrari to bring directly to their ultimate road car the crème de la crème in terms of cutting edge technologies from the hardest laboratory in the world; the race track.
This racing attitude is apparent in every area of the design: the complex hybrid system, the bodywork with very high aerodynamic performance, the materials, which are the same as those used on the successful LMH racing car.
The F250, in many respects, could be considered the closest thing to a modern-day Ferrari road car that is also a race car with license plates.
DEBUT SCHEDULE AND PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
Following private presentations to the favoured few, the F250 is now destined to be properly revealed to the world at large.
Production for the coupe is expected to begin in late 2024, with deliveries starting in early 2025, according to industry sources.
The even more limited XX track version will then arrive in the middle of 2026, followed by the Spider version in late 2026 – meaning Ferrari’s flagship hypercar contender will be on the scene for years to come.
Evolution or Revolution
The F250 is an evolution of that great, great company’s legendary hypercar lineage, and exactly what it says in the tin for a brand that is more interested in performance than anything else.
By fusing F1-derived aero and hybrid technology with a smarter powertrain layout, Maranello has craft a missile which pays homage to its roots while clearly pointing in the direction the brand is heading.
Some purists may cry foul that it’s not adhering to the industry’s move towards all V8 engines, but the F250 certainly has the numbers to back itself up.
‘This is Ferrari’s most fearless model,’ the marque claims, ‘it overturns standard barriers, accurately redefining our direction.’
At a time when the automotive industry is moving towards electrification, the F250 represents a more than just a case for the internal combustion engine, as hybrid technology helps push the envelope of the combustion process.
More significantly, it puts an anxiously Orthodox stamp on the promise to the faithful that, whatever the future may bring, Ferrari is still in the business of building machines that move the soul with their sound, speed and style.
By the time F250 owners take possession of the car, they will be acquiring not only a transport/poseur/autoposer item, they will also getting physical embodiment of Ferrari’s historic quest for automotive perfection that way been been at the core of the company philosophy since the beginning, more than 75 years ago, and which continues to be the case today.