The prancing horse is at it again, folks! Meet the Ferrari KC23 – a brand-new one-off that shows the brands' specialists have what it takes to make marvelous, desirable, and crazy fast machines. They took one customer's desire (and budget, of course) and shaped a dream into a tangible reality. Here's what you should know about it.
Ferrari's Special Projects program is where some lucky customers go and order vehicles that would make any gearhead tremble with excitement. The result is the epitome of automotive excellence. It also reflects that even today, technicians can become artisans when tasked with such a mission. The regulations may go out the window, but the reflection of individualized motorsport freedom is tightly encapsulated into such mesmerizing vehicles.
The KC23 joins a royal stable of bespoke Ferraris and gets to be a part of a remarkable private collection. The unit was ordered by one of the brand's loyal customers, who also happens to be an avid collector. It envisions the future of racing while staying true to the marque's design philosophy. It is unmistakably a Ferrari, even though it looks like something Rolls-Royce would make if the British had to join a race and win it on the first try.
It is a bit of a stretch to compare a made-in-Maranello Italian hypercar with something an established luxury-only brand from the UK would do. Still, the exterior design of this vehicle is a testament to fit and finish excellency. There are no weird cutouts, exaggerated vents, or bewildering proportions. It almost reminds us of the term "post-opulence" used by Rolls-Royce to describe the renewed Ghost. This Ferrari looks like it was carved out by the Michelangelo of our time from a single block of marble. Afterward, it got into engineers' hands and turned into a gas-powered jewel that surprisingly boasts a rather large (and detachable!) wing at the rear.
Photo: Ferrari
This elegance displayed by a unique, lightweight car meant to tackle any track in the world with precision is uncanny. But the KC23 isn't a posh vehicle even though it looks like a slimmed-down coupe developed in the air tunnel to make it stick to the ground when the apex suggests the driver press the brake pedal. Based on the V8-powered 488 GT3 Evo, the KC23 borrowed the chassis, the layout, and the engine from the improved racing car. Updated in 2020, the 488 GT3 Evo benefitted from a longer wheelbase and some aerodynamic upgrades that made it faster than the 488 Challenge. Thus, the KC23's base is a tried and tested one. It brought home over 530 wins!
A champion in disguise
Despite the one-off having such impressive underpinnings, Ferrari and the customer agreed to develop it only for track use. But the KC23 won't be allowed to take part in any competitions. But when it is put to work, the machine will gracefully display its tire-eating capabilities. The automatic air intakes and the mildly sharp exterior design were created completely disregarding public road usage regulations. Thus, the car may appear like it shapeshifts when put to the test.
Taking advantage of the advanced study of the motion of mechanical points, bodies, and systems, the automaker found the ideal recipe that allows the vehicle to suck in as much air as needed and to control the airflow for improved downforce when required.
Reminding us of the impeccable LaFerrari, the KC23 has butterfly doors that open vertically thanks to the single front hinges. The clamshell hood is spectacular by itself too. Just two pins must be removed so admirers and mechanics can take a look at the powerplant. Tifosi might also remember the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo and recognize the rear lights that look like blades ready to be deployed for an intergalactic fight.
Photo: Ferrari
A very special hypercar also deserves exceptional paint. As such, the KC23 boasts a four-layer aluminum paint that gives it a liquid gold look poised to captivate anyone's attention.
A three-year cumulative effort
The vehicle has almost a spartan look because it kept most of the 488 GT3 Evo's cabin parts. The automaker replaced the door panels and the dashboard finish for the passenger. The marque also says that the KC23 has specific Alcantara seats that display its electro-welded logo.
With camera-based technology evolving, designers and engineers could give up having a rear windshield and side mirrors. That's yet another reason for this vehicle's special look.
The KC23 uses 18-inch wheels when it graces tracks worldwide with its presence and shows off with 21-inch wheels at the front and 22-inch wheels at the rear when it's on display.
Ferrari and the collector ordering this hypercar spent three years developing the project into what it is today. Enthusiasts can admire it between July 13 and July 16 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. Can't make it? Don't worry! The Italians thought of that too and decided to temporarily include it in their museum in Maranello for two months, from August 1 until October 2.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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