The Ferrari FXX is a car developed as part of an unusual development program by automobile manufacturer Ferrari in Maranello, Italy. It began production in 2005. The car uses some technology developed from the Enzo Ferrari and combines it with some all-new developments from Ferrari and some of the suppliers.
However, the car is only a part of the overall program: people pay £1.3 million ($2.5 million USD) but are only allowed to drive the car on special track days approved by Ferrari and after they drive the car they have to brief Ferrari on the car’s performance. Michael Schumacher was given the last one (number 30) when he retired from Formula One racing at the end of 2006. Ferrari’s sister company, Maserati, has developed a similar car, the MC12 Corsa.
The FXX’s engine is based on the Enzo’s but has been expanded to 6,262 cc (from 5,988 cc), and output has been boosted from 660 PS (651 hp/485.4 kW), as seen in the Enzo, to 800 PS (789.1 hp/588.4 kW) @ 8,500 rpm.The gearbox incorporates the latest developments from Ferrari’s F1 program and has a shift time under 100 ms. The brake pads are upgraded compared to those on the Enzo. It does, however, retain the ceramic discs found on the Enzo.
The tires on the FXX are 19 in (483 mm) slicks custom-developed for the car, though road-legal. As with the Enzo, the seat and pedal configuration are custom fit to the user’s exact measurements.
The FXX features a comprehensive data-monitoring and telemetry that not only allows the driver to improve performance, but also provides Ferrari technicians with valuable data to improve the FXX and future road-going Ferraris.
Ferrari has built 30 (original number 29) of these cars, and they have all been sold to preselected past Ferrari customers (except for one that Ferrari S.p.A. kept), including Ferrari’s F1 World Champion driver, Michael Schumacher, the 30th. Schumacher’s FXX differs from others in that it is the only black FXX without a stripe and comes with red trim on the wheels, matte exhaust tips (regular FXX’s have chrome tips),it has also holds the famous MS signature on the side in red, number 30 on the doors and his personal insignia on the seats.
One car was not sold and is kept by Ferrari. These few customers will not only own a Ferrari FXX, but also participate in further testing and brand development. As the vehicle is not street legal, owners have the option of storing the car at Ferrari’s facilities. As part of the FXX program, the car is maintained by the Ferrari factory. The purpose of this particular program is to allow Ferrari’s top customers exclusive access to its most up-to-date technology and to use their input to help develop future models. The FXX was reported to cost 1.5 million euro (excluding taxes), for the car and the services that Ferrari provides with it.