
Ferrari FXX
Ferrari has developed a truly innovative technical
collaboration programme around the FXX prototype aimed at its most dedicated and
passionate Clients.
The FXX is the most advanced GT ever created at
Maranello and its mission is to involve Ferrari’s most valued Clients as genuine
Prancing Horse Test Drivers in their own right. The wealth of data and
experience gathered in the course of this very special programme will be
exceptionally important.
In fact, the feedback from these highly skilled,
non-professional Client Test Drivers will be compared and supplemented with
suggestions from Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello and Ferrari’s
professional in-house Test Drivers.
Every Client who signs up for the FXX
project by purchasing one of the estimated 20 or so cars being built, will
actually be joining Team Ferrari, and will have his driving experiences at the
wheel of this new car monitored directly by the Prancing Horse’s technicians and
specialists.
The FXX is the fruit of Ferrari’s know-how in building
special limited-series sports cars combined with, of course, its racing
experience. It will provide the basic framework on which the specifics of future
extreme models will be worked out. The exceptionally powerful FXX delivers
absolutely blistering performance on all fronts.
The FXX has not been
homologated for road use and thus will not be a competition model. It will be
used exclusively on the track as part of a specific ongoing research and
development programme featuring this first ever group of Client Test
Drivers.
The FXX is powered by an imposing 6,262 cc V12 engine that can
punch out over 800 hp at 8,500 rpm. Its gearbox is the result of the transfer of
F1 strategies, delivering gear change times of under 100 ms. This is almost as
fast as the F1 single-seaters, themselves the absolute pinnacle of current
technological achievement.
The FXX’s aerodynamic design is particularly
innovative too as it has resulted in a shape that produces 40% higher downforce
than ever achieved before. It is also possible to adjust the FXX’s mobile
spoiler configuration to suit the specific circuit.
Ferrari’s partnership
with Bridgestone has resulted in the development of a specific 19” slick tyre
for this particular model. Likewise Brembo has created a special brake cooling
and pad system for the FXX’s extra large Composite Ceramic Material disc
brakes.
The Client Test Drivers will also be able to share their unique
track experience with a passenger – in fact a second seat is
available.
What really sets the FXX apart, however, is the sophisticated
telemetry system which will monitor and give feedback on 39 different vehicle
dynamics parameters in real time. The system is also able to record other data
as demanded by specific circumstances.
The information gathered will then
be analysed by the Ferrari technicians working on the programme and discussed
with the individual Client Drivers to ensure that the car is kept constantly
updated.
The FXX package also includes participation in a series of track
events to be organised by Ferrari on various international-level circuits over
the coming two years. On these occasions, an official team of technicians will
be on hand to provide any assistance and support required by the Client Test
Driver.
In addition to these truly unique official events, Clients will
also be able to take their cars out on the track independently during private
sessions. Clients wishing to leave their car at Maranello will be glad to know
that the vehicles will be transported directly by Ferrari to the various
European circuits for the scheduled events.
Given the car’s exceptional
performance and the unique nature of the package, delivery of each FXX will also
include an ad hoc driving course. The instructors will, of course, be
professional drivers and the courses will take place at the Fiorano Circuit
where Ferrari does its most important F1 single-seaters testing.
After
the seat and the pedals have been individually tailored to each driver, there
will be a traditional “shakedown” followed by a training session dedicated to
test driving methodologies.
After a careful client order selection
process, the first FXXs will be delivered by the end of this year. The initial
testing of the definitive car is currently taking place at Fiorano. The FXX and
the relative package cost a total of 1.5 million euro (excluding taxes) and
applications to join the programme are being evaluated by a special in-house
committee.
Source - Ferrari




