Enzo Ferrari

The Enzo was initially announced at the 2002 Paris Motor Show with a limited production run of 349 units and priced at US$ 643,330. The company sent invitations to existing customers, and all 349 cars were sold in this way before production began. The Enzo Ferrari is a 12-cylinder Ferrari supercar named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari . It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fiber body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, and carbon-ceramic brake discs . Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. After a maximum downforce of 1709 pounds is reached at 186 mph (301 km/h) the rear spoiler is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.

The chassis is made entirely from carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb sandwich panels. It is immensely rigid - for excellent handling, immensely strong - for maximum crash protection, and light, weighing just 202 lb (92 kg). The body panels clothing this strong chassis are also made using advanced composite materials. The doors hinge upwards and forwards, assisted by gas struts, to allow easy access to the cabin. The Enzo passes all current and many future crash safety standards.

Never before has the styling of a Ferrari by Pininfarina been so directly derived from its function. The nose section of the Enzo is heavily influenced by Formula 1 and the entire body is shaped to ensure optimum airflow for cooling the engine and brakes, while generating unprecedented levels of grip-enhancing downforce with minimal aerodynamic drag. The under-car ground effects are so efficient that the large rear wing required by many supercars is not needed. The aerodynamic balance of the car is maintained at speed by automatic adjustments to the position of twin front flaps and a single rear spoiler.

On January 17 , 2005 , Ferrari announced that it would build one additional Enzo, bringing the total to 400. It was ceremonially presented to Pope John Paul II by a large group of Ferrari's employees and partners, including F1 drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello . Luca di Montezemolo , President of Ferrari, offered to donate the auction proceedings of this extraordinary vehicle for humanitarian purposes. The Pope then requested that the car be auctioned off to benefit the Caritas charity. The car, chassis #ZFFCZ56B000141920, was auctioned by Sotheby's Maranello Auction on June 28 , 2005 to benefit survivors of the 2004 Tsunami for €950,000 ( US$ 1,274,229) over 50% more than its list price. This sum was presented to Pope Benedict XVI , John Paul's successor, while Formula One driver Michael Schumacher gave the pope a steering wheel to commemorate the donation. This wheel included a plaque which read, "The Formula 1 World Champion's steering wheel to His Holiness Benedict XVI, Christianity's driver."

As the result of the Enzo, Ferrari have decided to use some of the technology developed for it in a small-scale program to get more feedback from certain customers for use in future car design as well as their racing program. The core of this program is a car called the Ferrari FXX . It is loosely based on the Enzo's design with a highly-tuned 6.2 liter version of the Enzo's engine putting out roughly 800 PS (789 hp/588 kW). The gearbox is new as well as the tires (custom-designed for this car by Bridgestone ) and the brakes (developed by Brembo ). In addition, the car is fitted with extensive data-recording and telemetry systems to allow Ferrari to record the car's behavior. This information will be used by Ferrari to develop their next supercar.

The Enzo is powered by a new, ultra-light, 6.0-litre V12 engine, which has a number of unique technical features. The performance goals for the engine were very high power - 110 bhp per litre - with generous torque from low revs and a driveable nature. More than 383 lb ft of torque is generated at 3,000 rpm and variable inlet and exhaust valves, together with electronic management for each row of cylinders and a drive-by-wire throttle, ensures that the engine is extremely responsive. Like an F1 car, the gearbox in the Enzo is coupled directly to the rear of the engine by a casting that doubles as the engine oil tank. The six-speed gearbox adopts triple cone synchronisers on all ratios to ensure smooth changes, which are entrusted entirely to an electrohydraulic system activated by the driver using paddles behind the steering wheel. A fully automatic option is not offered.