LaFerrari Aperta

“Aperta Sesame” Doesn’t Have the Same Ring as “Open Sesame”

But I’ll Take It!

The LaFerrari was Ferrari’s ultimate supercar, a missile that could hit speeds and corners unlike anything that the Maranello atelier had unleashed to date. But that was yesterday (the LaFerrari was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show), so it was about time for Ferrari to up the ante. And that they just did, in a sort of less-is-more manner, by announcing the first open-top LaFerrari. The news is so new that the car doesn’t have a name yet, but it will be officially named in September at the Paris Motor Show.

The new version will be a limited-edition series. While Ferrari declined to provide any numbers or details of the technical specs, one would assume that they will equal, if not better, those of the “regular” LaFerrari: 949 horse- power (no, that’s not a typo), 663 pound-feet of torque, zero to 60 times of under three seconds and a top speed of 217 miles per hour. All of this incredible performance comes from a car with a V-12 gas engine and a powerful electric motor, which gives new respect for the term “hybrid,” though it’s doubtful that the open top LaFerrari will qualify for carpool stickers.

Plans are for the new car to have two removable tops, one of carbon fiber and the other a soft top. The chassis and body reportedly have been reinforced to avoid the otherwise-inevitable shimmy and shake that a car of this power would have without a roof, which helps keep it solid. Ferrari also claims that it has tweaked the aerodynamics of the car so that, even in open-top mode, it remains as slippery to the air as the hardtop.

Now that you’ve read about it, you’re likely to want to know how to order one. I am sorry to tell you that, even though Ferrari hasn’t said how many will be created, or even disclosed the price, all have reportedly been sold, following Ferrari’s special preview to existing Ferrari owners. As one apparently needs to own at least a few Ferraris in order to qualify for being in the group which is offered one, these newest cavallos are destined to remain a rarity.