If there was ever a concept that truly embodied the long-standing partnership between Ferrari and Pininfarina, it would be the 2013 Ferrari Sergio. The concept burst onto the scene at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show as a tribute model to the late Sergio Pininfarina. Reports that the Sergio was earmarked for production first surfaced in September 2014, and a little over a month later, a new report indicated that Ferrari and Pininfarina were actually building production models of the radical concept. Now, the wait is over, as it was recently officially announced that the first Ferrari Sergio has been delivered to the SBH Royal Auto Gallery at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit in the United Arab Emirates.
Ferrari and Pininfarina, the two architects behind the Sergio Concept, built six production versions of the radical supercar, each coming with a price tag of $3 million. The price is admittedly way more than I can afford, but for the six individuals Ferrari invited to snatch up the limited-edition piece, spending $3 million on an ultra-exclusive supercar can be considered money well spent
Unfortunately, all six models have already been spoken for. Based on the Ferrari 458 Spider, the roadster was "created to celebrate the spirit and core values of the historic Cambiano company in the 60th anniversary year of its collaboration with the Prancing Horse," as stated in a press release.
The car is not only striking to look at, it’s also, unsurprisingly, intended to be extremely driver oriented, as is emphasized in the press release: "An authentic open-top, it explicitly references the track, underscoring and intensifying its sense of sportiness, fun behind the wheel and the pleasure of design at its purest."
Each of the six Ferrari Sergios was carefully customized by its owner at a workshop in Maranello, where a large variety of colors, materials, and finishes were on hand to suit their personal tastes. The result, clearly, is a car that’s fast, beautiful, and absolutely unique.
PRICE:
EXTERIOR:
The exterior of the Sergio is truly a work of art. Overall, it’s a simple design that aims to make a throwback to the 60s and 70s, with a two-tone color scheme that combines the front and rear end into an expression that’s angular and streamlined. Based on the 458 platform, the original styling cues are most apparent in the rear, while a dearth of swoops and wings can be found on the front fascia and flanks.
Breaking up the solid red sheet metal, we see matte black running through the front splitter, side skirts, up behind the doors, and into the rear diffuser, plus large sections on top of the nose and rear engine cover filling in for the non-existent roof line. It’s pretty, but also functional, as Ferrari claims that the roll bar integrates air intakes for clutch and gearbox oil cooling, not to mention all the downforce generated from the simple wing designs that remain intact. The wheels are custom Sergio-specific pieces, painted gold with a diamond finish on this particular UAE-bound iteration.
INTERIOR:
The cabin is also customized, with black leather upholstery offset by red stitching, plus Alcantara seat inserts and heaps of carbon fiber. Beyond the personalized colors and a Sergio nameplate fixed to the passenger side dash, the rest of the interior is more or less exactly what can be found on a regular 458, with highly bolstered seats, large buttons to select between driving modes, an F1-inspired steering wheel, and large paddle shifters.
We would have liked to see a little more upgrading on the inside to match the exterior modifications, but that doesn’t mean the cabin is less than amazing. The stock 458 interior is superb, and that quality carriers over to the Sergio.
DRIVETRAIN:
Much like the interior, the drivetrain goes untouched in its transplant from the 458 Speciale, with a naturally aspirated ,4.5-liter, V-8 engine putting down 398 pound-feet of torque at 6,000 rpm and 596 horsepower at a hair-raising 9,000 rpm. With a seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox, the Sergio can sprint to 60 mph in a claimed three seconds, with an estimated top speed over 200 mph.
While not officially stated, we can only guess that the astronomical price tag includes the same traction managing Side Slip Angle Control System found on the Speciale, which features an F1-Trac and an E-Diff to put maximum adhesion between the contact patch and the road. For the price, a little something extra would have been nice to see, but again, improving on one of the best in the world is no easy feat.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
COMPETITION:
When considering radical concepts that turn the corner to a limited-run production model with an insane price tag in tow, the Lamborghini Veneno quickly comes to mind. Like the Sergio, the Veneno was first introduced at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, featuring a radical design that is nearly identical to its coupe counterpart. In other words, it could give the Sergio a run for its money when it comes to Transformer-like styling. Highlights include Y-shaped, angular headlamps running deep into the fenders, scissor doors, and a massive diffuser hiding quad exhaust tips.
With a 5.5-liter, V-12 engine producing 750 horsepower and a feathery 3,278 pound curb weight, this supercar has an extreme power-to-weight ratio of just 4.38 pounds/horsepower, which slingshots the run to sixty mph in a mere 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of 221 mph
Oh, and if you thought $3 million for a Sergio was absurd, consider this: Lamborghini is selling the Veneno at a cool $4.5 million.
