The Ferrari LaFerrari made its first public appearance at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, taking center stage in spite of massive competition from the McLaren P1 and the Lamborghini Veneno. Not only the fastest road-legal supercar to come out of Maranello, the LaFerrari is also the first Ferrari to carry a hybrid powertrain. Developed as a successor to the almighty Enzo and the F50, the LaFerrari is the first Ferrari not to be designed by Pininfarina since 1973.

Built in just 499 units and priced from $1.7 million, the LaFerrari became an instant hit with deep-pocketed enthusiasts, who rushed to pay the hefty sticker and help Ferrari close order books in a matter of months. Although both the standard supercar and the highly exclusive, track-only FXX K are already sold out, the LeFerrari saga continues in 2017 with a convertible version.

Rumors about a LaFerrari convertible have been flying around since 2014, when we rendered the model based on the coupe version. Come 2016 and Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne finally confirmed that a drop-top model is in the works. In July 2016, Maranello unleashed the first official photos of the Laferrari Aperta, while the Paris Motor Show hosted to supercar's public debut.

Updated 11/11/2016: Ferrari dropped a very cool promo video for the LaFerrari Aperta with Formula 1 driver, Sebastian Vettel behind the wheel.

Continue reading to find out more about the LaFerrari Aperta.

2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
  • Engine/Motor: V12
  • Horsepower: 963
  • Torque: 663
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

As expected, the Aperta is identical to the coupe below the waist and features the same aggressive lines that make the LaFerrari unique not only among other Ferraris, but modern supercars as well. As it is the case with convertibles, only a handful of features set the drop-top apart from its coupe sibling. Arguably the most important styling feature is the revised roof, which was redesigned to accommodate either a soft-top or a carbon-fiber hard-top. The latter is optional.

With the panel removed, the LaFerrari gains a different, sleeker appearance, mostly because the slightly bubbled roof that gives the standard LaFerrari its Le Mans prototype-inspired look isn’t there. However, while the C-pillars sit a tad lower behind the seats, the engine hood is identical to the coupe’s. sporting the same V-shaped glass section. This is somewhat surprising, as most convertible Ferraris come with redesigned engine covers compared to their coupe sibling.

With the top up, be it both the soft- or hard-top, the Aperta is almost identical to the coupe when seen from the side. However, certain changes made to aerodynamics are visible upon closer inspection. These were made to ensure that, with the roof open and the side windows up, the drag figure is unaffected compared to that of the coupe.

Among the most notable modifications there's a longer front dam and the lowered underbody surface around the longitudinal vortex generators. The new elements boost the ground effect and the car’s ability to generate efficient downforce. The new aero kit is completed by two small L-shaped flaps on the upper corners of the windscreen which, in the absence of a hard top, generate airflow that interacts with the flow being deflected towards the rear render, diverting it upwards to reduce the compression on the rear section of the cabin, thus reducing drag.

The removal of the roof also demanded a reconfiguration of the door rotation system. The Aperta has the same butterfly doors as the LaFerrari coupe, but when fully open, they sit at slightly different angle. This also led to modifications to the geometry of both the wheel arches and flanks and the addition of a carbon-fibre insert, which incorporates an aerodynamic vent, that allows the doors to rotate.

Interior

Inside, the Aperta mirrors the coupe as far as design and features go. Like its sibling, the drop-top sports a cabin that blends the already traditional Ferrari luxury with race-inspired elements. The same steering wheel with flat top and bottom sit in front of the three-piece, customizable instrument cluster, while the center console has the same clean design. Nearly every surface is wrapped in either soft Italian leather or Alcantara, with the dashboard, door panels, and seats featuring two-tone finishes in virtually endless combinations.

All these niceties are joined by impressive amounts of carbon-fiber. The lightweight material can be seen on the center console, steering wheel, door panels, and the floor, but Ferrari also used it in the seats in order to save more weight. The removable roof will enable the driver to enjoy unlimited headroom and the enhanced roar of the V-12 powerplant.

Drivetrain

Motivation comes from the same hybrid drivetrain that brings together a 6.3-liter V-12 and a HY-KERS unit that provides short bursts of extra power. The conventional engine cranks out 789 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, while the KERS unit adds 161 horses and 148 pound-feet for a total output of 950 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of twist.

The good news is that unlike other drop-tops, the Aperta matches the performance of the coupe, mainly thanks to the revised aerodynamics we discussed in the Exterior section.

Specifically the Aperta hits 60 mph from a standing start in the same "under three seconds" (tested by some at 2.8 ticks) and from 0 to 124 mph in 7.1 seconds. The top speed is rated at "over 217 mph," also identical to the coupe. Ferrari also claims that the Aperta delivers the same torsional rigidity and beam stiffness characteristics, as well as dynamic performance levels.

Fuel consumption — as if it matters when it comes to supercars — should be similar to the coupe at 16 mpg on the highway, 12 mpg in the city, and 14 mpg combined. Ferrari claims that the LaFerrari emits 330 grams of carbon-dioxide per km. Despite having a lithium-ion battery and regenerative braking, the LaFerrari doesn’t have an official all-electric range. The supercar is known to operate on electric power only, but Ferrari, for some reason, didn’t release any specs.

While the engine and performance are identical to the coupe, the Aperta does feature a few revised drivetrain components. In order to manage the hot air flow from the radiators through the bonnet, the angle of inclination of the radiators was modified. They are now angled backwards to direct the air flows out along the underbody, a solution that results in complete separation of the hot air from the flow reaching the cockpit, keeping temperature levels for occupants comfortable.

Prices

Unlike the coupe, which was built in 499 units, the LaFerrari Aperta will hit the streets in very limited numbers. Initial rumors claimed that only 50 examples will be built, but Ferrari later confirmed that the production run will include 150 units. Pricing is still a mystery several months after the car's official launch, but the Aperta is likely more expensive than the coupe. Most reports indicate a sticker between $2 million and $2.5 million, which makes sense given the limited run and the fact that the coupe was already pretty expensive at around $1.7 million. But the Aperta's sticker is only a matter of statistics now, as all 150 example were sold long before Ferrari unveiled the production model.

Competitors

Pagani Huayra Roadster

With supercars such as the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport and the Koenigsegg Agera RS already discontinued, we have to look at future vehicles to find a proper competitor for the LaFerrari Aperta. One of them is the Pagani Huayra Roadster. Essentially a topless version of the fast and expensive Italian supercar, the Roadster is scheduled to arrive sometime in 2017 using the same drivetrain as its coupe sibling. Power will come from a 6.0-liter V-12 rated at more than 730 horsepower and 740 pound-feet of torque, which should enable the Huayra to hit 60 mph in less than three seconds and a top speed of more than 210 mph. The Roadster will probably cost as much as the LaFerrari Aperta, as its sticker should go beyond the $2 million mark before options.

Find out more about the Pagani Huayra Roadster here.

Bugatti Chiron Grand Sport

By the time the Chiron Grand Sport arrives in 2019, the LaFerrari Aperta will already be an expensive collective, but this French car will definitely be benchmarked against Maranello's fastest road-going drop-top. Set to receive the uber-powerful drivetrain from the newly launched Chiron, the Grand Sport will hit the streets with a quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16 rated at 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of twist. That's an extra 296 horses and 74 pound-feet compared to the previous model. We expect it to hit 60 mph in around 2.7 seconds and reach a top speed of around 240 mph. With the coupe set to fetch €2.4 million (about $2.5 million) before options, the Grand Sport will most likely cost in excess of €2.8 million (around $2.9 million). Only 200 will be built.

Read more about the Bugatti Chiron Grand Sport in our speculative review here.

Conclusion

To be honest, the LaFerrari Aperta is nothing more than yet another clever way for Ferrari to offer an exclusive product and make a huge profit with each example sold. Maranello simply waited for the LaFerrari, which was still creating a massive stir years after its official unveiling, to sell out and it is now using the Aperta body style to get back into the spotlight. That's how the supercar industry works nowadays, with most companies relying on very exclusive models to keep their business going. And, needless to say, Ferrari is doing the right thing here. Sure, the LaFerrari Aperta isn't for anyone and most of us probably won't see one in the metal anytime soon, but it's yet another wild supercar that we'll grovel at. And we all know we just love doing that...

Updated History

Updated 10/03/2016: We added a series of images taken during the car's official debut at the 2016 Paris Auto Show, plus all the official details released by Ferrari.

Updated 07/08/2016: British magazine Automobile Magazine, reports that the open-top version of the LaFerrari could drop the usual "Spider" name and use the "Aperta" instead. Continue reading for the full details.

Updated 07/05/2016: Ferrari dropped the first images on the open-top version of the LaFerrari, and announced the supercar will be making its public debut at the 2016 Paris Auto Show.

Updated 05/05/2016: While it will take some time until we will finally see the LaFerrari Spider out there, German auto sales website Mobile.de is already listing one unit. Check the "Prices" section to see how much they are asking for it.

Updated 05/04/2016: During a recent interview with Automobile Magazine, Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne finally confirmed that the Spider is in the works and that it will be unveiled sometime in the near future.