Ferrari’s shock launch of two brand-new super cars, the Monza SP1 and SP2 put everyone under the pressure of a choice: to go or not go solo. The SP2 is the Barchetta that encourages you to be friendly and take someone with you for the passenger ride of a lifetime aboard the fastest non-hybrid Prancing Horse ever – with no windshield!

The Icona line of special, limited run cars is off to a scorching start with two new beauties dubbed the SP1 and the SP2 Monza. The name isn’t new; instead, just like the cars, it draws from Ferrari’s long and storied racing heritage. The Monza was one of Ferrari’s Barchetta-style sports racing cars from the ‘50s which had its successes on the track but faded into obscurity in the decades that followed. It’s nice to see Ferrari bringing back this nameplate, especially on such eye-wateringly beautiful cars.

It’s good to know that the Icona program is set to run for at least four years, so we’re certain we’ll see more amazing products coming their way considering Louis Camilleri assertion that Ferrari looks to debut up to 15 new cars in the following years. The scope is to increase the sales to $5,000,000,000 by 2022 which would be a 68% increase from the figure registered at the end of last year.

While we’re almost sure that some of those sales will come off of the launch of Ferrari's much-rumored SUVs, we’ve got to live in the moment and enjoy the Monza SP1 and SP2 for what they are: Ferrari’s fastest non-hybrid cars. The fact that they follow the old norm of a front-mounted V-12 sending the power to the back wheels is just the cream atop an amazing pie.

2018 Ferrari Monza SP2

Specifications
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  • Model: 2018 Ferrari Monza SP2
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What makes the Ferrari Monza SP2 special

A black Ferrari Monza SP2
Ferrari

Ferrari makes headlines by unveiling not one, but two cars in the premises of its new Centro Stile building. The SP2 is the version for that portion of the ultra-rich that actually have someone close enough to their hearts that they’d like them to share the experience of the open-top Monza. This means two humps, two “Virtual Windshields” and an increased dry weight of 3,351 pounds. With the knowledge that the “bi-posto” is heavier, Ferrari dressed the SP2 in Nero, a color famous for hiding extra weight. The red interior works beautifully with the exterior tint too.

Otherwise, the design is the same with the elongated hood that houses the 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V-12 and all of its 810 ponies. The gain was made thanks to variable length intake ducts while torque remains at 530 pound-feet. You’ll also most likely find the same clever gearbox as in the 812 Superfast.

Ferrari says they will make no more than 500 of these cars with customer demand deciding if we’ll see more SP1s rolling out of Maranello or SP2s. The Icona program thus becomes the fourth pillar in Ferrari’s catalogue besides Sport, GT and Special. The Sport models are the 488 and the 812, as well as a to-be-announced supercar that should sit above the 488s replacement but not in the rarified air of the hypercars performance-wise. The GTs are the likes of the Lusso and the Portofino – until the Purosangue is presented in 2021. Finally, Ferrari’s offering includes the Special models such as the 488 Pista and the now-discontinued F12 TdF.

The Special and Icona lineups should make up about 5% of Ferrari’s sales by 2022 with the Sport models bringing in 50% of the sales and the GTs responsible for the 40% although I reckon they’ll see the GT segment tip the scale once the SUV is introduced…

For now, though, we’ve got time to savor the Monzas and hope the deadly reputation of the original 50’s sports car, in which Formula 1’s first two-time world champion Alberto Ascari died at the Monza circuit, doesn’t pass on.

Knowing that, most likely, most of these cars will be kept behind locked doors in a controlled environment with pure oxygen, I guess the overalls will be useless – which is a pity considering how much of a beast the 812 Superfast is and how incredible this car must feel on a race track. Only time will tell if some owners will be bold enough to buckle up and head for the Autodromo!

Ferrari Monza SP1 Technical Specification

Engine Type

V12 – 65°

Displacement

6.5-liter

Max. power output

810 HP @ 8,500 RPM

Max. torque

530 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM

Length

183.3 in

Width

78.6 in

Height

43.8 in

Dry weight

3,307 pounds

0-100 km/h

2.9 sec

0-200 km/h

7.9 sec

Max. speed

>185 mph


Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Ferrari Monza SP1.

Read our full review on the 2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast.

Read our full speculative review on the 2018 Ferrari 812 Aperta.

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Read our full review of the 1957 Ferrari 625 TRC}

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