Ferrari KC23 Has Wild Styling and the Beating Heart of a Race Car
Ferrari has announced the KC23, a bespoke masterpiece from the company’s Special Projects team in Maranello, Italy. The KC23 blends inspiration from past Ferraris with the thunderous V-8 of a 488 GT3 Evo race car. Ferrari describes the car as being designed for non-competitive track use. It will make its global debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which runs from July 13–16.
Ferrari has unveiled the KC23, a new, one-of-one bespoke car from the Special Projects program in Maranello, ahead of its global debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Based on the 488 GT3 Evo race car, with numerous styling cues inspired by past Ferraris, the one-off hints at the future of the prancing-horse brand.
The KC23 follows in the wake of past Special Projects cars like the GTC4Lusso inspired BR20, the 812 GTS–inspired SP51, and last year’s F8 Tributo–based SP48 Unica. While each of those cars is road legal, the KC23 is a dedicated track machine.
Ferrari
The twin-turbo V-8 under the hood carries over from the 488 GT3 race car, but Ferrari hasn’t revealed the maximum output. In the 488 GT3, the FIA limits the car to a maximum of 591 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, but we know the engine is capable of much more than that. Ferrari said as much in its press release, stating, “From the beginning, the KC23 was destined to be radical and untethered from homologation constraints.”
That desire to throw caution to the wind shows through with the blend of inspiration taken from Ferrari’s Vision Gran Turismo concept and its Le Mans–winning 499P. Any thought of homologation is completely forgotten with the inclusion of the electronically controlled movable panels along each flank, and huge motorsport-sized removable rear wing at the rear. A thin, low-slung wedge forms the front fascia and immediately breaks into a series of aero elements, including a huge diffuser at the rear of the car. There are two-piece center-lock wheels, and depending on rear wing/side air-vent position, the car’s appearance transforms from a gorgeous, sleek profile to a dominant, capable silhouette.
Ferrari
Ferrari
The inside of the KC23 is pulled straight from the 488 GT3 race car, which looks to have enough buttons to warrant a dedicated Crash Course series just to teach the lucky owner what each of them does. The interior looks totally dedicated to track performance, though has the notable inclusion of air conditioning vents to keep the driver cool while setting hot laps. We can also spot a roll cage for safety and a series of three screens in place of a traditional rearview mirror.
Like every other Special Projects car, the KC23 was purchased by a longtime Ferrari customer, and there’s no word on price. Unlike most other one-off Ferraris, this one has a pretty clear way for fans to see it up close. Ferrari confirmed the car will make a public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K. from July 13–16, before going on display at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello from August 1 to October 2.
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Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
