The Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 are among the most significant limited-edition Ferrari models of the modern era: two open-top barchetta speedsters that launched the brand's new Icona series, bringing 1950s racing heritage into the present with a 810 hp naturally aspirated V12 and full carbon fiber construction. Announced at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, they represent a direct dialogue between Ferrari's past and its future, articulated through the vision of Ferrari Design Director Flavio Manzoni and his team.
What Is the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2?
The Monza SP1 and SP2 are the first models in Ferrari's Icona series, a special segment of strictly limited cars destined for collectors and the most loyal Ferrari clients. The SP1 is a single-seat speedster; the SP2 adds a companion seat beneath a carbon fairing, making it a two-seat configuration. Both draw their design DNA from the barchettas of the 1950s, those lightweight open-top race cars that carried Scuderia Ferrari's greatest drivers to victory throughout the decade. Giovanni Agnelli himself coined the term barchetta in 1948 when he described the 166 MM as looking more like a small speedboat than a sports car.
Exterior Design: Purity in Carbon Fiber
The entire body of the SP1 and SP2 is crafted from carbon fiber, a choice that underpins both the visual language and the engineering targets. The Ferrari Styling Center approached the exterior with one guiding principle: every line should be traceable in a single pencil stroke. The result is a minimal, flowing silhouette that begins at the rear diffuser, dances around the tail, and leads into slender flanks and a purposeful front bumper. Volume is divided into two clear parts, an upper cover and a lower hull, separated by an uninterrupted strip that creates the illusion of two independent forms. This same uninterrupted theme extends to the lighting: a continuous strip of lights connects the side markers and brake lights in a single horizontal gesture. Doors open upward, redesigned from the 812 Superfast's architecture, and the one-piece carbon bonnet-wing assembly hinges forward to reveal the V12 engine beneath.
Performance: The 812 Superfast V12, Evolved
Both the SP1 and SP2 are powered by Ferrari's 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12, developed from the 812 Superfast's engine and raised to 810 hp at 8,500 rpm and 719 Nm at 7,000 rpm. This makes it one of the most powerful naturally aspirated engines Ferrari has ever produced for a road car. To achieve this output while meeting emissions standards, Ferrari introduced the world's first 350-bar direct fuel injection system on a high-performance petrol engine, paired with variable-geometry intake tracts derived from Formula 1 research. The improved fuel nebulisation significantly reduces particulate emissions despite the extraordinary performance. Power is managed through a dual-clutch transmission with gear ratios and shift times borrowed from the 812 Superfast when the Manettino is in its sportier positions. The result: 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and beyond 300 km/h in under 8 seconds.
Interior: Driver-Focused, Nothing More
The SP1/SP2 interior is built around a single purpose: immersing the driver completely in the experience. The cockpit wraps the driver's body while the head sits en plein air above the car. Controls are pared back to essentials and arranged by function, not decoration. The single-piece carbon fiber seat is upholstered in premium Italian leather with tailored stitching, a contrast between raw material and artisanal finish that characterises the entire car. For the SP2, a companion seat is integrated beneath a sleek carbon fairing, maintaining the visual integrity of the barchetta silhouette while allowing a passenger.
Aerodynamics and the Virtual Wind Shield
Removing the roof and windscreen entirely from a car capable of 300 km/h creates serious aerodynamic challenges. Ferrari's response was the patented Virtual Wind Shield, a system tested extensively in CFD simulation and the wind tunnel before entering production. An aerodynamic passage beneath the driver's aero screen accelerates incoming air and deflects it vertically ahead of the instrument panel, creating a low-speed bubble around the cockpit. High-speed airflow is diverted around the driver's head, reducing dangerous pressure oscillations and making extended high-speed driving genuinely comfortable without any physical screen. The chassis retained the Virtual Short Wheelbase concept and Electric Power Steering from the 812 Superfast, with tyres sized at 275/30 front and 315/30 rear on enlarged rims.
Flavio Manzoni on Designing a Timeless Masterpiece
TheArsenale had the opportunity to speak with Flavio Manzoni, head of Ferrari Design, at the Paris Festival Automobile International, where the SP2 was voted the Most Beautiful Supercar by the assembled panel of judges. Manzoni outlined the philosophy behind the Icona project in three words: beauty, dreams, and uniqueness.
"We started our mission by seeking the utmost beauty that is instantly recognizable. Then we were set on creating the physical embodiment of a desire, shaping people's dreams. After that, we wanted to create something special and unique that resonates with you on a deeper level. This was one of the most exciting projects for the Ferrari Design team."
"Three core features were identified and isolated, treated separately and then put together in a homogenous way. First, there was purity. Our aim was to create lines able to be traced with a single stroke. Second, there was harmony. Imagining the car in speed, we were able to imagine a velocity-inspired form that is sculpted by the wind. Third, there was the human element. In the heart of the car sits the pilot so we set on creating a very unique connection between the driver and car."
"We kept the exterior as original and true to the 'pebble' speed form, honoring classic Ferrari design cues with modern reinterpretations. We further accentuated the signature twin lines that communicate the powerful front engine. Then we drew equilibrium and harmony by a wedge in the body that is then counterbalanced by the fuselage shape in the main volume. The headlights are treated like air intakes and we twisted the classic design by a juxtaposition of two different volumes. The rear was also a playground for our design team where we kept the traditional barchetta shape of the rear while also integrating a modern continuous light that runs across the whole body of the car."
"Being driver focused we could not forget about the interior which is a cockpit-styled experience that is embedded in the main body, typical of classic race cars and F1 cars of today. We created a cover which hosts a seat underneath for the co-pilot when needed. The front was designed to manage airflows while at the same time creating a gap between the two separate volumes, reinforcing the driver oriented layout of the car. We reinforced the connection between the driver, car and nature to make the most unique driving experience we could."
Full technical details on the Monza SP1 and SP2 are available at Motor1's original reveal coverage.
Ferrari Collector Pieces at TheArsenale
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