Last week, we published a deep dive into Ferrari’s one-off and coach-built masterpieces, spotlighting 24 of the 60-plus unique cars created across bespoke commissions, design studies, and concepts. The latest addition to that list is the Ferrari SC40, a new one-off that redefines what modern personalization looks like in Maranello.
The SC40 is the newest car from Ferrari’s Special Projects program to join that list. The car’s name pays tribute to the Ferrari F40 and it shares its mid-rear V6 hybrid architecture with the 296 GTB, packing 830 CV (841 hp) and 545 pound-feet of torque from a 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine paired with an electric motor and an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
The result is a 0 to 62 mph time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of more than 205 mph. For reference, the original F40’s twin-turbo V8 produced 478 horsepower and topped out at 201 mph. That car weighed under 2,900 pounds and relied purely on mechanical grip and driver skill, while the SC40 tips the scales at 3,417 pounds (dry) and employs active aerodynamics, hybrid torque fill, and electronic stability systems to deliver power effectively to the pavement.
But the real story here is design. Flavio Manzoni’s Styling Center reinterpreted the legendary F40 through a lens of modern industrial design. The SC40’s long, low nose, squared proportions, and fixed rear wing painted in bespoke SC40 White express Ferrari’s current shift toward geometric and edgier forms also seen on the F80 hypercar. There’s even a subtle nod to the recently unveiled 849 Testarossa, visible in the car’s surfacing and proportional balance. The vertical lines running along the front wings, door cuts, and engine cover create a structured form across the body, a design language that feels taut, deliberate, and unmistakably Ferrari.
Upfront, the headlights sit at the car’s outer corners, framed by black housings that connect to a single air intake spanning the bumper. Rectangular brake ducts and slim DRLs complete the minimalist, functional look. Around back, smoked Lexan louvers expose the hybrid powertrain beneath, while a 3D-printed titanium-carbon exhaust exits through the center. The Ferrari logo is etched in negative to reveal the carbon fiber below, while “SC40” is embossed directly into the endplate of the fixed rear wing, a detail borrowed from the original F40.
Inside, Ferrari revisits the F40’s legacy through materials. Carbon-Kevlar reappears in the footwells, floor mats, and steering wheel, paired with Charcoal Alcantara and red Jacquard fabric. Like all Ferrari One-Offs, the SC40 took about two years to complete, with the client working closely with the design team. A full-scale styling buck goes on display at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello on October 18.
And while the SC40 channels the F40’s essence, it does not feature a manual transmission. However, there are already talks of current Ferrari F1 driver and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton collaborating with Maranello on a true F40 successor, one that could bring the gated-shifter experience back to the modern era. Watch this space.
Images: Ferrari