Ferrari Enzo

The Enzo Ferrari was a limited-production supercar built to celebrate Ferrari’s first formula-one championship of the new millennium, while honoring the company’s founder, Enzo Ferrari, who passed away in 1988. The Enzo, as it’s commonly known, was introduced at the Paris Motor Show of 2002. The initial production run of 349 Enzos was sold by invitation only and all of the cars were committed to customers before production began. An additional 50 cars were later added to the total to satisfy the requests of other high-ranking customers. A final Enzo, number 400, was built to be sold at auction by Sotheby’s. The proceeds went to a charity established in support of the Sumatra Tsunami survivors. All Enzos were titled as 2003 models.

In the manner of other great performance Ferraris, the Enzo was a mid-engine two-seater. Like formula one cars, it was built on an extremely light and rigid carbon-fiber tub. Aluminum honeycomb inserts provided added cockpit protection. The cockpit itself was also evocative of racing machines with few creature comforts, closely positioned petals and a carbon-fiber dashboard.

While the seats were leather-upholstered, they were formed of carbon-fiber composite. The car’s very shape suggested that of formula-one racing machinery as well, and its computer-controlled spoilers adjusted to provide downforce appropriate for the vehicle’s speed. The Enzo’s 65° aluminum V-12 powerplant displaced 6-litres and featured 48 valves, dual overhead camshafts and variable valve timing. The engine generated approximately 660 horsepower at 7800 rpm and redlines at 8200.

Ferrari’s formula-one-based paddle-shift semi-automatic transmission handled the ratio changes. LED lights on the steering wheel indicated optimum shift points under acceleration. The Enzo’s performance was in keeping with its specifications. It could accelerate to 60 in slightly more than three seconds, and its top speed was somewhere in the area of 220 mph. With 15-inch Brembo disc brakes its deceleration capabilities were equally impressive.

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