What is the most innovative Ferrari ever made? | FerrariChat
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What is the most innovative Ferrari ever made?

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by Rudra@007, Nov 11, 2025 at 4:49 AM.

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  1. Rudra@007

    Rudra@007 Rookie

    Oct 30, 2025
    37
    #1 Rudra@007, Nov 11, 2025 at 4:49 AM
    so, I was just going some archives and books and stuff, and I noticed how FERRARI F1 cars in John Barnard era were especially innovative, unreliable, but albeit innovative and how every top of the line FERRARI(s) always have been innovative, it has led me to wonder what is the most innovative FERRARI ever made (as of November 2025) [all cars F1,LMP1,Road cars included]
     
  2. JL350

    JL350 Karting

    Jan 20, 2013
    220
    #2 JL350, Nov 11, 2025 at 7:23 AM
    The F40 was pretty impressive to me when it was released
     
  3. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2005
    15,239
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Tom Spiro
    #3 spirot, Nov 11, 2025 at 8:27 AM
    I'll play:
    F-1 : 1989 639/640/641 series cars... Paddle shifts, V12 pneumatic valves, and digital dash.
    Sports Racer: 312PB- aluminum monocoque chassis, built like an F-1 car
    Road Car: Ferrari 355 - First car to reach 100BPH per liter, and 5 valve heads along with Paddle shift gearbox in a road car.

    Ferrari credits its self with use of wings in F-1 first, but not so sure on that... When Enzo was running the teams, he was usually conservative in design, but he did push engine development and was using exotic alloys very early on for Sports Racing cars... not sure how innovative that is, but it's real. the other innovation that Ferrari brought to F1 in the mid 80's was water injection along with fuel additives through Agip. They came up with a system to reduce detonation by injecting a water droplet surrounded by fuel... This was used when they made qualifying engines that produced 1500 hp or more... albeit for very brief times.... they also used the Comprex turbo system... which was a form of Super charging / Turbo Charging... pre curser to electric spooled turbos.
     
  4. Rudra@007

    Rudra@007 Rookie

    Oct 30, 2025
    37
    #4 Rudra@007, Nov 11, 2025 at 11:40 AM
    I think wings were first used by lotus F1 team, yeah I'm pretty sure about it
     
  5. Rudra@007

    Rudra@007 Rookie

    Oct 30, 2025
    37
    #5 Rudra@007, Nov 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
    yeah 355 for sure and definitely was one of the best sounding N/a v8 cars
     
  6. Rudra@007

    Rudra@007 Rookie

    Oct 30, 2025
    37
    #6 Rudra@007, Nov 11, 2025 at 11:43 AM
    hmmm...interesting opinion, yeah because it was essentially a tubular chassis race car, I would not get ahead of myself and say it was innovative, but I would say it was quite radical in a way
     
  7. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Professional Ferrari Technician

    Sep 18, 2002
    20,090
    The Cold North
    Full Name:
    Tom
    #7 tbakowsky, Nov 11, 2025 at 12:20 PM
    I would agree with the 355. 5 valves per cylinder, 375hp out of 3.5 liters, reving to 8500RPM was impressive in 1995. Still is actually.
    Second would be the FF with that odd 4wd systems completely developed in house. Nothing else like it on the market.
    La Ferrari with the KERRS system, that was pretty cool tech, lifted right from an F1 car basicly
    The flat 12, still the only flat 12 cylinder engine to ever be in series production.
    I guess the F1 shift system, even tho it was used in an economy car, and adapted for use in the Ferrari, Ferrari did take it into the main stream, with others like BMW copying the idea with SMG, and Aston with ASM, Lambo with e-gear.
    I'm sure there are many others I'm forgetting
     
  8. Auraraptor

    Auraraptor F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Sep 25, 2002
    14,267
    MO
    Full Name:
    Omar
    #8 Auraraptor, Nov 11, 2025 at 3:14 PM
    Several models had unique features which were important to note:
    70s: BB Fat 12 road car
    80s: F40 carbon kevlar road car, first >200mph car with the most 'race car road car', F1 system
    90s: 348 first with (partial) monocoque, first transverse V8 road car
    90s: 355 5 valves / cylinder, hp/L
    90s: 360 w aluminum chassis
    2000s: 430 with E diff
    2000s: Cali w first DCT transmission, retractable hardtop
    etc

    The question is what (collection of) features you feel warrant the ultimate title
     

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