Every so often, the racing and luxury sides of Ferrari come together, taking the raw performance of a Formula 1 machine and putting them into the perfect car. The latest supercar offering from Ferrari is the Enzo, named after the company's founder. Ferrari built the car maker after a split from Alfa Romeo in the 40s, and from then on, all of his designs focused on performance.
As expensive as Ferraris are, just having a lot of money isn't enough to get you into an Enzo. They are very rare; only four hundred were built, and Ferrari was so choosy about where they went that they took applications from prospective owners. Here, you will find out how the Enzo Ferrari draws on its F1 heritage, as well as information about its speed, engine and rarity.
The Enzo has a midengine design, much like other supercars. However, the engine is one thing that sets it apart from the rest. The aluminum V12 has four valves per cylinder, putting out 660hp and going from 0-100 in 6.6 seconds. It has an estimated top speed of 217 miles per hour, a speed few drivers will ever reach. The high compression ratio needs high-octane fuel in order to run smoothly- yet another holdover from its Formula 1 pedigree.
Despite a lack of comforts found in luxury cars, the Enzo is not the world's lightest automobile. Its dry weight of 3009 lbs. gives it a power to weight ratio of 4.56 lbs/hp. The only transmission option is a six speed manual; but due to its lack of a foot clutch, purists don't consider it a manual.
Most controls are on the steering wheel, another F1 touch; it includes paddle shifters. The LEDs on the wheel tell the driver when to shift, and other buttons allow the driver to select from Sport or Race modes, or to tinker with the traction control system. The power of the engine gets an Enzo driver where they're going very quickly indeed, but then again, Ferraris and their ilk weren't meant for straight line speed.