Ferrari Enzo

If any car has come close to taking the McLaren F1's title of ultimate supercar then the Ferrari Enzo is it. It is both the fastest and the quickest accelerating Ferrari ever constructed, and an ultra-limited production run ensured it is also one of the most exclusive cars on the planet. The project was originally conceived in the late 1990s as a successor to the previous F50 and F40 limited edition 'ultimate' Ferrari projects, although the Enzo was never intended to race. The car made its debut at the 2002 Paris Auto Show and production is limited to 349 examples.

The Enzo's strange looks tend to divide people into lovers and loathers, and yet in many ways this is the most functional supercar ever constructed. Originally envisaged as a showcase for what Ferrari had learned from Formula One, the Enzo (like the F50 and F40) was never designed to race - although its Maserati MC-12 sister car will be competing. From first principles the Enzo was designed around aerodynamic best practice, everything from the very long front overhang to the elaborate underfloor venturi intended to help it take advantage of passing airflow. Like the Mercedes McLaren SLR and Porsche Carrera GT, the Enzo is based around an immensely strong carbonfibre shell to which suspension and engine components then bonded. The 6.0 litre V12 engine mounted behind the passenger compartment produces 660 bhp and supplies drive to the rear wheels via an F1 style hydraulically activated transaxle. Performance is astonishing, with 0-62.5 mph (0-100 km/h) taking just 3.6 seconds, and Ferrari claiming a top speed of 217 mph. Ceramic brakes all-round ensure retardation to match the performance.

Read