Today, Ferrari presents the Ferrari CZ26, a new One-Off created as part of the Special Projects programme. Designed by the Ferrari Design Studio under the direction of Flavio Manzoni and developed for a US client, it represents an extremely personal vision of the supersport berlinetta concept, reimagined through an essential, technological design language with a forward-looking vision.
The car draws on the exceptional dynamic features and performance of the SF90 Stradale, retaining its technical specifications and the essence of a top-of-the-range, ultra-high-performance supercar. The project’s aim was to create a car with an immediately recognisable character, capable of embodying strength, precision and formal purity through a rigorous design with a strong sense of identity.
The stylistic theme of the Ferrari CZ26 is defined by a distinctly horizontal design, with a highly distinctive two-box silhouette. The car has a stable, road-hugging presence thanks to a structure based on a pure central mass resembling a capsule, supported by the four muscle-like elements at the wheel arches. The entire composition flows from the front fascia, as if the car’s body were the extrusion of a single element that ends naturally in a clean, sculpted, truncated rear end, perfectly framed by a geometry that echoes the design of the front.
The front is dominated by a full-width functional grille incorporating specific lighting units, characterised by ultra-slim modules with a concealed effect, brake air intakes, sensors and technical components. The distinctive shape of the front, underlined by an unprecedented vertical leading edge, gives the car a bold and assertive presence. The rear features a truncated tail and cantilevered taillights, elements that give the Ferrari CZ26 a light and sculptural appearance. The diffuser also features a pronounced horizontal design, which helps to visually widen the car’s stance, reinforcing its sense of stability and its poise.
The overall bodywork design is based on an extremely clean and rigorous aesthetic, with functional elements emerging directly from the main surface. The side air intakes for cooling, the front end, the rear diffuser, the cantilevered light clusters and the carbon-fibre elements, which visually extend the wheel arches, are part of a single design language that combines function and aesthetic expression. This approach draws on some of the most significant examples of Italian industrial design from the 1970s, reinterpreting their principles through a contemporary perspective.
The cabin blends harmoniously into the car thanks to the use of black trim on the roof and pillars, creating the effect of a cockpit set within the bodywork. This design further enhances the clean lines and visual lightness of the overall design.
Particular attention has been paid to the selection of colours and finishes, developed with a futuristic inspiration in mind. The choice of materials and shades conveys the idea of a technical and sporty car, yet one that is at the same time refined and forward-looking. The bodywork is finished in the exclusive Argento Veloce shade, a silver finish with a liquid-like effect that emphasises the richness of the surfaces and the precision of the lines. The Rosso Lampante details provide a striking contrast to the car’s functional and technical elements, helping to define its dynamic character, whilst the pigmented carbon fibre elements further emphasise the complexity of the bodywork.
The wheels, designed specifically for the Ferrari CZ26, combine a gloss black painted finish with a shot-peened surface treatment, achieved by blasting with microscopic beads to produce a polished effect. The natural-finish titanium exhaust tailpipes complete the overall design, directly expressing the car’s technical, high-performance nature.
The exterior design theme is consistently reflected in the interior. The focal point is a bespoke black technical fabric, complemented by seat inserts produced using additive manufacturing and featuring a design developed specifically for the Ferrari CZ26. Rosso Lampante details echo the exterior colour scheme, while an embroidered CZ26 logo provides a further level of personalisation within the cabin.
The contrast between the matte surfaces of the technical fabric and the satin-finish carbon fibre is further enhanced by the use of a special gloss carbon fibre with metallic filaments woven into its structure. Completing the composition are body-coloured elements on the door panels and the upper section of the dashboard.
Aerodynamic development encompassed every area of the car. At the front, the cooling system and airflow management were completely redesigned by reorienting the central radiator pack and introducing dedicated bypass ducts, enabling improvements in both cooling efficiency and the downforce generated over the front axle. The underbody and the vortex generator system were also completely redesigned to optimise aerodynamic balance.
The outer sections of the front bumper incorporate an air curtain system that manages the wake generated by the front wheels, helping to reduce aerodynamic drag. The rear has been completely redesigned, with the introduction of a large upper rear spoiler and a dedicated diffuser, both developed to increase downforce while maintaining a high level of aerodynamic efficiency. The rear engine cover has also been redesigned and incorporates dedicated vents for thermal management of the engine compartment, ensuring effective heat dissipation under all operating conditions.
SF90 STRADALE
The SF90 Stradale marked a milestone in Ferrari’s history, becoming the first series-production model from the Cavallino Rampante to feature a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) architecture. Its name celebrates the 90th anniversary of the founding of Scuderia Ferrari and highlights the direct link between the experience gained in motorsport and the road cars built in Maranello. Powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine paired with three electric motors, the SF90 Stradale delivers a combined maximum output of 1000 cv and represents one of the most advanced examples of technology transfer from the track to the road. Designed around an innovative architecture that combines extreme performance, aerodynamic efficiency and sophisticated dynamic control systems, the SF90 Stradale established new benchmarks in the high-performance supercar segment and introduced a new interpretation of Ferrari’s design language, in which technological innovation and purity of proportion coexist in perfect balance. The SF90 Stradale also gave rise to a segment that now includes the SF90 Spider, the 849 Testarossa and the 849 Testarossa Spider, as well as special editions such as the SF90 XX Stradale and the SF90 XX Spider, which further enhance its performance and exclusivity.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
The Special Projects programme is aimed at creating unique Ferraris (so-called “One-Offs”) characterised by an exclusive design crafted to the requirements of the client, who thus becomes the owner of a one-of-a-kind model. Each project originates from an idea put forward by the client and is developed hand-in-glove with a team of designers from Ferrari’s Styling Centre. Once the car’s proportion and forms have been defined, detailed design blueprints and a styling buck are produced before the manufacturing process for the new One-Off begins. The entire process takes around two years on average, during which time the client is closely involved in assessing the design and verification phases. The result? A unique Ferrari sporting the Prancing Horse logo and engineered to the same standards of excellence that characterise all of Maranello’s cars.