Ferrari unveils bespoke 2-seater V12

MANILA: Ferrari has officially unveiled the BR20 two-seater coupe last Thursday, November 11. The Ferrari BR20 is the latest addition to the Prancing Horse’s One-Offs series.

The BR20 is part of Ferrari’s Special Projects program, which aims to create unique Ferraris (dubbed “One-Offs”) with an exclusive design made according to the client’s specifications. Each project begins with a customer concept that is developed with the help of a team of designers from Ferrari’s Styling Center. After defining the car’s proportions and forms, full design blueprints and a styling buck are created before the new One-Off is put into production.

The BR20 is based on the GTC4Lusso platform, which, in terms of philosophy and style, masterfully echoes the superb Ferrari coupes of the 1950s and 1960s, without being nostalgic in the least. Instead, it accomplishes the challenging task of combining timeless elegance with muscular sportiness, seamlessly blending stylistic ideas from some of Ferrari’s most legendary 12-cylinders, such as the 410 SA and 500 Superfast.

The GTC4Lusso’s two rear seats have been omitted to give the BR20’s ultra-sleek fastback line more dynamic. The new car is three inches longer than the original, thanks to a special rear overhang treatment that creates a shape that emphasizes the car’s proportions elegantly. The significant alteration of the cabin space was one of the cornerstones of the design process for this vehicle. This allowed the design team, spearheaded by Flavio Manzoni, to create the innovative proportions that resulted in a powerful yet stylistically cohesive exterior design team.

The new cabin design concept gives the image of a pair of arches running lengthwise from the A-pillar to the rear spoiler. The arch’s rear volume has been hollowed out to form an aerodynamic channel, with the air outlet hidden beneath the spoiler by the black rear fascia. This modern interpretation of Ferrari’s “flying buttress” theme firmly links the car to iconic Prancing Horse style elements not only from the brand’s GT history, but also from sports cars like the 599 GTV Fiorano. To visually lighten the cabin, the black roof paint optically integrates the windscreen to the rear screen, which stands above the surface of the rear tailgate as if to channel the air flow.

A muscular rear bumper complements the aggressive style of the rest of the car: twin taillights interact visually with the tailpipes, which are lower and fitted into a conspicuous aerodynamic diffuser with active flaps on the underbody. Even the BR20’s twin spherical exhaust tips were custom-made for this bespoke model.

Many carbon-fiber elements on the BR20 emphasize the edgy dynamic qualities and tremendous performance of this remarkable four-wheel drive car. High, sinuous sills highlight the front air vents on the wheel arches and provide a touch of energy to the bottom area of the flanks. The upper carbon-fiber section of the wide front grille is a stylistic nod to other recent Ferrari one-offs, while unique chrome side accents help accentuate the car’s dynamic front stance.

The front grille’s striking new horizontal slats, which offer a compelling sense of three-dimensionality, also add to the BR20’s distinct identity. A seemingly limitless array of features, including tweaked headlights, is created exclusively for the BR20. They are shorter than those on the GTC4Lusso, and they have smaller daytime running lights, making the bonnet appear longer and sleeker. The 20-inch tone-on-tone diamond-finish wheels were also custom-made for this one-of-a-kind vehicle.

The interior of the BR20 is as remarkable, with two hues of brown leather and carbon-fiber trim, an excellent combination created in response to the client’s wishes. The seats are dressed with dark brown Heritage Testa di Moro leather with a unique design and silver cross-stitching. The cabin volume continues from the windscreen to the luggage compartment at the rear, giving occupants a distinctive impression of lightness and airiness. The rear bench and luggage deck, which hides a larger loading area when folded flat, as well as the door handles, are finished in oak with carbon-fiber accents.

Crafted for a long-standing client who was heavily engaged in every step of its creation, the Ferrari BR20 presents a clear interpretation of the classic coachbuilder’s art, effectively reshaping an existing model in a truly brilliant and creative way.

Photos from Ferrari

Also read: A new V6 prances in the Ferrari 296 GTB