The Legend of the F40 and Countach Revival I have said it many times, and I’ll continue to say it. The Ferrari F40 is the greatest supercar ever made. Introduced in 1987 as both Ferrari’s 40th Anniversary and the final car commissioned by Enzo himself, who wanted a “very fast, sporting in the extreme and spartan.” And it was certainly just that, its interior was barebones, with string for door handles, no carpets and manual wind-down windows. It was fitted with the 2.9l twin-turbo V8 from the 288 GTO with bigger turbos and a larger intercooler. The result was 471 horsepower and 426 lb-ft of torque. And the result of that was the first production car to break the 200mph barrier, with a top speed of 201mph, and 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds. But it wasn’t the speed that this legend revelled in, it was how delicate, precise and direct it felt in the corners. Ferrari ended up building 1311 F40s, which today sells for over $1millon. It’s clear, though, that despite many fabulous cars launched since, nothing has been able to capture the spirit of the F40. Hence, last year, Ferrari’s exclusive Icona Series was a line-up designed to celebrate Ferrari’s heritage and history, via reinterpreted designs and a back-to-basics power plant, and it was rumoured that they would potentially revive the F40. Ferrari isn’t the first to bring back a legend from the past. Four years ago, Lamborghini infamously launched a 112-built hypercar called LPI 800-4, “Countach”. A name that takes after their most iconic model. Now underneath this was just a Sian, featuring the same engine, gearbox and hybrid capacity. But with its wild body and flashy interior, it captured the spirit of the original so perfectly. Read More Ferrari will potentially revive the F40: A Return of the Prancing Horse’s Greatest Car? The Bold Exterior Design There’s no denying that from the outside, Ferrari have done their wonders with the SC40. It unmistakably looks like a modernised F40. The sharp angular lines, the long, low nose and short rear overhang capture that wedge aggression that the F40 revelled in. This is contrasted perfectly with the black intake spans the bumper, which almost brings back the F40's iconic dual headlight style. The engine cover has those signature smoked Lexan louvres, and the rear is enhanced by those carbon-fibre intakes. And of course, the piece de resistance, the enormous signature fixed rear wing, that actually has SC40 engraved into it, just like the F40 had. Interestingly, they chose to finish the SC40 in what Ferrari calls SC40 white instead of Rosso Corsa, like most F40S. But all in all, the SC40 looks exactly how the F40 would look today. The Minimalist Interior The F40 infamously had a barebones, back-to-basics carbon-Kevlar interior that was meant to invoke the feeling of being inside a racing car. Certainly, the SC40 continues the theme of back to basics. Inside, the Ferrari SC40 continues the F40’s legacy through its use of reimagined carbon-Kevlar. Elements appear on the steering wheel, footwells, dashboard inserts, and even in the luggage compartment. Read More Ferrari F40 Alte Prestazioni by Officine Fioravanti - How to Refine Perfection? The seats are upholstered in Charcoal Alcantara and red Jacquard technical fabric, with embroidered Prancing Horses and woven SC40 logos. There are no carpets, just a carbon Kevlar mix on the floor. Now, of course, by modern car standards, this would be seen as amateur, but this minimalist approach is perfect. This back-to-basics, lack-of-luxuries captures the spirit of the F40 to the nth degree. The Disappointing Powertrain Now the F40 was infamously powered by a 2.9l twin-turbo V8, which contributed to the car’s lightness. So naturally, when it came to the SC40, only one engine in my mind sufficed. The 3.9l twin-turbo V8 is currently found in both the Amalfi and 249 Testarossa. No hybrid assist, no ginormous V12, just the engines that herald the spirit of the original. Except clearly, to Ferrari, capacity mattered more than cylinders. So in this, they fitted the same 2.9l twin-turbo hybridised V6 found in the 296 GTB. The same 819 brake horsepower, the same 546 lb-ft of torque, the same 8-speed dual-clutch F1 gearbox, the same 0-62 spring of 2.9 seconds, the same top speed of 205mph, it even weighs the same around 1,470kg. Underneath it is literally a 296 with a different body designed to harken back to the past. Now, don’t get me wrong, the 296 GTB is a brilliant car. But I feel that for what was a celebration of the F40, Ferrari missed a trick. I don’t want this car to share the same powertrain as another. What I wanted was a car that was exceptionally light and fitted with the modernised twin-turbo V8 to make it raw and visceral. Ultimately, speed did not matter with the SC40; Experience did. And in that regard, the powertrain is disappointing. Staying at the Museum Unlike many of the other Icona Series that were specially built for Ferrari’s more distinguished clientele, the SC40 is essentially a one-off. Therefore, it will be staying at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, joining several other greats. And maybe that was the reason they didn’t bother with a unique powertrain. Because ultimately, the SC40 was never going to be an Icona series but just for the designers to reimagine what a modern F40 would look like. But that being said, I feel slightly underwhelmed. I wanted to love this car, but it’s just a 296 with a different body. You may say that’s hypocritical, especially considering the Countach LPI is just a Sian underneath, but with its blaring V12 and mad interior, it captures the spirit of the original to a T. The SC40 doesn’t really capture the spirit of the F40. Still, it’s in a museum forever, so maybe all it had to do was look like one. And it does that to a T. F1rstMotors Facts and FiguresManufacturerFerrari S.p.AModelSC40Year of Release2025Engine2.9l Twin-Turbo V6 with single Arial Flux MotorHorsepower830 horsepowerTorque546 lb–ft0–62mph (100km/h)2.9 secondsTop Speed205mph (330 km/h)Weight1,470kg (1.6 tonnes)Power to Weight564 hp per tonneGearbox8-speed-dual-clutchDriven WheelsRear-Wheel-DriveAmount Built1Source: Ferrari
