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Ferrari M6 Prototype: The Godfather of LaFerrari Hits the Auction Block

Just when you think Maranello has no more secrets to spill, another one of its crimson skeletons emerges from the factory vaults. A few months after a LaFerrari development mule built around a 458 Italia sold for a cool $1.215 million, another Frankenstein from Ferrari’s experimental lab has surfaced — and this one might be even juicier.

Meet the M6. Not the BMW kind. This is Ferrari’s own early hybrid test mule, a vital stepping stone in the creation of the LaFerrari — the brand’s first electrified hypercar and, arguably, the last true Maranello monster before the electrification era went full steam ahead.

Back to the Beginning: Early Hybrid Origins

The M6 started life as a humble 458 Italia, but it didn’t stay humble for long. Built between February and April 2012, it was one of the first prototypes to bridge Ferrari’s traditional ICE heritage with its then-radical hybrid ambitions.

Forget carbon fiber tubs and sci-fi aerodynamics — those came later. This prototype sits on an aluminum chassis straight out of the 458 parts bin. But under the bonnet lurks something far more exotic: the V12 that would go on to power the mighty LaFerrari. It’s like finding a test track mule wearing the wrong clothes but hiding the right heart.

Between May 2012 and May 2013, Ferrari’s engineers used this machine to thrash out the hypercar’s braking systems around Fiorano. It was also tasked with dialing in suspension geometry, steering feedback, and even tire behavior. Most notably, it was the first mule fitted with Ferrari’s cutting-edge electronic stability system — a system designed to handle the combined forces of a screaming V12 and electric torque.

A Rolling Laboratory in Disguise

Visually, the M6 looks like a slightly tweaked 458, though Ferrari’s engineers were anything but gentle with it. During its testing days, it wore temporary bumpers and a shooting brake-style rear decklid — not for beauty, but for airflow data and cooling tests. All of those quirky prototype parts are included in the sale, giving collectors a glimpse into Maranello’s mad-scientist phase.

The cabin tells the same story. It’s standard 458 Italia in layout, but dotted with warning stickers, exposed wiring, and a rather dramatic red kill switch — all screaming “do not touch unless you have a PhD in Ferrari development.”

From Test Mule to Collectible Unicorn

Ferrari sold the prototype to a collector in 2016, after its tour of duty at Fiorano was complete. Now, it’s coming up for auction through RM Sotheby’s Sealed platform, with bidding open until October 23.

It’s not road-legal, but it’s fully functional — meaning its next custodian can fire it up and feel the pulse of the LaFerrari’s DNA coursing through an aluminum skeleton. Before the handover, it will even undergo a full service back in Maranello, as if being knighted one last time by its makers.

RM Sotheby’s expects it to fetch between $1.05 million and $1.3 million, which is a small price to pay for a piece of Ferrari’s hybrid genesis. Because while the LaFerrari may have been the headline act, the M6 was the crucial sound check — the rough, raw prototype that helped redefine what a Ferrari could be.

For collectors, the M6 is more than a car — it’s a slice of Ferrari development history, preserved in aluminum and passion. It’s the missing link between the analog screamers of the past and the electrified beasts of the present.

In a world of sanitized supercars and digital filters, this mule remains gloriously imperfect. And that’s precisely what makes it so Ferrari.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

News

Ferrari’s First EV: The 1000-hp Elettrica Is a GT From the Future—Not a Supercar

Ferrari doesn’t do timid. When Maranello finally steps into something new, it usually does so with a confident, unmistakable stomp. Next year, that stomp will be electric.

Meet the Ferrari Elettrica—the company’s first-ever EV. It’s a four-door, four-seat grand tourer with around 1000 horsepower, four electric motors, a massive 122.0-kWh battery, and a chassis stuffed with enough tech to make the SF90 look old-school. And yet, Ferrari’s top brass insist it’s not a supercar.

“This is not a supercar,” says CEO Benedetto Vigna, “but a new type of GT—one that widens what it means to drive a Ferrari.”

That’s an unexpected statement from the house that built the LaFerrari and the F80 hypercar. But it’s a calculated one. The Elettrica is meant to bring new buyers into the fold—the ones who love the idea of a Ferrari but also need space for friends, luggage, and maybe a little less drama.

Electric, Yes. But Still Ferrari.

The Elettrica’s design story reads like a collaboration between Silicon Valley and Maranello, because, well—it is. Ferrari teamed up with Jony Ive’s LoveFrom design firm (yes, that Jony Ive of iPhone fame) to craft a shape that’s sleeker and more aerodynamic than any Ferrari GT before it. Expect something longer than an SF90, closer in footprint to the Purosangue SUV, but lower and more coupe-like.

Underneath sits a bespoke EV platform, not shared with any other Ferrari. It features short overhangs, an unusually compact wheelbase, and a battery layout that keeps 85 percent of its mass low and central. The 122-kWh pack uses cells from SK On and boasts an energy density of 195 Wh/kg—the highest of any production EV today. Ferrari claims a 329-mile range, though range clearly wasn’t the main goal here.

Four Motors, One Mission

Power comes from four electric motors—two in the front, two in the back—each spinning up to 25,000 rpm and built entirely in-house, casings and all. The rear motors produce 832 horsepower combined; the fronts add another 282, for a system output of roughly 986 horsepower.

Ferrari isn’t quoting a torque figure, probably because it would sound absurd. After gearbox multiplication, the Elettrica’s rear axle can deliver 5900 lb-ft of twist to the pavement. That’s more than enough for a 0–62 mph sprint in 2.5 seconds and a 192-mph top speed.

Just as impressive is how the Elettrica moves. With full torque vectoring on all four corners and a disconnectable front axle, it can shift seamlessly from AWD traction to pure RWD playfulness in half a second.

Suspension of Belief

If the Elettrica feels alive, thank its 48-volt active suspension system, a heavily evolved version of the setup in the Purosangue. Each corner features a motorized damper that continuously adjusts height and stiffness, reacting to road conditions 200 times per second. The result? No coil springs needed while driving—the dampers do all the work.

Combined with four-wheel steering and torque vectoring, Ferrari claims the Elettrica offers “control over vertical, longitudinal, and lateral forces in all conditions.” In simpler terms, it’s the first Ferrari that can literally think in 3D.

Sound You Can Feel

Ferrari’s biggest engineering flex might be the sound. Instead of pumping in fake noise, engineers fitted sensors that pick up the natural vibrations from the motors and drivetrain, then amplify them through the cabin—like an electric guitar pickup.

“The sound of our electric Ferrari is not fake. Not fake at all,” says product development boss Gianmaria Fulgenzi.

When you’re cruising, it’s silent. But when you’re on it, you’ll hear a tone that’s mechanical, alive, and distinctly Ferrari—just without the gasoline.

Why Now?

While rivals like Lamborghini and Bentley delay their EV programs, Ferrari believes the time is right. Vigna insists that innovation has always been the company’s heartbeat, quoting Enzo Ferrari himself:

“If we do not innovate, we do not deserve to be called a market leader.”

The Elettrica is Ferrari’s attempt to prove that electric propulsion doesn’t have to dilute the brand’s DNA—it can enhance it. And the company is already looking beyond: internal combustion will remain, but by 2030, Ferrari expects 20 percent of its sales to be electric.

A GT for the Next Generation

More than just a showcase of tech, the Elettrica represents a strategic shift. Ferrari knows its classic two-seat sports cars appeal to purists—but to survive and grow, it needs to attract new kinds of buyers. A versatile four-seat GT with world-class performance and zero tailpipe emissions is the perfect entry point.

“If we electrified a two-seater, the improvement would be modest,” Fulgenzi explains. “But a more versatile car like this? That’s where electric technology truly shines.”

Production won’t be limited. Pricing—still under wraps—will define exclusivity instead. Ferrari expects to begin client previews in early 2026, followed by the final reveal later that year.

Ferrari’s Elettrica isn’t trying to be the loudest, fastest, or most extreme car from Maranello. Instead, it’s aiming to redefine what Ferrari performance means in a silent, digital age.

With 1,000 horsepower, active suspension wizardry, and a soundtrack rooted in authenticity, the Elettrica is shaping up to be a GT that can shame supercars—and convert skeptics in the process.

Ferrari’s electric future, it seems, still runs on passion. Just not on petrol.

Source: Reuters; Photo: Ferrari

News

Inside the “Tailored for Speed” Collection: 42 Supercars Headed to Auction

Supercar collections are nothing new, but every so often one comes along that feels less like an enthusiast’s garage and more like a museum with a private key. This November, RM Sotheby’s will put the spotlight on exactly that: the “Tailored for Speed Collection,” a 42-car assemblage of the world’s most desirable exotics, quietly tucked away in Switzerland until now.

Recently, Chris Harris was granted access to this vault of horsepower, and if his reaction is any indication, we’re looking at one of the most impressive single-owner lineups ever to cross an auction block.

Ferrari Obsession, Perfected

While the collection features Bugattis, Paganis, and a handful of other top-shelf machinery, it doesn’t take long to figure out where the owner’s heart lies. Of the 42 cars, 33 wear Ferrari’s prancing horse badge—and not just any Ferraris. We’re talking about the kind of machines that rarely leave Maranello’s factory gates without instantly becoming collectible.

The star of the show? A 1998 Ferrari 333 SP, one of just 40 built. A legitimate endurance racer that claimed victories in the 1999 Sports Racing World Cup, it’s expected to hammer for $5.5 to $6.5 million.

But the 333 SP isn’t alone in representing Ferrari’s track pedigree. The auction lineup also includes an FXX-K Evo, an FXX Evo, and a 599 XX, each a factory-built track weapon that rewrote performance benchmarks in their eras. Estimates peg them between $3.5 million and $5.5 million apiece.

Then there are the road-going legends: a 2017 LaFerrari Aperta (projected at $5.5 million), the Daytona SP3, a classic F40, and a fresh 812 Competizione A. Throw in rarities like the SA Aperta, F12tdf, and even a 488 GTE Evo race car, and it’s clear this is no ordinary Ferrari fan’s garage—it’s practically an archive of Maranello’s greatest hits.

Not Just Maranello

Still, the Tailored for Speed Collection doesn’t stop at the Cavallino Rampante. From Modena, we pivot to Modena’s eccentric neighbor: Pagani. One highlight is a Huayra Roadster BC in Francia Blue with exposed carbon accents, estimated between $4.0 and $4.4 million. Alongside it sits the ferocious Huayra R (one of only 30 made) and the recently delivered Utopia, making this arguably one of the strongest Pagani trios outside of Horacio’s own factory.

Bugatti is no less represented. Leading the charge is a 2023 Chiron Super Sport finished in blue carbon fiber, a car that looks like it was hewn from a block of sapphire. With just 516 kilometers on the odometer, it could bring $4.4 million.

And because no modern supercar collection feels complete without some curveballs, the auction will also feature a Lamborghini Sian FKP 37, a Huracán Tecnica 60th Anniversary Edition, a Bentley Continental GT3-R, and even a Mercedes-AMG GT2 Pro.

A Collector’s Legacy, by Hammer Fall

RM Sotheby’s hasn’t revealed the collector’s identity, but judging by the curation, the mystery owner has a knack for timing. Many of these cars are not only rare but represent transitional moments in supercar history: analog-to-digital Ferraris, the rise of hybrid hypercars, the bespoke craftsmanship of Pagani, and the limited-edition excess of Lamborghini.

When the gavel falls in November, the Tailored for Speed Collection is expected to bring in several hundred million dollars in total. More than that, though, it will mark the end of an era for a collector whose passion leaned heavily toward Maranello, but never forgot to leave space for sapphire-colored Bugattis and hand-sculpted Paganis.

Whether you’re a buyer with a few million to spare or just a dreamer flipping through the catalog, one thing is certain: this is the kind of auction that reminds us why car culture is as much about emotion as it is about engineering.

Source: RM Sotheby’s