LaFerrari Aperta at Paris 2016: details and pictures of the open-top LaFerrari

► First official pics of open-top LaFerrari
► Same performance figures as original car
► Limited production run, all sold out already

It’s been no secret that Ferrari has been preparing an open-top version of its spellbinding LaFerrari hybrid hypercar, and now the new car has made its world debut at the 2016 Paris motor show.

What’s the new open-top LaFerrari called? Spider? Aperta? LaConvertible?

Ferrari has confirmed at the Paris show that the car is officially named the LaFerrari Aperta, Italian for ‘open’, and the same label used for the lidless 458 Speciale model launched in 2015.

Prospective buyers – hand-picked by Ferrari, naturally – are able to choose from two roof designs – a removable soft top or removable carbonfibre hardtop. Ferrari claims an integrated wind-stop enables occupants to continue a conversation ‘at high speeds.’ Ferrari has confirmed that the entire limited production run has already been sold after a ‘special preview to clients.’ It has not confirmed the car’s price.

How fast is the new LaFerrari?

Just as quick as the roofed one. It’s powered by the same 780bhp 6262cc V12, coupled with a 120kW electric motor drivetrain. Ferrari says the powertrain’s control electronics have been adjusted to make it more efficient, based on lessons learned in the original LaFerrari. No doubt the absence of a roof should make that six-into-one Inconel exhaust system sound all the more spectacular.

Apart from having less up top, how does the Aperta differ from the original LaFerrari?

The radiators have been angled differently to direct air flow out along the underbody rather than over the bonnet as on the original, to avoid hot air reaching the cockpit, along with other detail air duct changes and a longer front air dam to help boost downforce.

If you’re particularly eagle-eyed, you might spot an L-shaped flap on the upper corner of each windscreen pillar, to reduce compression on the rear of the cabin in the absence of a roof. These tabs are partly responsible in keeping drag down to a similar level to the LaFerrari coupe.

As for the car’s carbon tub, Ferrari says:

‘Significant and extensive modifications have been made to the chassis with the aim of retaining the same torsional rigidity and beam stiffness as the coupé version. The car’s aerodynamics have also been further honed to guarantee the same drag coefficient when driving in the open configuration.’

That means top speed remains the same 217mph. Despite a modest increase in weight owing to the chassis modifications, the LaFerrari Aperta achieves 0-62mph in ‘under three seconds’ and, perhaps more impressively, 0-124mph in 7.1seconds. Quite quick, then.

All of the chassis strengthening measures have been applied to the lower section of the tub, subject to different stresses in the absence of a roof section. The butterfly door mechanism has had to be adapted to a different angle, which in turn means slightly different wheelarches with a new carbonfibre insert allowing the doors to rotate. You can spot it on the car’s flanks, the section with a small air vent in the middle of the front wheelarch’s trailing edge.

LaFerrari Aperta: technical specifications

* with dynamic ram effect

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