The Ferrari F50 is a mid-engined range-topping sports car made by Ferrari. The F50 was introduced in 1995. The car is a two-door, two seat roadster with a removable hardtop. It has a 4.7 L naturally aspirated 60-valve V12 engine that was developed from the 3.5 L V12 used in the 1990 Ferrari 641 Formula One car.
Only 349 cars were made. The last F50 was produced in Maranello, Italy, in July 1997.
The F50's engine predated the car; it was used in the Ferrari 333 SP for the American IMSA series in 1994, allowing it to become eligible for the stock engine WSC category.
Following the motorsport theme, Ferrari developed the F50 GT, a prototype based on the F50 that was built to compete in GT2-class racing. The car had a fixed roof, large rear spoiler, new front spoiler and many other adjustments. The 4.7 litre V12 engine was tuned to generate around 720 bhp (537 kW). In testing in 1996 the car proved to be quicker even than the 333SP, but this went unnoticed as Ferrari cancelled the F50 GT project, instead focusing on Formula One. Ferrari sold off the three complete chassis that were built–the test car 001, 002 and 003. Chassis 002 and 003 had bodies fitted before being sold. The remaining three tubs were reportedly destroyed.
A custom-made F50 variant named the Bolide was commissioned by the Sultan of Brunei in 1998 and delivered in the same year. It used the F1 derived V12 engine and the same chassis, but was completely redesigned due to the monocoque construction of the body on the F50. One car was produced in the coupe configuration. Very few images and no official performance statistics of this car are available. At least two cars were produced in RHD. One was for the sultan, and was subsequently bought by a collector in Ireland. Another one is now in Hong Kong.
Manufactured in: Maranello, ItalyNumber produced: 349 (1995 to July 1997)Inspiration: 1990 Ferrari 641 as driven by Alain ProstDry weight: 2712 lb (1230 kg)Distribution: 42%/58 % (front/rear)Length: 177 in (4,496 mm)Height: 44.1 in (1,120 mm)Width: 78.2 in (1,986 mm)Wheelbase: 101.6 in (2,581 mm)Front track: 63.8 in (1,621 mm)Rear track: 63.1 in (1,603 mm)Type: Tipo 040-derived, model SFE 4.7 VJGAEAPosition: mid-engine, rear-wheel driveConfiguration: longitudinal 60-valve 65° V12, derived from F1 unitAspiration: natural, with variable-length intake manifold via butterfly valve in intake manifoldIntake manifold: carbon fiber reinforced polymerBlock: nodular cast ironHeads/Pistons: might-alloy aluminum heads/forged Mahle pistonsOil sump: aluminiumConnecting rods: forged titaniumCrankshaft: forged steelCam covers/Oil and water pump housing: magnesium sand castingsExhaust manifold: stainless steelEngine weight: 436.5 lb (198.0 kg)Timing gear: 5 valve/cyl (3 intake, 2 exhaust), 4 overhead camshafts (2 per cylinder bank) driven by low-noise Morse chainDisplacement: 4698 cc/286.68 ciMax. power: 520 PS (382 kW; 513 hp) @ 8000 rpmMax. torque: 347 lb·ft (470 N·m) @ 6500 rpmPower/Disp.: 109.1 bhp/litreWeight/Power ratio: 5.8 lb/bhpBore x Stroke: 3.35 in (85 mm). x 2.72 in (69 mm)Bore:Stroke ratio: 1.23:1 (oversquare)Compression ratio: 11.3:1Redline: 8500 rpmFuel cutoff: 8640 rpmECU: Bosch Motronic 2.7 (controls the fuel feed, ignition timing, and variable length intake and exhaust systems)Fuel feed: Sequential injectionIgnition: Bosch static electronic distributor-less ignitionLubrication: dry sump, tank incorporated within the final drive housing, 3 scavenger pumpsVariable intake: butterfly valve in carbon fiber intake manifold closed at low rpm, open at high rpmVariable exhaust: butterfly valve in upper tailpipes closed at low rpm, open at high rpmFuel tank: foam filled, aeronautical-style Sekur rubber bladder, 27.7 US gal (105 L; 23 imp gal)EPA premium gasolineCombined 8 miles per U.S. gallon (29 L/100 km; 9.6 mpg‑imp)City 7 miles per U.S. gallon (34 L/100 km; 8.4 mpg‑imp)Highway 10 miles per U.S. gallon (24 L/100 km; 12 mpg‑imp)Configuration: longitudinal 6 speed manual + reverse, limited slip differential, RWDGear ratios: 2.933:1 (1st), 2.157:1 (2nd), 1.681:1 (3rd), 1.360:1 (4th), 1.107:1 (5th), 0.903:1 (6th), 2.529:1 (reverse)Final drive: 3.70:1Flywheel: steelFinal Drive Assembly: aluminum sand castingRemaining gearset housing: magnesium sand castingSupport bracing: steelClutch: dry, twin plateCooling: oil-water intercooler between gearbox lubricant and engineType: central carbon fiber tub, light-alloy suspension and engine-gearbox assembly mounting points co-polymerised to the chassisMaterials: carbon fiber, epoxy resin, Nomex honeycomb structure core, sandwich constructionWeight: 2,249 lb (1,020 kg)Torsional stiffness: 25,500 lb·ft (34,570 N·m) per degreeFront: Rose-jointed unequal-length wishbones, push-rods, coil springs, Bilstein gas-pressurised monotube dampers, electronic adaptive damping, electronic height adjustment (40 mm max)Rear: Rose-jointed unequal-length wishbones, push-rods, coil springs, Bilstein gas-pressurised monotube dampers, electronic adaptive damping, mounting points on a spacer between the engine and gearboxTravel: 55 mm bump, 60 mm reboundCamber angle: -0.7 degrees front, -1.0 degrees rearAnti-roll bars: front and rearMax. roll angle: 1.5 degreesType: TRW rack and pinion, 3.3 turns lock to lock, unassistedCaster angle: 5.5 to 5.7 degreesTurning circle: 41 ft (12 m)Electronic adaptive damping (based on steering wheel angle and velocity, the body’s vertical and longitudinal acceleration, brake line pressure, and vehicle speed)Maximum reaction time (from minimum to maximum damping force or vice versa): 140 milliseconds (0.14 sec)Average reaction time (from minimum to maximum damping force or vice versa): 25 to 30 milliseconds (.025 to .03 sec)Wheels: magnesium alloy, manufactured by SpeedlineHubs: titaniumBrake disc bells/suspension uprights/brake calipers: aluminumUpper and lower wishbones: black powder-coated steelFront wheels: xFront tires: 245/35ZR-18 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS Fiorano (35psi)Front brakes: Brembo cross-drilled & ventilated cast iron discs, 4 piston aluminum Brembo calipers, Pagid brake pads, (without ABS)Rear wheels: xRear tires: 335/30ZR-18 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS Fiorano (30psi)Rear brakes: Brembo cross-drilled & ventilated cast iron discs, 4 piston aluminum Brembo calipers, Pagid brake pads, (without ABS)Unsprung mass: 99 lb/121 lb (front corners/rear corners)Rosso Corsa (Red): 302Giallo Modena (Yellow): 31Rosso Barchetta (Dark red): 8Argento Nurburgring (Silver): 4Nero Daytona (Black): 40-48 km/h (30 mph): 1.7 sec 0-64 km/h (40 mph): 2.4 sec0-80 km/h (50 mph): 3.0 sec0–97 km/h (60 mph): 3.8 sec 0–110 km/h (70 mph): 4.7 sec 0–130 km/h (80 mph): 5.5 sec 0–140 km/h (90 mph): 7.5 sec 0–160 km/h (100 mph): 8.5 sec 0–180 km/h (110 mph): 10.1 sec 0–190 km/h (120 mph): 11.6 sec 0–210 km/h (130 mph): 13.4 sec 0–230 km/h (140 mph): 15.9 sec 0–240 km/h (150 mph): 18.8 sec 0–260 km/h (160 mph): 21.8 sec 0–270 km/h (170 mph): 26.8 sec 1/4 mile: 12.1 seconds @ 198 km/h (123 mph)Skidpad: 0.95gBraking 70–0 mph (113–0 km/h): 176 ft (54 m)Top speed: 194 mph (312 km/h) (202 mph (325 km/h) claimed)Tsukuba Circuit: 1:05.81Suzuka Circuit(2000): 2:25.525Sugo: 1:38.573In 2016, an old F50 joined Top Gear's Green Hell challenge in Germany. It completed the track in 7:47, 3 seconds faster than the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat but 28 seconds slower than the Mercedes-AMG GT R.
