Ferrari unveil a new limited production model called the J50 in Tokyo, Japan, which the the company claims marks a return to the targa body-style of the Ferrari road cars of old, from the 1970s and 1980s.
The Ferrari J50 is based on the current 488 Spider and under the new skin the J50 is powered by the same 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 which now produces 690 PS; even more than the 488.
Ferrari claim the design approach was led by the desire to create a very low-slung roadster. To achieve their vision of the vehicle, a strong dynamic was imprinted on the flank of the car converging between two main guiding lines: the slanted top edge of the side window, continuous with the windscreen, and the raked black swage line which dramatically rises from the low-set nose which then vanishes in the air intake aft of the doors. The bonnet section is lower at the centre with raised wheel-arch. Two carbon-fibre air channels in the front bonnet create a diminutive and sharper looking front mass.
The J50 also benefits from detailed aerodynamic development, the likes of which include the positioning of the radiators, which have been moved closer together, and the front bumper which has been completely redesigned. The windscreen header-rail has also been lowered which allows for more airflow over the aerofoil and the rear spoiler.
Every Ferrari J50 will be made tailored specifically to their owner’s requirements. The only downside to the J50 is that, being a limited production model, only 10 examples will be made; making owning one extremely rare.
Story: Sahej Patheja
