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Unrestrained by the rules of the road, the LaFerrari FXX K bows only to physics

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For Ferrari, building a 950-horsepower hybrid supercar and naming it “LaFerrari” just isn’t enough, so while the world was drooling over that impressive technical achievement, the company was busily working on an even crazier version.

Following in the tire tracks of the Enzo, there’s now a hardcore FXX version of the LaFerrari. Dubbed LaFerrari FXX K, it will debut at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit this weekend as part of Finali Mondiali, Ferrari’s annual celebration of the end of the motorsport season.

Like Ferrari’s previous “XX” cars, the LaFerrari FXX K isn’t road legal, but it’s not a race car either, freeing designers from the rules of both road and track.

LaFerrari FXX K isn’t road legal, but it’s not a race car either, freeing designers from the rules of both road and track.

While owners won’t be able to put license plates on their cars, they will be managed by Ferrari’s Corse Cliente program, which will maintain each car and ship it to a track of the owner’s choosing (along with support staff) when needed.

The “K” in this case stands for KERS. These Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems have been used in Formula One for years, but this is probably its most aggressive application in a production car yet.

As in the “standard” LaFerrari, there’s a 6.3-liter V12 and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, linked to a pair of electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack. The first motor helps drive the wheels and recovers kinetic energy during braking, while the second motor acts as a generator to keep battery charge up and to power electrical accessories.

Everything has been tuned for maximum performance, yielding a power output of 1,035 hp and more than 663 pound-feet of torque, eclipsing the similarly-hardcore McLaren P1 GTR’s 986 hp.

The LaFerrari’s HY-KERS system also gets four new modes. “Qualify” provides maximum performance for short durations, “Long Run” adds more endurance, “Manual Boost” provides an instant jolt of torque, and “Fast Charge” prioritizes recharging the battery.

LaFerrari FXX K
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There are also a host of body modifications that increase downforce by up to 50 percent, and make the the FXX K just about the wildest-looking production Ferrari ever.

The changes massive front spoiler and splitter, from dive planes, and a taller rear spoiler consisting of two separate wing elements. Note that the round taillights seen on every other recent Ferrari have been replaced in the name of efficiency.

Even the Pirelli slick tires are high tech. They feature embedded sensors that monitor longitudinal, lateral, and radial acceleration, as well as temperature and pressure.

Of course, the FXX K also has the full suite of Ferrari electronic aids, including a programmable E-Diff electronic differential, F1 Trac traction control, and Racing SSC (Side Slip Angle Control).

It was hard to fathom how Ferrari could improve on the LaFerrari and, even knowing that it exists, it’s still hard to wrap one’s head around the performance potential of the FXX K.

What will they think of next?

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Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
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