Ferrari LaFerrari First To Be Designed Entirely In-House

Besides its monstrous 588kW V12 engine, F1-derived hybrid system, carbon-fibre construction and sub-seven second 0-200km/h time, Ferrari's LaFerrari supercar is notable for one other thing: it's the first Ferrari road car to be designed entirely in-house by Ferrari.

Body styling for Ferrari's road-going models has tradtionally been outsourced to Pininfarina, starting with the iconic 1952 Ferrari 250.

Besides classics like the Daytona, Testarossa and F40, the FF, F12 and 458 all bear Pininfarina's touch too. Pininfarina hasn't had a total monopoly on Ferrari's styling though - the lines of the 308 GT4 were penned by rival Italian design studio, Bertone.

But speaking with Automotive News, Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo said that the design of the LaFerrari was done entirely in-house.

"There is nothing from Pininfarina in this car," said Mr di Montezemolo, however he was also quick to point out that Pininfarina's non-involvement in the LaFerrari did not signal the end of the relationship between the two companies.

"We are working with them on two other models, which I hope will come to market soon," he said.

One of those two cars is likely to be the replacement for the Ferrari California, which is expected to be powered by a turbocharged engine and draw on Ferrari's growing experience with carbon-fibre chassis construction.

For Ferrari to have taken responsibility for the LaFerrari's design makes sense - it is, after all, meant to be the purest expression of a Ferrari road car. If another company was responsible for the styling, that would dilute the LaFerrari's DNA.

For more coverage of Ferrari's newest hypercar, check out our LaFerrari page.