Ferrari KC23 – a new one-off based on the 488 GT3 Evo 2020

Most car collectors usually build up their fleet by buying cars already built (but nevertheless exclusive in some way). For some with plenty of money, there may come a time when they want to create their own collector’s model. With the KC23, one the most passionate Ferrari collectors has done just that to have a bespoke-designed track car.

Based on 488 GT3 Evo 2020
The KC23 is a bold and extreme vision, a superlative new take on the 488 GT3 Evo 2020, the most successful track car in Maranello’s 76-year history. The futuristic model, which took 3 years to develop, is the latest addition to its Ferrari’s One-Off series done under Special Projects programme.

Designed at the Ferrari Styling Centre, the KC23 inherits the layout, chassis and engine of the 488 GT3 Evo 2020.

The 488 GT3 has been racing since 2016 and to date, it has triumphed in the world’s most prestigious endurance races, racking up over 530 victories and winning more than 119 championships.

Only for non-competitive track use
Given the extreme nature of its set-up, the KC23 was designed exclusively for non-competitive track use. Its most unusual feature is its dual configuration. At a standstill, the car’s layout showcases its clean, sleek, sinuous forms; once it hits the track, its visual stance is dominated by its impressive air intakes, which open automatically, and its imposing rear wing.

Free of homologation constraints
From the very earliest days of the project and in agreement with the client, the Ferrari focused on creating a radical one-off car completely free of homologation constraints and clothed in the kind of timeless lines that would make an instant classic whilst also providing a tantalising glimpse of the future of supercars.

That challenging goal demanded that every single one of the 488 GT3 Evo 2020’s lines being redesigned, glass surfaces and light clusters included. The design hides several of the car’s technical functions, particularly the side air intakes, which open automatically when the mid-rear V8 twin turbo is turned on.

This gives the KC23 an almost lifelike look, as its shape changes depending on what it is being used for. The rear wing is also removable to underline its clean, formal lines when not on the track

Iconic futuristic design
The surface treatment is smooth and seamless, with sharp angles reduced to an absolute minimum to underscore the KC23’s spare, sinuous purity in the pursuit of an iconic, futuristic design that will stand the test of time. When the driver turns on the engine before taking it out on the track, the KC23 undergoes a radical transformation.

LaFerrari doors
The KC23’s butterfly doors open vertically on single front hinges, an architectural solution it shares with another iconic supercar, the LaFerrari. No changes were required to the greenhouse or the car structurally to incorporate this feature.

Both headlights and rear lights have been redesigned, with the most radical change to the rear lights where striking methacrylate light blades, inspired by the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo, spring to dazzling life when the engine is turned on.

Even the car’s glass surfaces were influenced by the design philosophy underpinning the KC23: they are seamlessly integrated with the bodywork, with no visible pillars, frames or seals, creating a clearly aeronautics-derived dome effect.

Another distinctive feature is the KC23’s Gold Mercury livery, courtesy of a specially-developed, 4-layer aluminium paint. The liquid metal in the paint gives it a luminous gleam in sunlight and the colour itself seems to change constantly depending on the type and angle of the light striking it.

488 GT3 cockpit
The cabin has been kept as similar to the 488 GT3 Evo 2020 as possible, with the exception of the door panels and dashboard finish on the passenger side. The KC23’s specific seats, trimmed in Alcantara with an electro-welded logo, lend the cabin an elegance in tune with the exterior.

Rearward visibility is ensured by a video camera system that also had a beneficial impact on the car’s aerodynamics, as the traditional wing mirrors could be removed and the line of the flanks kept clean.