Ferrari unveils the Ferrari CZ26, a bespoke One‑Off born from the Special Projects programme. Crafted by the Ferrari Design Studio under the direction of Flavio Manzoni for a US client, it embodies a deeply personal interpretation of the supersport berlinetta. The CZ26 reimagines the concept through a pure, technological design language — forward‑looking, essential, and unmistakably Ferrari.
The stylistic theme of the Ferrari CZ26 is defined by a distinctly horizontal design, with a highly distinctive two-box silhouette. The car has a stable, road-hugging presence thanks to a structure based on a pure central mass resembling a capsule, supported by the four muscle-like elements at the wheel arches. The entire composition flows from the front fascia, as if the car’s body were the extrusion of a single element that ends naturally in a clean, sculpted, truncated rear end, perfectly framed by a geometry that echoes the design of the front.
The front is dominated by a full-width functional grille incorporating specific lighting units, characterised by ultra-slim modules with a concealed effect, brake air intakes, sensors and technical components. The distinctive shape of the front, underlined by an unprecedented vertical leading edge, gives the car a bold and assertive presence. The rear features a truncated tail and cantilevered taillights, elements that give the Ferrari CZ26 a light and sculptural appearance. The diffuser also features a pronounced horizontal design, which helps to visually widen the car’s stance, reinforcing its sense of stability and its poise.
The overall bodywork design is based on an extremely clean and rigorous aesthetic, with functional elements emerging directly from the main surface. The side air intakes for cooling, the front end, the rear diffuser, the cantilevered light clusters and the carbon-fibre elements, which visually extend the wheel arches, are part of a single design language that combines function and aesthetic expression. This approach draws on some of the most significant examples of Italian industrial design from the 1970s, reinterpreting their principles through a contemporary perspective.
The cabin blends harmoniously into the car thanks to the use of black trim on the roof and pillars, creating the effect of a cockpit set within the bodywork. This design further enhances the clean lines and visual lightness of the overall design.
Particular attention has been paid to the selection of colours and finishes, developed with a futuristic inspiration in mind. The choice of materials and shades conveys the idea of a technical and sporty car, yet one that is at the same time refined and forward-looking. The bodywork is finished in the exclusive Argento Veloce shade, a silver finish with a liquid-like effect that emphasises the richness of the surfaces and the precision of the lines. The Rosso Lampante details provide a striking contrast to the car’s functional and technical elements, helping to define its dynamic character, whilst the pigmented carbon-fibre elements further emphasise the complexity of the bodywork.
The wheels, designed specifically for the Ferrari CZ26, combine a gloss black painted finish with a shot-peened surface treatment, achieved by blasting with microscopic beads to produce a polished effect. The natural-finish titanium exhaust tailpipes complete the overall design, directly expressing the car’s technical, high-performance nature.
The contrast between the matte surfaces of the technical fabric and the satin-finish carbon-fibre is further enhanced by the use of a special gloss carbon-fibre with metallic filaments woven into its structure. Completing the composition are body-coloured elements on the door panels and the upper section of the dashboard.
Aerodynamic development encompassed every area of the car. At the front, the cooling system and airflow management were completely redesigned by reorienting the central radiator pack and introducing dedicated bypass ducts, enabling improvements in both cooling efficiency and the downforce generated over the front axle. The underbody and the vortex generator system were also completely redesigned to optimise aerodynamic balance.
GR Snippets
- Created from a collaboration between a US client and the Ferrari Design Studio, a new One-Off Ferrari makes its debut
- The CZ26 offers a contemporary reinterpretation of the high‑performance berlinetta concept through a pure and highly technical formal language
- The project develops a new stylistic identity starting from the supercar features of the SF90 Stradale
