New 2023 Ferrari KC23: track-only special hints at future models
Based on Ferrari’s 488 GT3 race car, the KC23 houses motorsport underpinnings within a striking one-off bodyshell
If you’re a serial Ferrari collector with a flicker of imagination and a big enough budget, Ferrari will open the doors to its Special Projects division to create a tailor made one-off supercar. The program has given us cars like the F8-based SP48 Unica, the track-only P80/C and now this: the KC23, which will debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this week.
Based on the Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo racer, the KC23 is a track-only design project that previews the future of Ferrari road cars. There are glimpses of the Daytona SP3 in its multilayered front end, pinched sills and flared rear haunches, but by and large, the KC23 heads in an entirely new direction.
The bonnet has been heavily sculpted with vents to direct air over the top of the car, where there’s an expansive glass area with no visible A-pillars – even though the structure is fundamentally the same as the 488 GT3 with an integrated roll cage. The KC23’s side profile is largely clutter-free, with a movable body panel that pops out to feed air to the 4-litre twin-turbo V8 in the middle. A set of 21-inch front and 22-inch rear wheels can be fitted for static display purposes, with 18-inch items used for ultimate track performance.
Ferrari’s in-house Styling Centre worked hard to retain the 488 GT3’s aero characteristics, hence the inclusion of an enormous, removable rear wing. This works in tandem with a spoiler-like rear lighting strip and underbody diffuser to generate huge downforce, with movable aero devices behind the front wheels helping to achieve the optimum aero balance. The GT3 car’s fully-adjustable suspension setup remains, although there’s no word on whether the KC23 is more powerful than the base car (this is highly likely given that GT3 cars are restricted by Balance of Performance regulations, and the KC23 isn’t intended for competition).
The interior – accessed through butterfly doors – is largely carried over from the racer, with a digital motorsport dash set behind an F1-style steering wheel. A bank of bespoke switchgear is angled towards the driver to be easily accessible while harnessed in, while the KC23’s seats are bespoke alcantara items. To reduce drag and contribute to the car’s minimalist design, the door mirrors have been replaced with cameras that relay a live feed to a display inside the cabin.
