One‑off Ferrari KC23 will star at the 2023 Festival of Speed

The KC23 sports a bold futuristic design that could be dropped straight into the world of Cyberpunk. The brief from what Ferrari describes as one of its ‘leading collectors’, was for a car that was timeless, yet radical and futuristic, giving a glimpse into the future of road and racing car design. Can we squint at the KC23 for our latest look at the design language we’ll see informing that of the LaFerrari successor? Probably. We can also see a bit of 499P in there and indeed, a bit of Ferrari’s Vision Gran Turismo. 

Technical highlights in the design of the KC23 include the scissor doors, removable wing and the mechanised air intake. Those doors are quite unlike anything you’ll see on any other 488 variant but it’s claimed they don’t interfere with the basic underpinning of the car. Based as this car is on the 488 GT3, you’d expect to find big breathing holes on the rear haunches. They are on this, but they’re covered when not in use. The KC23 pops covers off mechanically, to help draw in the exact amount of air it needs. 

Why make the wing of a track car removable and why cover the air intakes? Design purity. This is a Ferrari that’s all about a clean, monolithic, hewn-from-solid design, which is topped off by the four-layer aluminium liquid metal paint.

As above, underneath the KC23 is the layout, chassis and engine of a 488 GT3. Ferrari reckons the performance of the racer has been entirely maintained for this design study-come-track special. What is very GT3, is the interior, which is pretty much as you’d find it in any example of Ferrari’s racer. 

Speaking of which, the KC23 also serves as a bit of a celebration of that car, now that it’s been properly replaced by the 296 GT3. The 488 GT3 has the entirely incredible title of most successful racing Ferrari in history, with over 530 victories and more than 119 championships to its name.

So yes, the KC23 is a bonafide thoroughbred. What do you think of Ferrari’s latest one-off special? See it first, in the liquid metal, at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from 13^th-16^th July. Be sure to check back here at Goodwood Road & Racing to keep up to date with all of the latest news and announcements.