Ferrari never ceases to surprise us. Between countless one-offs, a V-12 SUV with suicide doors, and the promise of an EV, Maranello keeps finding ways to grab attention. Most of us thought the hype surrounding non-fungible tokens had long faded, yet the Prancing Horse is launching its very own NFT. Consequently, this F76 isn’t real. Instead, the low-slung machine is a product of Ferrari’s imagination, designed exclusively for members of the company’s Hyperclub program. For the past three years, the ultra-rich have been given design options to customize their fictional cars, knowing from the outset that the F76 would never exist beyond a computer screen. Curiously, Ferrari describes it as “the first car created exclusively for the digital world in the form of an NFT.” However, Renault’s Alpine sub-brand made a similar claim four years ago with the GTA Concept. Regardless of who did it first, the ultra-angular F76 offers a glimpse into the company’s design future. Penned by the Ferrari Styling Centre under Flavio Manzoni, the wild virtual concept is a sign of things to come. The “design manifesto,” as Ferrari calls it, aims to “prefigure the shapes of Ferraris of the future,” hinting at a radical shift for upcoming production models. The company’s design language has already changed dramatically since the last Pininfarina-signed model, the F12berlinetta, which ended production in 2017. Of course, actual production cars won’t be as extreme as the F76, but this digital concept is a clear indicator that even bolder designs are on the horizon. Ferrari refers to it as a “design manifesto” featuring dual cockpits, each with its own steering wheel and pedals. While the futuristic shape looks like it arrived from decades ahead, the retractable headlights pay homage to the past, specifically, the iconic pop-up lights of the 1980s. Since the car doesn’t exist physically, there are no technical specifications to discuss. Still, it’s surprising that Ferrari envisioned the F76 with a combustion engine. The design screams EV, yet the triangular outlets at the rear conceal an exhaust tip. The Italian marque recently reaffirmed its long-term commitment to V-6, V-8, and V-12 engines, so perhaps it makes sense that an ICE remains part of the fantasy. Ferrari F76 It’s also worth noting that the F76 isn’t Ferrari’s first digital-only creation: the Vision Gran Turismo concept debuted three years earlier. As for the name, it commemorates 76 years since Ferrari’s first triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, when Luigi Chinetti and Lord Selsdon took the V12-powered 166 MM to victory in 1949. Had it been a physical concept, the F76 might not have seemed so divisive. But an NFT in 2025? That feels played out. Some are also concerned about how dramatically Ferrari’s design language has changed over just a decade. Even so, the order books keep getting thicker, so maybe customers are fully on board with the brand’s new direction. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
+42 others
