Ferrari has reigned at the top of the automotive food chain since its inception in 1939. Its founder, Enzo Ferrari, was obsessed with speed, vowing to make Ferrari the ultimate performance brand.
With immense racing success came a demand for road-legal Ferraris — machines that not only delivered blistering speed but also embodied emotion and artistry.
Today, Ferrari seems more concerned about mass appeal and profitability than staying true to its original philosophy. Factors like advancing technology and market demand for comfort and practicality have reshaped its identity. This begs the question, has Ferrari lost its soul?
When Ferrari Was More Than Just Fast
Ferrari has never made a slow car – the Mondial was sluggish, not slow. Most, if not all, older Ferrari models always had something other than their performance to win over the hearts of enthusiasts.
For some it was the noise, others had a certain look that captivated your eyes, or they were filled with quirks. Driving a Ferrari used to be more than just a Sunday cruise; it was a theatrical event that demanded your attention.
This was a time when all Ferraris were raw, had three pedals, and were an inconvenience to own — yet, everyone lusted after them.
These machines struck the perfect balance between track prowess and driving pleasure, without diluting the connection between car and driver. Ferrari followed this philosophy up until it peaked with the Ferrari 458 Speciale.
It had a mid-mounted naturally aspirated V8 that screamed to 9,000 rpm but maintained its raw intensity while retaining Ferrari’s trademark sophistication.
Everything that came after that, like the turbocharged 488 and the plug-in hybrid SF90 was blisteringly quick but lacked character. It seemed like Maranello neutered the prancing horse.
From Art to Algorithm: The Rise Of Digital Overload
Modern Ferraris, like the SF90 and 12Cilindri, are technological marvels, but with that tech comes detachment. I remember sitting in an SF90 for the first time trying to find the starter button. Then I saw it — a touch-sensitive engine start button. It felt wrong. Like a lion wearing extensions in its mane.
Half the fun of starting a Ferrari used to be feeling the mechanical engagement of a real button, or twisting the key. Now, digital screens are scattered across the cabin, making me wonder if these cars will age like fine wine, or if they are more like milk.
Take the Ferrari F430 for example, the last Ferrari offered with a manual transmission. It had some driver aids, but it still demanded skill. Now, Ferrari forces buyers into automatic gearboxes.
To be fair, modern Ferraris can still offer an engaging driving experience, even with automatic transmissions, but today’s driver-aids don’t just assist in emergencies — they interfere with the fun, creating a false sense of confidence.
That’s why so many 296 GTBs end up wrapped around trees when their drivers overestimate their skills.
Still, I have to give credit where it’s due. While many argue that a hybridized Ferrari will make Enzo turn in his grave, I have one word for them: LaFerrari.
Forming part of the hypercar trio from the early 2010s, the LaFerrari proved you can utilize hybrid tech without compromising the raw, eccentric feel of a mid-engined V12-powered Ferrari hypercar.
Like the 458 Speciale, it struck a rare balance between precision and emotion.
The Purosangue Problem: What Would Enzo Say?
Ferrari once swore it would never build an SUV. Yet, Ferrari now offers a high-riding, four-door Ferrari that Maranello insists is a “four-seater sports car,” called the Purosangue. Purists call it sacrilege, but it’s still selling like hotcakes.
Lamborghini has the Urus, Porsche the Cayenne, and Aston Martin the DBX. With the luxury performance SUV market showing no signs of slowing down, it was inevitable that Ferrari would hop on the bandwagon. Business is business, and at $400,000 a pop, the Purosangue is a goldmine.
This begs the question, when does change turn into compromise? There’s a fine line between evolution and selling out. While Ferrari continues to make exceptional cars, I can’t help but shake the feeling that something’s missing.
I want to say it’s lost its passion, but that would be too cliché.
To me, the 458 Speciale felt like the last time Ferrari truly cared about the driving experience more than numbers on a spec sheet or an invoice.
Today, market trends, technology, and the demand for SUVs drive Ferrari’s direction. While this may make financial sense, could it ultimately result in Ferrari becoming just another mainstream performance brand?
