Ferrari announce limited-edition J50

Ferrari has announced its limited-edition J50 supercar to celebrate 50 years of the Italian marque in Japan.

Based on the 488 Spider, the J50 features a radical design overhaul that clearly takes inspiration from the company's supercars of the 1970s and 80s. The black dividing line between the bonnet and front splitter is reminiscent of the 288 GTO, while the long glass engine cover harks back to the F40.

There are also a raft of aerodynamic improvements, including a large carbon rear wing, which is fed air through the lowered windscreen header rail. Ferrari says the rear diffuser incorporates an extractor shape that has been inspired by "jet engine afterburners".

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Behind the driver's head is the turbocharged 3.9-litre, flat-plane crank V8 engine from the 488 Spider, although with 671bhp, around 20bhp more. Acceleration figures are yet to be announced, but it's expected to do 0-62mph in a little faster time than the 488's three seconds.

Inside, the J50 is home to two sports seats, both crafted to incorporate the double-bubble glass engine cover and have enough space behind them to accommodate a two-part carbon fibre targa roof.

In recent years, Ferrari's special projects division has created bespoke cars built on existing platforms for its highest paying customers - Eric Clapton became the owner of a 512BB-inspired SP12 EC based on the 458 Italia in 2012.

Only ten examples of the J50 will be made and all will be tailored to the needs of the owners. There's no mention of pricing, but it will cost considerably more than the £204,000 needed for a regular 488 Spider.