Ferrari SPA
Interview with Flavio Manzoni

Red Dot: To what extent does the F80 epitomise not only the future of Ferrari design, but also the future of automotive design in general?

Since 1984, Ferrari has created true icons that set standards in terms of performance, technology, design and innovation. The 288 GTO, the first Ferrari supercar, was built in 1984, followed by other supercars that became legends. So you can imagine the responsibility that comes with developing something like the F80 to join this category of cars. The biggest challenge for a designer is to find the courage to take risks. We live in a highly complex and competitive world – many nations are setting exciting trends in the field of new technologies. Italian car design must therefore endeavour to always be one creative step ahead. Drawing from our culture, beauty and art has made our country world-famous. We need to tap into this potential and develop it further – by creating something that challenges our understanding of beauty, redefines it and anticipates the future.

Ferrari’s design DNA is rooted in both performance and emotion. What feelings should the F80 evoke at first glance?

With the Ferrari F80, our aim was to create a radically new visual identity – one that accommodates both a driver and a passenger, yet still conveys the uncompromising feel of a single-seater. We deliberately opted for a disruptive approach – fully aware that it can take some time for such a concept to be fully understood and appreciated. One of the most fascinating tasks in design is to imagine a product that doesn’t yet exist – one that also breaks new ground in terms of design and is able to surprise and inspire at the first glance.