Ferrari F40 vs F50 vs Enzo vs LaFerrari: Comparing Ferrari’s Flagship Supercars
Published on Mar 27, 2025 at 6:37 AM | By Alessandro Renesis
When Ferrari unveiled the F40, the company probably had no idea this would go on to become what we now call a ‘flagship’ model.
The automaker simply wanted to make a great car.
Ten years later, Ferrari unveiled the F50, which was then followed by the Enzo and the LaFerrari.
Four cars, four decades and four different ways of showcasing what Ferrari can do.
Ferrari F40 – The one that started it all
In theory, the Ferrari F40 had a predecessor, the 288 GTO.
But in practice, this was the first of the breed.
Unveiled in 1987 to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary, hence the name, it was five times as expensive as the 288 GTO and is now probably 10 times as iconic.
Very few Ferraris command the same amount of respect, attention and devotion as the F40.
It had a 2.9-liter turbocharged V8 with 471 horsepower (477 for the US-spec variant) and it weighed less than 3,000lbs.
This is possibly the most coveted Ferrari flagship today, but unfortunately not many owners really drive it anymore.
Partly because it’s so rare, but also because, by today’s standards, it is a truly difficult beast to handle.
Ferrari F50
The F50 was unveiled in 1995 with production planned through the end of 1997 to make it coincide with the brand’s 50th anniversary.
It was like the F40, but faster and even more extreme.
It had a much bigger engine – 4.7 liters instead of 2.9 – with more cylinders, because this one had a V12.
Production was capped at 349, most of which were painted red.
According to Ferrari, 302 buyers opted for the iconic ‘Rosso Corsa’ and eight went for dark red, which Ferrari called ‘Rosso Barchetta’.
By contrast, only four people picked the Nero Daytona, the color option you see in the car pictured above.
Ferrari Enzo – A new naming strategy
With the Enzo, Ferrari changed its naming strategy from a combination of numbers and letters to actual proper nouns.
Fun fact: this car is known as the Enzo but its full name is actually Ferrari Enzo Ferrari.
An obvious reference and tribute to the company’s founder, the Enzo was different because it was a lot more modern.
It had an F1-style automated manual with paddle-shifters and four-wheel independent suspension.
As a result, it was not only faster than the F40 and the F50, but it was also a lot more manageable, a point that one of its owners proved by driving it for over 100,000 miles and counting.
Ferrari LaFerrari
Just like the Enzo, the LaFerrari came with a quirky name and a lot of technology.
It was the company’s first hybrid vehicle, combining a 6.3-liter V12 with two electric motors, including a Formula 1-like KERS system to reuse the energy generated under braking.
The LaFerrari also opened the floodgates for other hypercar manufacturers with its pricing strategy.
The LaFerrari was the first new Ferrari with a seven-figure price tag.
So, in a way, the LaFerrari is the (indirect) reason why so many supercars cost seven figures today.
