Ferrari confirms 599 Roadster

By Tom Phillips

01st September 2010

Could this be the most exclusive Ferrari ever? The 599 Roadster was shown to an extremely select group of potential customers at a private event which ran at the same time as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California.

Potential buyers were hand-invited by Ferrari North America boss Marco Mattiachi, and all were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements and had to leave phones and cameras at the door before they could see the stunning newcomer.

Our image shows how the car could look, but insiders who saw the show car at the event say it was painted in a new multi-layer red colour called Rosso Fuoco, with contrasting silver buttresses. Ferrari has also confirmed that the roof is more a temporary cover, like that fitted to the Porsche Boxster Spyder.

Limited to under 100 examples, the 599 Roadster is powered by the 599 GTO’s 661bhp 6.0-litre V12, weighs the same as the hard-top car, and is priced at ‘more than £300,000’. Sales are slated to begin next summer, with the Italian firm also set to confirm an evocative name for the new car closer to that date. Due to the small number of cars being produced, no media launch or official press pictures will be issued.

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