Ferrari Monza SP2: A Shared Symphony
When Ferrari launched the “Icona” series in 2018, they presented a difficult choice to their most esteemed clients. They could purchase the Monza SP1, a purist, single-seat barchetta that isolated the driver in a selfish bubble of V12 noise and rushing air. Or, for those who wished to terrify a passenger, they could choose the Ferrari Monza SP2.
The SP2 shares the identical chassis, engine, and breathtaking 1950s-inspired aesthetic as the SP1, but it fundamentally alters the emotional experience. By removing the carbon-fiber tonneau cover that seals the passenger side of the SP1, Ferrari created a two-seat open-cockpit hypercar. It is a machine that harks back to the golden era of the Mille Miglia, designed not just for individual thrills, but for a shared, visceral assault on the senses.
Design: Asymmetry Resolved
While the single-seat SP1 is defined by its striking asymmetry, the SP2 restores balance to the cabin. The design, penned by the Ferrari Styling Centre, remains a masterclass in modern coachbuilding.
The bodywork is crafted entirely from carbon fiber. The front clamshell, which incorporates the hood and fenders, hinges forward as a single, massive piece to reveal the majestic V12 beneath. The silhouette is incredibly low and sleek, completely uninterrupted by a windshield, A-pillars, or a roof.
Behind both the driver and the passenger sit twin aerodynamic roll hoops that taper gracefully into the rear deck. These fairings not only provide crucial rollover protection but also serve to smooth the turbulent air exiting the open cockpit, managing the aerodynamic wake of two occupants instead of just one.
The doors remain the dramatic, upward-opening “swan-wing” style, requiring a deliberate step over the wide, carbon-fiber sills to drop into the deep bucket seats.
The Virtual Wind Shield (Times Two)
The most significant engineering challenge of an open-cockpit car capable of exceeding 300 km/h is managing the wind. Without a windshield, the sheer force of the air would make it physically impossible to keep your eyes open or breathe comfortably at speed.
Like the SP1, the SP2 utilizes Ferrari’s patented Virtual Wind Shield. This ingenious aerodynamic passage is integrated into the fairing ahead of the instrument cluster. It captures high-pressure air flowing over the hood and accelerates it upwards through a narrow slot just ahead of the steering wheel. This creates a vertical jet of fast-moving air that acts as an invisible ramp, deflecting the oncoming wind over the driver’s head.
Crucially, in the SP2, this technology is mirrored on the passenger side. A second, slightly smaller Virtual Wind Shield is integrated ahead of the passenger seat to ensure they are afforded the same level of aerodynamic protection. While both occupants will still feel the wind rushing through their hair (and are provided with bespoke vintage-style goggles by Ferrari), the system drastically reduces buffeting, making high-speed touring a viable reality.
The F140 GA V12: 810 Horsepower
Both Monza models are built upon the aluminum chassis of the 812 Superfast, meaning they inherit one of the greatest engines ever produced in Maranello: the 6.5-liter (6,496 cc) naturally aspirated V12.
For the Icona series, this engine (the F140 GA) received optimized intake fluid dynamics, resulting in a power bump. The engine produces a staggering 810 cv (799 hp) at a screaming 8,500 rpm and 719 Nm (530 lb-ft) of torque at 7,000 rpm.
Because the SP2 lacks a roof or side windows, the acoustic experience is entirely unfiltered. The sound of the V12—a deep, mechanical growl at low revs that builds into a piercing, Formula 1-esque shriek near the redline—fills the cabin completely. It is an automotive concert where both driver and passenger have front-row seats.
Performance and Dynamics
Despite adding a second seat and the associated structural reinforcement, the SP2 only gains about 20 kg over the single-seat SP1, bringing its dry weight to 1,520 kg (3,351 lbs).
This slight weight increase does not blunt the performance. Power is routed through a 7-speed dual-clutch transaxle, propelling the SP2 from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in the same blistering 2.9 seconds as the SP1. It reaches 200 km/h (124 mph) in 7.9 seconds.
The top speed is officially “>300 km/h” (>186 mph). Achieving this speed in an open barchetta requires immense bravery from both occupants, as the sensation of speed is exponentially magnified without the isolation of a closed cabin.
To manage this immense performance, the SP2 features Ferrari’s latest chassis technology, including Virtual Short Wheelbase (rear-wheel steering) to increase low-speed agility and high-speed stability, and the advanced Side Slip Control (SSC) system to flatter the driver when exploring the limits of grip.
The Shared Experience
Ferrari limited the total combined production of the Monza SP1 and SP2 to just 499 units. Customers were allowed to choose their preferred configuration, and the SP2 proved to be the more popular choice, simply because the joy of driving a multi-million-dollar, roofless V12 Ferrari is an experience best shared.
The Ferrari Monza SP2 is not a practical vehicle. It requires a helmet or goggles to drive, it has no weather protection, and it cannot be driven on a track day that mandates a roll cage. But practicality is irrelevant here. The SP2 is an exercise in pure emotion—a rolling tribute to the legendary racers of the 1950s that delivers a sensory overload that no modern, enclosed supercar can possibly match.