From name to logo: Lesser-known facts about Ferrari
A rumbling engine sound, head-turning looks, and a ton of power. That's a Ferrari car for you. Founded in 1939 by an Italian man called Enzo Ferrari, the brand has become a symbol of status and wealth. And though you can immediately identify a Ferrari (thanks to the iconic Prancing Horse logo), there's a plenty of stuff you might not know. Here are some of the lesser-known facts about Ferrari.
In 1940, Enzo produced two 815 Auto Avio Costruzioni cars while working as a designer for Alfa Romeo. However, he couldn't name them after himself due to legal reasons. Hence, the very first Ferrari was not even called Ferrari. However, years later in March 1947, Enzo launched the first official Ferrari, the V12 125 S.
The iconic Ferrari logo pays homage to Francesco Baracca, a famed World War I pilot who had died in action in 1918. He used this "prancing horse" logo on his airplane. Legend goes that Baracca's parents requested Enzo to adopt the logo, saying it would bring him luck. But, it took nine years for the logo to find a place on Ferrari.
While a lot of automakers make sports cars, Ferrari is special. It is the only automotive manufacturer to own its own dedicated race track for testing. Known as Pista di Fiorano, it's a 3km long track which is designed to test car's chassis, braking, handling, and other functions. The track is utilized both for Formula One racing cars, privateer racing cars, and Ferrari streetcars.
This may sound strange, but Ferrari has never offered a two-seater car with All-Wheel-Drive system, a feature you find on Lamborghini, Porsche, McLaren, and others. Every street and racing Ferrari has been Rear-Wheel-Drive only. And it's because the company utilizes sophisticated traction control systems instead of AWD. Notably, AWD was introduced in the four-seater Ferrari FF and was later seen on GTC/4 Lusso.
Unlike rivals like Lamborghini, Bentley, Porsche and others, Ferrari has not made an SUV till date. For over 70 years, the company has only been making racing cars. However, things are set to change soon. According to reports, Ferrari is working on a crossover under the Purosangue name and it is likely to arrive in 2022.
