Ferrari FXX Evoluzione – Hot Wheels

2008 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione
Hot Wheels - N5584 (diecast)

Published 05/17/18

In 2005 Ferrari decided that the Enzo wasn’t fast enough for track days, so they started working on a purpose-built track car, the FXX. The car was basically a stripped-down Enzo with a tuned-for-power engine and with an improved aerodynamic package, and in early 2006 it was ready. The FXX got its name from Ferrari (duh!) and the XX came from the fact that Ferrari only planned 20 cars. However, Ferrari being Ferrari, in the end 30 came to life.

But even though the car would cost almost £2 million, not everyone with that money could buy it. Only a very select few, handpicked by Ferrari, would be allowed to buy one. But wait, it gets better. Ferrari would only allow the owner to drive it in Ferrari-approved special track days through the Corse Clienti program. Yay! Oh, and one more thing. You couldn’t take the car home, oh no, Ferrari would keep it safe for you. Can I get another yay? 🤐

In theory the car was in constant development, so for 2008 Ferrari introduced the Evoluzione kit, making the car even faster (for only £190,000 more). The kit consisted of upgrades to the cooling and braking systems, gear ratios, traction control system and aerodynamic elements, and obviously, to the engine, that was tuned for even more power.

The engine of the evolved beast is a 6262 cm³ rear-mounted longitudinal V12 (@65º). With 48 valves, DOHC and Bosch Motronic ME7 electronic fuel injection it delivers 860 horses – Italian breed. To keep all that cavalry in hand the FXX has a six-speed electrohydraulic semi-automatic transmission. If the driver wants to stop, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes will be there. The car is able to go from a standstill to 100 km/h in eye-watering 2.5 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 400 km/h in less than 40 seconds. That is only possible because the gearbox allows shifting in 60 milliseconds. Just to put that number into perspective, the average duration for a single blink of a human eye is 100 to 400 milliseconds. Yep, Ferrari may be a stuffed-up holier-than-thou car manufacturer, but the FXX Evo is undeniably FAST.

The FXX Evoluzione was a “track day development prototype”, never intended to be used on the streets. Of the 38 FXX made, 14 of them were originally in Rosso Corsa red, but this particular Evoluzione is different. The original owner sold it in 2015. Somehow the new owner convinced Maranello to transform his new track toy into a road-legal car. With that, he registered it in the UK in 2015. In 2017 however, the car was up for sale again, for just £3.25 million. So for that money you could have a supercar track weapon that you could also use to buy groceries. At least up to 2017 it was the only FXX that you could legally drive to the grocery store.

In 1:43 Mattel made a cracker, recreating very well the real thing, with a fantastic attention to detail. For instance, it’s the only FXX Evoluzione with rear-view cameras on the wings. Fantastic for “just a Hot Wheels”. And to add praise to glory, what I paid for it was an absolute steal for what I received. Such a shame that Mattel lost the Ferrari license, because their models are always great.

Oh, and this one brought one more bonus. I still can’t believe this, but I got one before the Northumberland Pasta Duke! So with this one it’s twice (yes, 2×!) I’ve done that in my lifetime. Holy mercaptans 😆!