Giugiaro’s Ferrari FF Prototype – What Could Have Been But Never Was

The FF was the first mass-produced Ferrari with an all-wheel-drive system.

So, in order to encapsulate its serviceable go-everywhere nature, Ferrari commissioned a few coachbuilders to come up with a design for the new vehicle.

Of course, seeing the finished product branded by Pininfarina, we can deduce who won the “contest”, but did you know a former prototype still exists?

When creating a car, companies usually develop the design with the help of their in house studios, or an independent designer/coachbuilder. The last option is mainly chosen by car manufacturers with low production numbers, because a well-known studio adds value, panache and heritage.

Usually, the car manufacturer briefs the design studio with the basic idea and if they come to an agreement (if the design studio creates something to the car manufacturer’s liking) then both sides will work together to further develop the car.

As you can see in the photos, next to the regular FF, sits an odd looking model similar – in shape – to the prancing horse. This, apparently, is an Italdesign Giugiaro imagined FF, from the days the design studios were still pitching ideas to the car manufacturer for the shooting-brake sports car.

For this prototype to be constructed – even superficially – in a 1/1 scale, the negotiations must have been in an advanced state, but we’ll never know what determined Ferrari to drop the Giugiaro design and go with Pininfarina.

Compared to the FF, the prototype is taller, but we think the fact that it isn’t a real, functional car has something to do with its height. The form does resemble the 250 “Breadvan” and we do like that throwback very much. Its back-end is a little exaggerated, but nothing out of the ordinary when compared with the FF’s demonizing front-end.

According to Corriere Della Serra – the site responsible for the photos – the prototype is sitting in the hands of a private collector. We don’t know who this private collector is, or even if that information is true, since in one of the photos the rear quarter of a 408 4RM AWD Prototype is seen.