This Mule Could Hide The LaFerrari Replacement, But Will It Have A V12?

At some point, Ferrari will launch a replacement to the LaFerrari, and a prototype has been nabbed testing in our newly-obtained spy photos. Ignore the bodywork that bears a resemblance to the car it’s superseding; what we’re seeing here is, in all likelihood, a development mule for the range-topping Ferrari hypercar.

Maranello would rather not give away anything at the moment, so it’s no wonder this rolling test-bed is bathed in camouflage. Nevertheless, we can see that the front bumper vents are markedly different to the LaFerrari Aperta this mule is masquerading as. The hood also lacks a vent, and the sidepods are sculpted differently, too.

Read: Time To See That Mysterious LaFerrari Hypercar Mule In Action On The Fiorano Racetrack

Less noticeable is the design of the wing mirrors and how the rear hood drops most of its transparency, hiding the engine beneath. Not quite as successful in being hidden are the tailpipes, which actually exit at the middle, higher up the rear bumper — not in the way the dummy quad pipes would have you believe. Last but not least, this mule eschews the LaFerrari’s center-locking wheel nuts for a more conventional five-stud layout, which may or may not make it to the production model.

The biggest question, though, is what will power the all-new Ferrari hypercar. It’s thought that the Italian marque would prefer to preserve its V12 engine. The stickers on this mule suggest that it is electrified in some way, which would confirm theories that, if a naturally aspirated V12 were to remain in the brand’s range, it would have to be supplemented by one (or possibly even more) electric motor.

We also expect the new Ferrari halo car to form the basis of their 2023 WEC Le Mans Hypercar Class (LMH) entrant. The new class will be the top-flight endurance series, replacing the LMP1 category with more road-relevant, hypercar-based competing cars. It will see Ferrari return to Le Mans and endurance racing as a manufacturer team for the first time since 1973.