But, as with any Ferrari, the link between racing and road cars is ever present. While the sublime coachwork of the older car embraces a highly tuned engine and competition-derived chassis, its younger descendant is similarly potent and likewise much, much faster than might be assumed.
As its name suggests, the main feature of Mansory’s latest creation is carbonfibre – and lots of it. Despite much of the standard Aventador’s bodywork already being built from woven carbon, the German tuning house has seen fit to replace the front wings, bonnet, bumpers, roof panel and engine cover with items of its own design. The Carbonado (the name referring to a naturally occurring black diamond) gains 40mm width at the front and 50mm at the rear during this process. Even the forged wheels – which measure an astounding 13 inches wide at the rear – have carbonfibre inlays.
Hailing from Catalonian Spain, Aspid is an offshoot of engineering firm IRF Automotive. The company built its first prototype car – the Super Sport – in 2008, and is now following that up with a larger, more powerful and more luxurious sibling.
Thanks to the 450bhp churned out by the 4.4-litre BMW-sourced V8, it’s claimed that the GT-21 Invictus will scrabble to 62mph from standstill in under three seconds, going on to reach a top speed of 187mph. Considering the dry weight of just 990kg, the blistering acceleration should be matched by commendable roadholding.
It’s based on the 2012MY Defender, so retains the cleaner, more modern 2.2-litre diesel engine. Giving the XTech Defender a brawny but understated look are the two colour options: Orkney Grey, or a new colour exclusive to the special edition Defender, Nara Bronze. Whichever is chosen, it will contrast with the Santorini Black roof and wheelarches. The headlight surrounds, decals and wheels are also painted black, with the latter being shod in chunky off-road tyres.
The DB2 was the first ‘proper’ post-War Aston Martin produced under David Brown’s ownership and was to be – until the DB4 was launched towards the end of the decade – the company’s main model line for the 1950s.
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Like the Aperta 599 GTB, Ferrari made the last-ever 575 Maranello a convertible, packing it with every conceivable extra and luxurious appointment. It was a throw-back to the super-exclusive days of the 50s and 60s.
In addition, power was increased by 25bhp (to 540bhp) and at the time it was the fastest convertible in the world, topping out at 199mph. The GTC handling pack and F1, semi-automatic gearbox endow what might have become a cruising boulevardier with handling and performance of the highest order.
In Emilia-Romagna, a deep-rooted passion for cars and the fine art of coachbuilding is in the very genes of the population, and the region has given birth to a great many automotive legends. At the heart of these legends is – almost always – the name Ferrari. In the late 1950s, Franco Bacchelli started work at Carrozzeria Sports Cars in Modena, then under the control of the famous racing driver and coachbuilder Piero Drogo, where Bacchelli gained the specialist expertise he would use throughout his working life, including the use of lightweight racing materials.