Ferrari reveals one-off SP38

Ferrari has released pictures of its new SP38 – a one-off creation based on its current 488 GTB supercar.

Claimed to have taken the Italian car-maker's Special Projects division 18 months to develop, the special 488-based SP38 is said to have been re-clothed in a skin that pays tribute to the F40's louvred rear clamshell while, at the front, borrows from the mid-1970s 308 GTB.

Featuring a pair of slimmed-down headlights and a set of front daytime running lamps relocated to the bumper lip, the small Ferrari has a completely rethought aero package.

This includes the ditching of the 488 GTB's striking rear shoulder air intakes that sit behind the driver and passenger doors.

Instead, air is channelled to the SP38's twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8 via a pair of narrow door-top vents.

At the rear of the car not only are there those cool louvres but Ferrari has added a subtle rear spoiler and large rear diffuser to improve air bending.

New tail-lights, large vents and extractors and a pair of enclosed tailpipes complete the changes that effectively disguise the SP38's 488 roots.

Ferrari hasn't confirmed what engine powers the one-off customer commission but it's thought the SP38 will come with the same 492kW/760Nm outputs of the regular GTB, rather than the mightier 530kW/770Nm from the latest 488 Pista.

If it makes do with the lesser powerplant, the SP38 will hit 100km/h in three seconds dead, hit 200km/h in 8.3sec and top out at more than 330km/h.

Ferrari hasn't released any pics of the SP38's interior, which is also said to be bespoke. That will be revealed, along with the rest of the car, later this week at Concorso d'Eleganza d'Este.

The Special Projects SP38 follows on from the 2016 458 MM inspired by the 1984 288 GTO and the SP12 that was commissioned from ageing rocker and Ferrari fan, Eric Clapton.

All have been rumoured to have cost their wealthy owners in excess of $4 million.