1:18 MR Collection Models Ferrari Laferrari Aperta Review
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1:18 MR Collection Models Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Review The Ferrari The Ferrari – sounds a bit pretentious doesn’t it? But then again, this is Ferrari we’re talking about here and with a track record and a history as illustrious as there’s I think they are suitably qualified to make such a bold statement. The LaFerrari is named as such, in order to convey that this is the definitive Ferrari. The very essence of Maranello and Fiorano distilled into something that sits on four wheels. (As an aside, I wonder if they’ll call its replacement the LAFerrari/THE Ferrari, because I’m sure that will be the definitive Ferrari?) Project name F150, the LaFerrari was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2013. With only 499 units built plus an extra one that was sold at auction for a cool $7 million in December 2016 in order to raise money to help rebuild parts of Italy that were affected by a series of earthquakes in August that year. This instantly became the most valuable 21st Century automobile to be ever sold at auction! The LaFerrari Aperta was unveiled at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, this time being an even more limited edition special with only 200 units earmarked for production and a further 9 reserved for select distribution during Ferrari’s 70th Anniversary celebrations. It comes with a removable carbon fibre roof panel and also a soft top as well. Other changes over the coupe include re-angled radiators to direct air flow out along the underbody rather than over the bonnet and thanks to a series of targeted modifications designed to reinforce the lower area to cope with the new stresses of no fixed roof, allow the LaFerrari Aperta to deliver the same torsional rigidity figure as the coupe which is rather mind boggling if you think about that for a second. Speaking of seconds, the HY-KERS hybrid 6.3 litre V12 powertrain rockets this low slung bullet from 0-60mph in “under 3 seconds” and onto a top speed of “over 217mph”. The V12 is the most powerful naturally aspirated engine to ever feature in a Ferrari road car and couples that beast of a V12 with a 120kW electric motor to generate over 900Nm of torque and 950BHP. All this power is put down by a 7 speed F1 dual clutch gearbox to the rear wheels and serves to solidify its place in the Holy Trinity of hybrid hypercars alongside the Porsche 918 Spyder and McLaren P1 – both superb machines in their own right. www.themodelcarcritic.com | 1 1:18 MR Collection Models Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Review MR Collection Models is a small Italian based model manufacturer situated in a small town near Lake Como and Milan. They only employ around 15 people to produce their models in 1:43 and 1:18 scales (although they have partnered with Amalgam to produce the 1:12 Ferrari LaFerrari 2013 Geneva Motor Show car, whilst their Bugatti Chiron will be the first in a line of huge 1:8 scale models come the summer). They hold official licenses for Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Volkswagen, Bentley, Bugatti and Porsche. MR Collection are the official supplier of Ferrari models, so when you see a 1:43 or 1:18 scale model car at an international motor show or world premiere stand, that’ll be one of MR Collection’s models. They also make models for the Ferrari Contact Plan – the exclusive service that creates models in 1:43 scale with the same colours and features of the cars bought by Ferrari customers from the factory in Maranello! People often mistake MR Collection and BBR as the same company, but in fact BBR aren’t even Official Suppliers and haven’t been for at least 10 years. Oh, let’s not forget MR Collection’s sister company called Looksmart Models that also makes Ferrari models. So what about the model here for review? This is the 1:18 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, presented in Nero Daytona with Rosso Corsa livery (product code: FE020A) and is a sealed resin piece. MR Collection were very kind to send me this model to review for you. This is the very spec that appeared at the 2016 Paris Motor Show and it is certainly a stunning colour combination – it is always nice to see a colour other than red on a Ferrari! This model is also available in Rosso Corsa with Argento Nurburgring livery (FE020B), Bianco Italia with Grigio Silverstone livery (FE020C), Giallo Tristrato with Nero Daytona livery (FE020D) and finally Grigio Ferro Metallic with Argento Nurburgring livery (FE020E). Not only is this a rather special car, the model itself marks a new point in MR Collection’s history. They have been focusing on a few details and technical improvements, namely 1. Newly designed carbon fibre decals 2. Newly designed headlights with separated LED lights 3. 3D logo of the Prancing Horse on each flank 4. New 4-point seat belts made in real cloth material www.themodelcarcritic.com | 2 1:18 MR Collection Models Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Review 5. New interiors with Alcantara effect on the dashboard and steering wheel 6. New seats with perforated texture to replicate the real car’s seats 7. Soft-touch painting on the interiors. That sounds like quite a list of improvements and this review will look to see if they’ve delivered on these points and look at various other aspects of the model. Let’s start with the packaging. The LaFerrari Aperta comes in this really eye-catching red cardboard box with the Ferrari and MR Collection logos nice and bold in opposite corners. I think it looks quite nice and modern and prefer the fact it’s not too busy with loads of information on. You can imagine this stacked proudly on the shelves of a Ferrari Store for sure! The only thing that does disappoint me is that this appears to be pretty much the same box as Looksmart Models use for their scale models. After seeing some collector pictures of their recent 1:18 Ferrari F60 America release, I was a bit annoyed, because if you’re spending around double the price on an MR Collection model versus a Looksmart model you’d certainly expect a nicer box. I think Frontiart’s Avanstyle have the idea of a plush box nailed down, as you can see from my review of their Nissan GT-R R35 Nismo. People may think I’m weird for pointing this out, but for me, as a collector the packaging is indeed part of the whole package! www.themodelcarcritic.com | 3 1:18 MR Collection Models Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Review Upon slipping off the top cover of the box you are greeted with the model stored safely inside the protective bubble that is a nice looking display case. Taking the whole thing out of the lower part of the box and setting the heavy piece down on the table you get to see the model in its entirety for the first time. First impressions are certainly a wow for me! For anyone who knows me and my collection theme, hypercars feature very heavily and it is an absolute pleasure to have this in my collection. www.themodelcarcritic.com | 4 1:18 MR Collection Models Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Review The model also comes with a little red booklet, with the model number, inspection date and who checked it before it was shipped out. www.themodelcarcritic.com | 5 1:18 MR Collection Models Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Review On the inside cover you will see where your model came in the order of production, with this particular model being limited to just 149 pieces – it is nice to know when you spend decent money on a model that it is nice and exclusive! www.themodelcarcritic.com | 6 1:18 MR Collection Models Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Review The rest of the booklet details a somewhat personal message in slightly broken English about how you, as a collector, are essentially a custodian of a rare piece of art. The fact that this is only 1 of 149 goes some way to prove that point. It’s a nice little extra touch, I must admit. www.themodelcarcritic.com | 7 1:18 MR Collection Models Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Review www.themodelcarcritic.com | 8 1:18 MR Collection Models Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Review Take the cover off the base and you are hit square in the nose with the strong smell of paint and glue. My model was inspected on the 5th of May and it was shipped later that day, so the model was literally hot (and a bit smelly) off the production line! I’m the kind of guy who likes the smell of unleaded petrol, so it really didn’t bother me at all and it actually added to the sense of occasion – much like the smell of a brand new car as you get into it for the first time. The base has three sections to it: a lower layer of red faux leather, a middle layer of a nice woven carbon fibre effect and topped with a layer of faux red leather complete with black contrast stitching and a really nice replica of the LaFerrari Aperta badge that is present on the passenger side of the dashboard. There are also a smattering of MR Collection and Ferrari badges. As far as bases go, it is pretty nice! I have seen from BBR’s version of this model that they have the base available in Alcantara as well.