Ferrari HC25: Non-hybrid V8 given one more hurrah

The Ferrari HC25 unveiled at the Circuit of the Americas, outside of Austin, Texas, is a one-off special based on the defunct F8 Spider.

Designed for an unnamed buyer, the HC25 takes its styling inspiration from the limited-edition F80. While the F8 it’s based on is a riot of curves, the HC25 has a blockier design with flatter sides and sharper detailing.

Instead of the F8’s large lighting units, the HC25 sports a slim, almost rectangular set of headlights flanked by thin vertical driving lights that define the outer edges of the front bumper. A shiny black blade at the leading edge of the bonnet serves as a homage to the F80.

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Along the side there’s a piano-black ribbon that visually separates the front from rear of the vehicle, and also hides the air intake for the mid-mounted engine.

The F8’s afterburner tail-lights have been replaced by a thin strip of LEDs. The yellow calipers and Ferrari logos stand in stark contrast to the silver and black body.

Like other one-off vehicles, the interior is basically a straight lift from the donor car, albeit with unique trim and detailing, including yellow stitching and highlights. In addition to the usual mix of leather and faux suede, fabric has been used extensively on the door panels, foot wells, and the front section of the seats.

While the F80 it’s inspired by has a fancy 882kW V6 hybrid drivetrain, the HC25 uses the standard drivetrain from the F8.

This means behind the passenger cell there’s a 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 making 530kW and 770Nm, and driving the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. In the standard F8, the drivetrain is good for a 0-100km/h time of 2.9 seconds, and a top speed of 340km/h.

When the F8 went out production in 2023 it marked the demise of Ferrari’s last mainstream mid-engine V8 model without electrification.

The brand’s current mid-engined sports car, the 296, has a plug-in hybrid 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 drivetrain, while the upcoming 849 Testarossa is powered by a plug-in hybrid 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 setup.

MORE: Explore the Ferrari F8 showroom