Although the name “SA Aperta” doesn't live up to the promise made by Ferrari capo Luca di Montezemolo that the 599 roadster would be called something “emotional” and “romantic,” it is a nice tribute: SA refers to Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina, patriarchs of the family business. Aperta is simply Italian for “open.”
Ferrari claims that the SA Aperta won't suffer any of the typical negative side effects of rooflessness; the chassis structure was redesigned to offer stiffness “comparable to that of a closed berlinetta” and weight gain is said to be nominal. To transition the 599 from coupe to roadster, Ferrari has fit a shortened windshield and integrated rollover protection into what the firm calls “aerodynamic fins” that extend behind the headrests. Part of the reason is that rather than a folding hardtop, a flip-back roof like the 575-based Superamerica’s, or a simple cloth top, the SA Aperta has an emergency, rainstorm-only roof, similar in concept to the Porsche Boxster Spyder’s.
Under the hood, Ferrari has installed a 661-hp V-12; this matches the 599GTO’s V-12 and trumps that of the base, 612-hp 599GTB, although Ferrari is waiting until the show to confirm that it is indeed identical to the GTO’s. We also are left to assume that the SA Aperta's transmission will be the same six-speed automated manual found in the 599GTO. Just for reference, the 599GTO has a claimed top speed of 208 mph and we figure that it could run to 60 in 3.1 seconds. The upshot: Not only should the SA Aperta be brutally quick, it may also provide a 200-mph open-topped experience. That would put the Aperta in a very exclusive club.
