With the 4XX MANSORY now presents the second generation of the super sports car SIRACUSA. The first model was based on the Ferrari 458, the successor, the Ferrari 488, has now been given a complete makeover. Centrepiece of the complete customisation is the spectacular body design. But the engine, wheels and interior have also all been given an impressive redesign in the best manufacturing quality.

As is to be expected for a genuine MANSORY we did not spare the use of carbon. No company name on the market is so closely associated with carbon as MANSORY’s. In our own autoclaves, specialists manufacture and process the ultra-light and high-strength material from motorsport and are, as a result, not dependent on suppliers. This gives absolute freedom in the scope, fit and design of the components.

Best proof of this is the completely newly designed body: Besides the optics, the technology also has its highlights, for example the striking air intakes on the front spoiler optimise the flow of fresh air to the radiator. Together with the specially developed front lip this gives a better downforce and more grip when driving at the limit. New, extremely bright daytime running lights give additional passive safety.

On the sides the striking side sills, the carbon housings for the rear-view mirrors and the front wings all show the MANSORY design language. Here optics and function go hand in hand. Because the new carbon components are not only lighter than the series equivalents, they also act as a spoiler and deflect fresh air to the power unit.
The diffusor and the striking dual rear spoiler, all integrated into the rear apron, are responsible for the perfect deflection of the airflow. But the airflow system on the 4XX SIRACUSA not only ensures that the power of the twin-turbocharged eight cylinder is brought onto the road, the outlets above the front wheels also ensure that the heated air does not accumulate. Besides which, intake channels behind the doors help the respiration of the engine compartment behind the driver’s cabin.

Ultra-light wheels make their own contribution to the optics and the performance. The forged light alloy wheel rims unite highest stability with exceptionally low weight. By reducing the unsprung mass the wheels react even more agilely and realise every steering command, even under the most extreme conditions. At the front the 9x20 inch rims carry 255/30 high performance tyres, while the rear axle rims in 12x21 inch with 325/25 tyres transfer the power of the engine onto the road.

The 3.9 litre engine in the 4XX runs with an optimised motor management and a specially designed exhaust system. This combination results in a power output of 790 bhp (581 kW) at 8,000 rpm. Thanks to a torque of 870 Nm (561 lb ft) at 3,000 rpm the eight cylinder accelerates in breathtaking 2.9 seconds (Standard: 3.0 s) from zero to one hundred (62 mph). The top speed of 341 km/h (standard: 330 km/h) is also higher than the standard vehicle. The chassis components fitted to the SIRACUSA have been specially designed for the increased power. These consist of four progressively wound lowering springs. As a result the car’s centre of gravity is 20 mm lower compared to the standard car.

In the interior, MANSORY have created a command and control centre which perfectly combines functionality and comfort. The steering wheel specially designed for the 4XX in a combination of leather and carbon and the redesigned central console operating panel guarantee optimum control of the vehicle. At the same time, the interior of the super sports car oozes pure luxury. All components of the interior cladding are leather coated, offset with coloured seams. 4XX logos on the seats, the foot-mats and the doorsills round off the refinement.

Ferrari has a reputation of not letting anyone mess with its design legacy and heritage, and that is exactly what they did with the case of Mansory. The Italian brand took the German tuner to the courts claiming it copied the design of the Ferrari FXX K to create the bodykit of the Mansory 4XX Siracusa which is based on the 488 GTB.

It seems that Ferrari was not happy at all with Mansory copying the design of their $2.6 million track-only hypercar and offering a tuning kit that their base $250k mid-engined model look like their flagship.

Initially, Ferrari SpA sued Mansory Design & Holding GmbH and WH at the Bundesgerichtshof court in Germany for “violating rights to unregistered designs”. The case ended up in the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Luxembourg which issued a statement on October 28. As reported by Reuters, Europe’s top court agreed with Ferrari’s arguments that it owns the design right to the appearance of the track-only FXX K and recognized the copyright infringement in the case of Mansory’s tuning kit.

The design features in question were the V-shaped section of the bonnet and the front bumper. As you can see from the pictures, the bodykit is indeed trying to imitate the FXX K with a very similar shape for the dual bumper intakes, the F1-inspired base in the middle, the carbon fiber splitter, and the inlets on the black-colored section of the bonnet.

The court’s opinion document on the C-123/20 – Ferrari case reads: “Making available to the public of the full design of a product, such as the appearance of a vehicle, also entails the making available to the public of the design of a part of that product, such as the appearance of certain elements of the bodywork of that vehicle, provided that the latter design is clearly identifiable at the time when that design is made available”. It also recognizes that “a visible section of a product, defined by particular lines, contours, colors, shape or texture, constitutes the ‘appearance of… a part of a product’, within the meaning of that provision, which may be protected as a Community design”.

The truth is that Mansory is not the only company that is offering tuning kits inspired by more expensive models of a supercar manufacturer. Recently, DarwinPRO Aerodynamics presented a bodykit for the McLaren 720S imitating the looks of the McLaren Senna.

We don’t know whether Mansory will have to withdraw the 4XX Siracusa from the market or if it will be forced to pay royalties to Ferrari, but this case sends a strong message to tuning companies concerning the design of their bodykits.