• e-mail

A one-off Ferrari hypercar finished in a red wine paint colour with a brown interior is set to go under the hammer in London next week, with the auction house saying bidding could reach £2.5million.

The 2016 LaFerrari is one of just 499 produced by the iconic Italian marque - but the only one in this colour - and has covered fewer than 1,000 miles from new. It also the first to be made available at a UK public auction for three years.

Classic car experts say its combination of heritage, rarity and unique colour scheme could make it hugely attractive to potential collectors and see the sale price eclipse the average value for the modern-era hybrid performance machines.

Raise a glass! This one-off red wine colour 2016 LaFerrari is set to be offered at a UK auction next month with an estimated top-end sale price of £2.5million

The LaFerrari is considered among the so-called holy trinity of hypercars launched in the last decade, with Ferrari's first foray into hybridisation rivalling McLaren's P1 and Porsche's similarly-hybrid 918 Spyder.

This example will be offered to the highest bidder at the RM Sotheby’s London auction on 6 November.

It is the first time a LaFerrari has been sold at a UK public auction since 2018, meaning plenty of well-heeled buyers will be eager to get their hands on the first Italian stallion to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The mid-engined two-seater is powered by the most potent naturally-aspirated V12 engine to ever be slotted into a Ferrari road car. 

It also features F1-derived KERS (Kinetic energy recovery system) technology, which provides an extra kick of power from additional energy generated during braking. 

Under special orders to the Maranello factory, this 2016 LaFerrari was requested in 'Rosso Vinaccia' - which translates to 'red wine' - paint with contrasting brown tan leather interior

It has two previous owners - the first in Switzerland and the second in the UK - and has covered just 918 miles. When it hasn't been driven it has been kept in temperature-controlled storage 

It will go under the hammer at RM Sotheby's London sale event on 6 November. It will mark the first time a LaFerrari coupe has been offered at a UK public auction since 2018

‹ Slide me ›

The LaFerrari is considered among the so-called holy trinity of hypercars from the last decade, with Ferrari's first foray into hybridisation launched to rival McLaren's P1 and Porsche's similarly-hybrid 918 Spyder. Weighing just 1,255kg, it was the lightest of the three hypercars. Though it wasn't the most exclusive in terms of production

In total, the LaFerrari develops a combined 950bhp. From a standing start it can hit 62mph in just 2.9 seconds and the officially-quoted top speed is in excess of 217mph. 

Weighing just 1,255kg, it was the lightest of the three hypercars. Though it wasn't the most exclusive in terms of production.

One fewer than 500 were built - which is less than half the number of F40s made - but McLaren's P1 was produced in fewer units with only 375 examples in total.

What sets this particular car - which has two owners from new - apart is the stunning specification, not least the interesting choice of colours.

Ferrari LaFerrari: at a glance

Production: 2013-2016

Units: 499 built

Price new: £1,150,000

Engine: 6.3-litre V12 petrol electrically assisted by Ferrari's HY-KERS system

Power: 950bhp

Torque: 970Nm 

Top speed: 217mph+ 

0-62mph: 2.9seconds

CO2 emissions: 330g/km 

Weight: 1,255kg

Under special orders to the Maranello factory, it was requested to be painted in 'Rosso Vinaccia', which translates to 'red wine', with contrasting brown tan leather interior.

It's an unusual combination to say the least, but one that's likely to earn it some attention - as we have seen recently. 

Earlier this year, a blue Ferrari F40 - believed to be the only one painted in a shade that isn't red, white or black - sold for a record online auction price of £1,000,500 via The Market.

RM Sotheby's estimates that it will take a winning bid of £2.2million to £2.5million when it goes to the block next month, which experts say is above the average value of this incredibly special model. 

John Mayhead, collectible vehicle valuations expert at Hagerty, told This is Money: 'Values of the LaFerrari have slipped slightly over the last few years, with the Hagerty Price Guide range now spanning £1.52million to £2.4million, depending on condition - down from £2.67million to £3.06million in January 2019. 

'With each car being built to order, there are many combinations of colour and interior trim, with a few options, but mileage seems to be the big differentiator in value. 

'This example has 918 miles on the clock, but for a LaFerrari, that’s actually a fair amount: of those offered at auction since January 2019, none has exceeded 1,000 miles and this one is the second-most driven.'

The lot description says the original owner had the Ferrari delivered to Switzerland and kept it for just two years before it was sold to the consignor who imported it to the UK, with it being registered in May 2018.

It has 'lived a quiet life', kept in controlled storage while not in use. 

In total, the LaFerrari develops a combined 950bhp. From a standing start it can hit 62mph in just 2.9 seconds and the officially-quoted top speed is in excess of 217mph

John Mayhead, collectible vehicle valuations expert at Hagerty, told This is Money that the average age of a LaFerrari owner is 60, though there is a much bigger percentage than normal of Generation X (born 1965-1981) owners: 37 per cent compared to 27.4 per cent for all classics that it insures

RM Sotheby's estimates that it will take a winning bid of £2.2million to £2.5million when it goes to the block next month, which experts say is above the average value of this incredibly special model

Hagerty says the average age of a LaFerrari owner is 60, though points out that there is a much bigger percentage than normal of Generation X (born 1965-1981) owners: 37 per cent compared to 27.4 per cent for all classics that it insures. 

Mayhead says that this example is very unlikely to exceed the record $7million (£5.53million) auction price achieved for a non-Aperta LaFerrari model, which was also sold by RM Sotheby's back in 2016.

Though he adds: 'It will undoubtedly draw the crowds. 

'A price close to the middle of the pre-sale estimate of £2.2million to £2.5million seems very possible.'

It comes with accompanying colour-matched luggage, a toolkit, and owner’s manuals, as well as a full service history conducted by authorised dealers in Switzerland and the UK.  

The LaFerrari's engine is the most powerful naturally-aspirated V12 to ever be slotted into a Ferrari road car in the brand's history

It also features F1-derived KERS (Kinetic energy recovery system) technology, which provides an extra kick of power from additional energy generated during braking

Included in the sale is the car's original toolkit and owner’s manuals, as well as a full service history conducted by authorised dealers in Switzerland and the UK. It also comes with this fetching accompanying colour-matched luggage