FROM DEVELOPMENT MULE TO PRANCING HORSE

One of the absolute stars of the Supercars exhibition, which runs at the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena until February 16, 2026, is the latest Ferrari Limited Series model: the spectacular new F80. Reflecting its status as the pinnacle of dynamic expression at Maranello, the F80 is being presented to the public in a fittingly dynamic narrative; one that is without precedent. For the first time, the evolutionary process leading up to the final model is being showcased.

The brand new F80 is displayed by following different stages of the car’s physical development – what the Museum describes as “a kind of rolling exhibition within the exhibition”. It’s an exceptional, exciting opportunity to look within the normally secret work behind the creation of a new Ferrari. Visitors are able to inspect Ferrari prototypes, the development vehicles that enable the testing of new technologies, such as engines, suspension, aerodynamics and electrification systems. The presentation is set to encompass stages from the development mule to the pre-series prototype to the final styling buck.

For the first months, the ‘Becoming F80’ stand lets visitors get close to what engineers call the ‘mulotipo’. This literally means ‘mule type’ – an expression that describes how the development ‘mule’ has a body that does not represent the final model.

Development 'mules' used existing Ferraris to test new F80 components, the engine and suspension included

In fact, there are stages even before the mulotipo. The very first physical stage is the ‘demo vehicle’ – essentially, a cut-and-stitch car that may not be pretty to look at but is vital for testing innovations, such as new components, new systems, or even new layouts. After this comes the ‘muletto’, which often looks like an existing Ferrari model but underneath, a new model’s engine and transmission are being tested.

The next stage – mulotipo – wears specific, ‘ad hoc’ bodywork that shares nothing with the final iteration and can wear a distinctive camouflage livery that’s cleverly designed to ‘conceal’ the contours of the car’s external features.

Such cars are often tested on public roads, usually around Maranello. As a result, prying eyes are deflected by ‘bewildering’ graphics that help to keep any new design elements secret for as long as possible. Visitors to the exhibition are astonished by how, even close up, the F80 mulotipo tricks the eye.

A mulotipo is used to test multiple aspects of car development, including the chassis, suspension, steering, cooling systems, brakes, and electrical systems. It’s also used to test noise, vibration, and harshness.

These rolling testbeds fast-track early development – and throw curious eyes off the scent 

The next phase, which museum visitors can admire on the ‘Becoming F80’ stand, is the more advanced ‘prototipo’ (prototype) version. Now the eventual car is really starting to take shape, with an exterior and interior that are much closer to the final iteration. At this stage, the bodywork, lights, and seating are all confirmed, but elements such as aerodynamics and interior quality are still a work-in-progress. The idea of the prototipo is to prove that everything works exactly as expected.

Of course, there are many more development stages before the F80 finally reaches the clients for whom it has been created; fine-tuning continues even during very late-phase testing. Each of the stages is unique in terms of content, pedigree and history, describing a crucial part of the story of Ferrari. Indeed, these prototypes form a true 'archive of tomorrow', continuing to enrich the heritage of Ferrari for the future – an important record of a ‘secret’ side of Ferrari that is normally never seen.

For visitors to the museum, the fully finished F80 will finally be presented in all its glory towards the end of the year-long exhibition – when ‘becoming’ finally ‘becomes’ the F80.