From that snug-fitting driver's seat, the Enzo Ferrari experience sets a new high-water mark for supercars, simply because it makes exhilarating performance accessible in a civilized, user-friendly way. Its 660-hp V-12 pours out thrust (figure 0-60 in about 3.5 sec, and some 220 on top) through a paddle-shifted six-speed F1 gearbox, while never threatening to turn and bite. An immensely sophisticated electronic chassis-control system (damping, ABS, stability control) keeps the Enzo stable and settled, but still lively and responsive in your hands. It creates a convincing illusion that you're a hero driver managing a beast of savage potential, but it actually works contentedly with whatever level of skill and commitment you bring to the drive. Quite an achievement.
Getting hold of an Enzo Ferrari will be an achievement as well. An awful lot of people who won't even blink at paying the $652,000 price will still be disappointed. The production run of 349 is already way over-subscribed (at the time of our test drive in Italy, U.S. dealers had over 200 orders for the 70 cars coming here), and the factory is going to approve each and every sale in an attempt to keep the buy-it-and-turn-it scalping to a minimum. But there'll be no controlling the passions fired by this amazing machine, which is just as its namesake would've wanted.
True to its heritage, the Enzo is more streetable racer than GT car, but it also embodies Ferrari's berlinetta lineage as a driver-friendly supercar. The limits are high, have soft edges, and are free of surprises.