What makes the 1974 Studio CR 25 Concept Car was so special?

Forgotten ONES Although Ferrari's four-seat models ranked among the firm’s top sellers, Pininfarina's prancing horse-logoed styling concepts were typically based on racier platforms that were better suited to dramatic coachwork. It was effectivelly done during the 1960s when Ferrari regularly sent its sports car chassis to Pininfarina to be developed into a kind of new special models.

The Ferrari Studio CR 25 Concept was made by Pininfarira in 1972 as the company 4-seater sport coupe design study. (Picture from: OldConceptCars)

Throughout this period, Pininfarina were unveiling futuristic Ferrari-badged dream cars practically every year. However, the supply of suitable racing chassis quickly dried up following the prancing horse acquired by Fiat in the 1969, at which point the firm’s sports car racing programme should be rationalised. And this is one of the concept cars launched by Pininfarina at that time, which is not widely known by todays automotive enthusiasts and more unique than the previous Model X of the 1960s.

The Ferrari Studio CR 25 Concept appeared as a concept car built based on the Ferrari 365 GT4. and known as its first concept car to be tested in the wind tunnel that Pininfarina had just used. (Picture from: OldConceptCars)

Pininfarina presented the Studio CR 25 Concept at the Turin Motor Show 1974, and was the first Pininfarina-Ferrari concept since the 1970 Ferrari 512S Modulo Concept. As quoted of Sasatimes, it's appeared as a concept car designed by Aldo Brovarone and built based on the Ferrari 365 GT4. and known as the first concept car to be tested in the wind tunnel that Pininfarina had just used.

The Ferrari Studio CR 25 Concept was designed in such a way to be a powerful diving nose, and also served as an air deflector. (Picture from: OldConceptCars)

The CR 25 Concept was named in recognition of its 0.025 drag coefficient under the new fastback body was heavily influenced by the quest for clean aerodynamics. To this end, considerable much of the car concept developing time was spent in the wind tunnel that had built by Pinifarina in 1972. As the result, the CR 25 came with little in the way of ornamentation, but did feature several innovations that were not immediately obvious.

The Ferrari Studio CR 25 Concept was named in recognition of its 0.025 drag coefficient under the new fastback body was heavily influenced by the quest for clean aerodynamics. (Picture from: OldConceptCars)

The main brief had been to demonstrate that an aerodynamically efficient design could also be look exciting. The results were also good, because the four-seats coupe was able to clear with a very low Cx value of 0.256, thanks to the front (rubber) bumper, which was designed in such a way to be a powerful diving nose, and also served as an air deflector. FYI, a truly fantastic result was obtained in 1978 for the Pininfarina CNR prototype with Cx = 0.16!

The Ferrari Studio CR 25 Concept was 124 mm wider and 130 mm lower than its donor the Ferrari 365 GT4, and also 10 mm shorter despite a prodigious rear overhang. (Picture from: OldConceptCars)

Retractable headlights were installed, each with a single rectangular lens. The lights were located below a full-width bank of body coloured radiator louvres. A set of auxiliary driving lights were housed underneath the bumper. The ever-popular flip lights also did their part to allow air to flow over the body as efficiently as possible. The ever-popular flip lights also did their part to allow air to flow over the body as efficiently as possible.

The Ferrari Studio CR 25 Concept has a spacious cabin is covered in luxurious unique blue Alcantara. (Picture from: OldConceptCars)

In addition, however, the car also featured a device that manufacturers have now rediscovered to further improve the usability and versatility of their electric models: hidden tactile door handles. The special shape of the rear was also completely in the service of aerodynamics, while the air brakes were integrated behind the side windows.

Inside the Ferrari Studio CR 25 Concept's spacious cabin featured with real digital instruments and touch controls, coupled with a minimalist two-spoke steering wheel. (Picture from: OldConceptCars)

While at the back, an integrated spoiler was formed by a rear screen that sloped beneath the trailing edge of the connected C-pillars coupled with an inverted tail housed two rows of full-width light clusters above the bumper. Overall, the CR 25 was 124 mm wider and 130 mm lower than the Ferrari 365 GT4. It was also 10 mm shorter despite a prodigious rear overhang. Inside the Studio CR 25's spacious cabin is covered in luxurious blue Alcantara, and also featured with real digital instruments and touch controls, coupled with a minimalist two-spoke steering wheel.

Due to The Ferrari Studio CR 25 Concept only built as a design study model, so the automaker didn't pinned any engine at all, but theoritically, it could be powered by Ferrari's 4.4-litre V12 or a flat-twelve engines.. (Picture from: OldConceptCars)

The Studio CR 25 couldn’t drive, because apparently Pininfarina didn’t give any engine to it, even none other technical details as well. Theoretically, the CR 25 could be powered by the prancing horse's 4.4-litre V12 or a flat-twelve engines. This is because maybe the car is only built intended to be a design study model.

After making its debut at the Turin Motor Show in October 1974, the concept car returned to the Pininfarina studio, then its upper body was repainted in silver and relaunched for another series of publicity photos. Unfortunately Ferrari were not keen on the CR 25 to be made into a production version of its V12 four-seater sports car. 

Even so several its styling details were later seen adopted on the Ferrari Mondial, most notably the treatment of the bold black bumper and muzzle. Since then the concept car has slowly faded away from sight, and its whereabouts are unknown. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS OSURCES | SASATIMES | SUPERCARNOSTALGIA | OLDCONCEPTCARS | DYLER ]

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