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"         MONTE CARLO, MONACO \u2014 List price for the entry-level Ferrari F430 F1: $184,000.   List price for the range-topping Ferrari Enzo: $650,000.   List price for the 559 examples of the limited-production Ferrari Superamerica: priceless.   Literally.   Even before the official manufacturer&amp;#039;s suggested retail price of the Superamerica was announced, all of the 170 U.S.-bound cars had been sold. So it is fitting that we drove this very rare Italian stallion in the south of France, one of the most beautiful and exclusive locations in the world.   The Ferrari Superamerica was unveiled last year to celebrate Ferrari&amp;#039;s 50th year in North America. It draws its heritage from a line of very special V-12-powered Ferraris that were produced beginning in the mid-1950s. Starting with the 1957 410 Superamerica penned by Pinin Farina, the &amp;quot;Super&amp;quot; prefix was added to differentiate its more potent engines from the factory&amp;#039;s earlier America models.   The new Superamerica is based largely on the company&amp;#039;s formidable 575M Maranello. But what makes this model much more special is the Leonardo Fioravanti-designed and -patented roof that flips back 180 degrees to turn the car into an open-top roadster.   Made of glass, the roof features electrochromatic technology that allows the user to instantly select up to five different tints. So if you want a complete open-air cruising experience, just flip the top back. Want a little break from the wind but still crave the sunshine? Set the glass top at the lightest setting and you&amp;#039;ll have a conventional glass sunroof. At the darkest setting, only one percent of light can pass through the top, handy when privacy is needed.   At the heart and soul of any Ferrari is its engine. And nothing beats the smoothness and the thrust of a race-bred 12-cylinder engine from Maranello. The naturally balanced V-12 powerplant idles softly. But when full throttle is called upon, all 12 pistons immediately deliver an immense rush of acceleration. Although the Superamerica and the 575 Maranello share the same 5.7-liter, 65-degree V-12 powerplant, Ferrari engineers were able to bump up the output from 508 bhp to 532 at 7250 rpm, with the torque rating remaining the same at 434 lb.-ft., coming in fully at 5250 rpm.   Mated to the latest evolution of the electro-hydraulic paddle-shift 6-speed transaxle called the F1A, the Superamerica changes gears effortlessly, quickly and precisely. Even in automatic mode, all the lurches associated with previous generations of the paddle-shift system have been smoothed out. With the standard traction control turned off, the factory tells us that the zero-to-62-mph sprint can be accomplished in 4.2 seconds.   Through tight twisty roads just north of Monaco near Col de Vence, the Superamerica handled the rally-like route with confidence. Even though the car felt a bit large for the narrow mountain switchbacks, it still managed to apex the tight corners with little effort, thanks to its all-around double-wishbone suspension paired with Bridgestone Potenza RE050 19-in. tires. Our test car was equipped with the optional carbon-ceramic brakes. Although it takes a couple of applications to warm up the rotors to fully appreciate the stopping power, every sub-sequent usage is met with utmost consistency and zero fade.   Returning to Monte Carlo on the motorway, the Superamerica cruised easily around 80 mph. Dip into the throttle slightly and the speedo immediately jumps to 120 mph, accelerating without fuss, as though going faster really doesn&amp;#039;t require much more effort than cruising at a slower pace. With the glass roof down at speed, the cockpit is well protected from the rushing air, thanks to the pivot point of the ro--tating top acting as a wind blocker.   Arriving back at Casino Square, you can&amp;#039;t help feeling just a little richer. Not only is piloting a topless Ferrari a thrilling ride for any car enthusiast, but to command the exclusive Superamerica in a place as exclusive as Monaco, well, the experience is priceles. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a11008/2006-ferrari-superamerica/>