Ferrari's Icona series delivered another jaw-dropping supercar with the reveal of the Daytona SP3 a couple of days ago. It follows the Monza SP1 and SP2 as another limited Ferrari model inspired by some of the glorious cars from the Italian marque's past. Only 599 examples of the Daytona SP3 will be made and, despite a price tag of $2.25 million each, all have already been sold. For collectors clambering for an Icona series model with an atmospheric V12 but missed out on the Daytona SP3, there's good news. Ferrari believes that there are several enticing opportunities for its next Icona model, and sees the series as a means of extending the life of its V12.

Autocar asked chief technical officer Michael Leiters whether the Icona series is a way to keep the V12 engine around as electrification takes over. "I think so," he said. "It's a good opportunity, it's matching 100% of our customers' requirements and it has a limited impact on the discussion of CO2." By that, he is referring to the fact that only a few Daytona SP3s will be produced, so the environmental impact of the SP3 is limited.

Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari's head of design, was keen to point out why the Icona series is so special and more than just a nostalgic nod to the past. He describes these cars as linking the past, present, and future. Manzoni also lambasted the restomod trend as being "banal" and "low level", underlining the innovation inherent in every Icona series model. He referenced the 250 GTO as a great car that was a product of its time, but that technical developments and aerodynamics have moved on. "There are many intriguing concepts for the future," said Manzoni. "The richness of Ferrari is very high and the sky is the only limit."

Chief communications and marketing officer Enrico Galliera echoed the sentiments of his colleagues, saying that there are up to five potential concepts that could form the basis of another Icona model. However, none of these Ferrari bosses went as far as to say which previous generations or models will inspire the next Icona model.

Ferrari admitted that although the V12 could be bettered by a turbocharged V8 in terms of performance, it remains the benchmark for endowing a car with an alluring emotional character. In the Ferrari Daytona SP3, the 6.5-liter V12 raises the bar once again with 829 horsepower and a 9,500-rpm redline. Knowing that this engine is going to live on in another Icona model, even if that's a car far out of the reach of the general public, is gratifying.