37 years later, he created the V12 supercar that Ferrari turned down… except that he’s already sold three of them

It took 37 years for this idea to finally get off the drawing board. In 1989, Ferrari and Pininfarina unveiled the spectacular Mythos, a mid-engine concept car that would leave its mark on an entire generation of designers. Among them was a certain Ken Okuyama. Decades later, after having worked on, among other projects, the Ferrari Enzo, the Japanese designer is making a comeback with a supercar of his own: the Kode89. And this time, no one will be able to say no to him.

An idea that Ferrari never brought to fruition

Ken Okuyama's career is closely tied to Ferrari. During his time at Pininfarina, the Japanese designer worked on several major models from Maranello, including the Enzo, 599 GTB and 612 Scaglietti.

But one of his ideas never made it to production: that of a true Ferrari flagship equipped with a longitudinally mounted V12 behind the occupants. Ferrari ultimately reserved this layout for its most exclusive models, such as the F50, Enzo, and later LaFerrari. Okuyama, however, never truly forgot the project. His new Kode89 now allows him to offer his own interpretation of it.

The Ferrari Mythos as a starting point

The number 89, incidentally, was not chosen at random. It refers to 1989, the year the Ferrari Mythos was unveiled. Designed by Pininfarina based on a Testarossa, this extremely low-slung concept car was powered by the latter's 4.9-liter 12-cylinder engine, producing 390 ch.

With its wedge-shaped silhouette, immense width, and engine positioned behind the occupants, the Mythos embodied a particularly radical vision of the Ferrari of the future. It would notably influence the F50 a few years later. The Kode89 captures that spirit without trying to copy the Mythos. It measures 4.61 meters long and just 1.14 meters high, with a forward-leaning cockpit, a very low nose, and particularly imposing rear fenders. But the most interesting part is hidden beneath the bodywork.

Naturally aspirated V12, manual transmission: Okuyama is putting up a fight

Unlike previous Kode versions, which used existing databases, such as The Kode57, produced in a limited run of 5 units and based on a Ferrari 599 GTB, the Kode89 is built on an aluminum platform developed specifically by Ken Okuyama Cars. At its heart, of course, is a naturally aspirated V12. An initial 5.4-liter configuration produces 540 ch, while a 5.9-liter variant is expected to deliver approximately 750 ch. Above all, there’s no question here of a dual-clutch transmission or complex hybrid system. The V12 is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, which sends all its power to the rear wheels. An almost anachronistic setup in 2026—and that’s precisely what gives it its charm.

Only eight copies… and three have already been allocated

The Kode89 will remain extremely rare, as only eight cars are scheduled to be built. Three have already been accounted for: the car unveiled to the public and the two units planned for the first year of production, which have already been sold.

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Each customer will also be able to work directly with Okuyama’s team to extensively customize their car, ranging from a very minimalist configuration to a much more luxurious interpretation. Thirty-seven years after the Mythos, Ken Okuyama is finally turning this fascination—and this old idea that Ferrari had rejected—into a true supercar.