In the late 1970s, Ferrari began working on a replacement for the 308 GT4 and 208 GT4 that would be more usable and blend the practicality of four seats with the performance of a Maranello-made "Prancing Horse." The result was the Mondial, which was launched at the 1980 Geneva Auto Salon. It was the first Ferrari to depart from the company’s familiar three-digit naming scheme and its name was inspired by the 500 Mondial race car of the early 1950s.
Much like most Ferraris launched in the 1980s, the Mondial received several updates until it was discontinued in 1993. The first iteration was dubbed Mondial 8 and was sold for roughly three years, between 1980 and 1982. Production ended at 703 units, about 12-percent of the total Mondial run in 13 years.
Intended to serve as the touring car model within the Ferrari lineup, the Mondial 8 was received with much criticism for its styling and performance. The design was considered too bland for a Ferrari, while the large black-colored bumpers installed due to safety requirements made it look awkward compared to previous grand tourers. The Mondial 8 was also considered underpowered and slow, and although it wasn’t necessarily the case, it was the intense criticism that prompted Ferrari to update it for 1983.
More than three decades have passed since the Mondial was introduced to the world and the four-seater continues to be one of the most controversial Ferraris in history. Keep reading to find out why.
Continue reading to learn more about the Ferrari Mondial 8.
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