Ferrari unveils its fastest road car 07 | 03 | 2012
WE'VE HAD TO WAIT for a while, but Ferrari has finally uncovered its new V12 flagship model: the F12berlinetta (watch the official video of the new Ferrari F12berlinetta in action).
The fastest and most powerful road car in the prancing horse’s illustrious history, the F12berlinetta — unveiled by Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo (pictured) — is powered by a 740bhp 6.3-litre V12 engine: this is the first of a new generation of engines which will include an all-new Enzo by the end of the year.
How fast is it? Well it'll hit 62mph from standstill in just 3.1sec and 0-124mph in just 8.5sec.
It was originally thought the replacement for the Ferrari 599 would be named the 620GT: instead the official name references classic Ferraris including the 250 GT Berlinetta.
Officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the F12berlinetta sees Ferrari’s traditional transaxle layout revolutionised to match the more extreme performance of the car.
The wheelbase has been shortened and the engine, dashboard and seats have been lowered in the chassis, while the new layout of the rear suspension and gearbox enabled Ferrari’s engineers to make the rear volume of the car smaller.
The overall result is a very compact car with a lower centre of gravity that is further back in the chassis, and a level of aerodynamic efficiency that sets new standards.
Watch our video of Fernando Alonso driving the Ferrari F12berlinetta
Scaglietti, renowned for its expertise in aluminium materials and construction, designed an all-new spaceframe chassis and bodyshell using 12 different kinds of alloys, some of which have been used here for the first time in the automotive sector, and employing new assembly and joining techniques.
This has resulted in a 20% increase in structural rigidity while reducing weight to just 1525kg (70kg less than the previous V12 coupé) with an ideal distribution between the axles (54% over the rear).
The F12berlinetta’s 6262cc 65° V12 engine delivers unprecedented performance and revs for a naturally-aspirated 12-cylinder. Its maximum power output is 740bhp. Torque reaches a peak of 690Nm, 80% of which is already available at just 2500rpm, and which provides an unrelenting surge of acceleration all the way to the 8700rpm limit.
The engine is mated to the F1 dual-clutch transmission, which has closer gear ratios developed specifically for this car’s performance. The F12berlinetta boasts a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.1 kg/CV.
Fuel consumption has been reduced by 30%, with CO2 emissions of just 350g/km – figures which put the F12berlinetta at the top of the high-performance league. These results have been obtained by extensive research and development which focused on efficiencies of the whole vehicle: engine, aerodynamics, tyres and weights.
See more official photos of the Ferrari F12berlinetta
Similarly excellent results have been obtained with the car’s aerodynamic development, thanks to the integration of the design process with extensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and lengthy testing in the wind tunnel. Downforce has been boosted by 76% (123kg at 200km/h) while drag has been significantly reduced (the Cd is just 0.299). These results come courtesy of two new solutions.
The first of these is the Aero Bridge which uses the bonnet to generate downforce by channelling air away from the upper part of the car to its flanks where it interacts with the wake from the wheel wells to decrease drag. The second is Active Brake Cooling, a system that opens guide vanes to the brake cooling ducts only at high operating temperatures, again reducing drag.
The F12berlinetta’s impressive technical specifications are completed by Ferrari’s latest generation carbon-ceramic brakes (CCM3) and the evolution of the magnetorheological suspension control system (SCM-E). As is now traditional with all Ferraris, its control systems (E-Diff, ESP Premium, F1-Trac, and high-performance ABS) are all fully integrated.
Watch our video of the Ferrari F12berlinetta unveiling
The result is that the new Prancing Horse 12-cylinder completes a lap of the Fiorano circuit in 1’23”, faster than any other Ferrari road car. Benchmark performance and maximum driving involvement are guaranteed by immediate turn-in, with smaller steering wheel angles, and increased cornering speed. Stopping distances have also been drastically reduced.
The design of the F12berlinetta is a result of the collaboration between the Ferrari Styling Centre and Pininfarina and is a perfect balance of uncompromising aerodynamics with harmonious proportions interpreting the typical elements of Ferrari’s front-engined V12 cars in an original and innovative way.
A coupé with sleek, aggressive lines whose compact exterior dimensions conceal exceptional in-car space and comfort. The all-new Frau leather interior highlights the balance of advanced technology and sophisticated, handcrafted detailing. In the middle of the light and lean dashboard, there are new carbon fibre and aluminium air vents clearly inspired by the aeronautic field.
The cabin has been optimised to ensure maximum usability of the interior space with additional luggage capacity behind the seats, which can also be easily reached thanks to the large aperture offered by the tail-gate.
With the cockpit designed around the driver, typical of all Ferraris, the Human Machine Interface approach is emphasised, grouping all the major commands within immediate reach to guarantee maximum ergonomics for the most involving driving experience.
Watch our video of the Ferrari FF
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Jim McGill