Just as promised, on February 29, 2012 Ferrari revealed their new car. This new creation is designed as the replacement for the aging 599, and features V12 power up front and rear wheel drive. Seems like business as usual until you realize this newest iteration of the Prancing Horse is the most powerful and fastest road going Ferrari ever.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to introduce the all-new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.
With a 740 horsepower V12 and rear-wheel drive, this is a purebred Italian dream. Ferrari’s latest grand tourer is capable of lapping the famed Fiorano test track in a blistering time 1:23. for comparison that is a full 2 seconds quicker than the all-powerful Ferrari Enzo supercar. The car will accelerate to 60 mph around 3 seconds flat, and will blow past 100 mph in 8.5 seconds, very quick indeed.
This Ferrari, like many before it, has been designed by Pininfarina. The flowing lines and large haunches shown in the 3/4 view above create an enticing image. Not all is well in the F12 design, however. Like the Ferrari FF that came before it, this new Ferrari suffers from “grinning idiot” syndrom.
It may not be beautiful from all sides, but the new bodywork has a super slippery .299 Cd and produces an incredible 76-percent more downforce. All this math and fancy aerodynamics means that any owner with enough bravery and enough straight road can hit 211 mph if they plant the pedal.
Moving to the inside proves to be standard Ferrari fare. Lots of aluminum, highly bolstered seats, miles of bovine skin and that crowded steering wheel.
The newest machine from Maranello will be making its public debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Keep your eyes here on AutoTalk.com for all the details as they become available. If you need even more F12 to whet your appetite, Ferrari has launched a mini-site and car configurator at www.F12Berlinetta.com and of course we have our full high-resolution gallery below.
