Italian supercars manufacturer has finally unveiled its Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, automotive beauty which it claims to be the fastest and most powerful Ferrari ever. The car features 740-horsepower V12 engine under the hood that lets it sprint from 0-62 mph in 3.1 seconds and 0-104 mph in 8.5 seconds and can hit top speeds of 211 mph. The new 2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta effectively replaces the aging 599 GTB Fiorano, and will make its first public debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.
2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
Ferrari’s traditional transaxle layout has been changed to match the performance of the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. 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 F12 comes with Ferrari’s latest generation carbon-ceramic brakes (CCM3) and the magnetorheological suspension control system (SCM-E).
Visually the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta was a design collaboration between the Ferrari Styling Centre and Pininfarina. Both companies spent a lot of time creating 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.
Up front, the F12 Berlinetta’s long headlamps bear a resemblance to those of the 458 Italia, while a large egg crate grille dominates the lower half of the fascia. The F12’s front fenders quickly taper to a narrow point, allowing the hood surfaces to wrap down and around the side of the car, terminating in a large V-shaped swage that curves upward into the rear fenders.
While the F12’s rear quarters are rather conservative, they’re not without some dramatic flair. The lower edges of the rear valence curve downward, forming a surface that intersects the rear diffuser and neatly wraps beneath the bumper.
If you think the F12 Berlinetta appears a little smaller than the outgoing 599, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Preliminary specifications indicate the F12 is about 2 inches shorter, 7/10 of an inch narrower, and 2.5 inches lower than its predecessor. The F12’s body is also lighter than the 599’s, thanks in part to a new aluminum-intensive spaceframe. An estimated curb weight of 3363 pounds means the F12 is not only 360 pounds lighter than the 599 GTB, but it’s also about 176 pounds lighter than the hard-core, performance-tuned 599 GTO. As was the case on the 599, the use of a transaxle — a seven-speed dual-clutch unit, in this instance — allows the F12 to shift 54 percent of its curb weight to its tail end.
Also, the Ferrari have just activated a new microsite for the F12, inviting you to experience the company’s new car. You can twiddle with exterior paint colors, wheels, brake caliper finishes and interior trims to your heart’s content. The website also features a number of special features, including sound files, technical notes and so on. This is probably the closest you’re ever going to get, unless you count yourself among a rarified percentage of the world’s one percenters.
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