WHEN: April 2013
HOW MUCH: Rs 2 crore (+ plus duties and taxes)
ENGINE: 6262cc V12, 730 PS, 690 Nm
COMPETITION: Ferrari FF, Bentley Continental GT Speed
These are the first pictures of Ferrari’s all-new F12berlinetta coupe, touted as an eventual successor to the 599 GTB. In that sense, the new F12 will be a proper four-seat coupe with trans-continental performance.
Let’s take a look at the spec sheet: the headline figures are the power and torque ratings. Ferrari says the 6.3-litre V12 produces 730 PS of power and 690 Nm of torque, good enough to launch the F12 to 100km/h in just 3.1 seconds. Top speed will of course be in excess of 320 km/h. There are no official mid-range acceleration figures available yet, but according to some Ferrari insiders, the 60 – 160 km/h times of the new F12 will eclipse any production car to date, with the exception of the mighty Bugatti Veyron. Which is a nice way to say that it’ll be faster than the Lamborghini Aventador, despite having two extra seats!
Built with a combination of carbon fibre and 12 different metal alloys, the new Ferrari F12 tips the scales at a mere 1525 kgs dry, which is about 75 kgs less than the 599. It will measure 4618mm long, 1942mm wide, and stands just 1273mm off the ground. It is smaller than the 599 in each measurement, and uses a shorter wheelbase too, but we don’t know the exact figure yet. The body is 20 % stiffer too, compared to the 599, and the coefficient of drag is a mere 0.299.
The new F12 will use the latest iteration of Ferrari’s F1-derived dual-clutch gearbox, which will shift gears faster than you can think. The rear transaxle gearbox and rear suspension have been optimised to make the car more compact, and still deliver more interior room for all four passengers. The F12 utilises the Human Machine Interface, which is Ferrari’s way of saying that all major controls have been grouped on the steering wheel. The F12 also has magneto-rheological damping, where the dampers are filled with a fluid containing fine iron particles, which are controlled by an electric current. The intelligent damping system ensure microscopic corrections and ultra-fast reaction times, ensuring the F12 responds ultra-fast to road variations while remaining comfortable for the occupants.
The F12berlinetta utilises much of Ferrari’s racing know-how in areas like aerodynamics and packaging, which ensure that the car looks beautiful and still maintains very good grip and balance even at extremely high speeds. One innovation is the ‘Aero Bridge’, where the intakes on the side of the bonnet channel air through the wheel arches, exiting through the strakes on the sides of the doors. A stylised rear diffuser not only looks good, but ensures the F12 does not suffer any lift at high speed, giving the driver confidence to push harder. The F12 also gets Active Brake Cooling, which only opens the brake vents when it senses the ceramic composite brakes are hot enough. This helps to reduce drag and ensures maximum stopping power.
Of course, Ferrari has made every attempt to ensure the new F12 is green too, and the car boasts of stop-start technology, which cuts emissions to a mere 350 g of CO2 for every kilometre travelled. It is more fuel-efficient too, which should ensure a better range, which was one of the criticisms of the 599.
Ferrari will display the new F12berlinetta to the public at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show next week, with sales expected to commence by the end of the year. Prices are likely to start at Rs 2 crore, and that’s before adding taxes and import duties. Right-hand-drive production is likely to commence towards the end of 2012 or early in 2013, so expect it to be launched in India somewhere in the second half of next year.
