FERRARI F12 BERLINETTA

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

The Ferrari Scaglietti has been with us for years. It was the only Ferrari with plenty of room for a couple and their two children. Each model on its range was fascinating. To find a replacement for the Scaglietti, Ferrari had to go all out.

Ferrari 599 GTO - the model it replaces 

It had to be something spectacular that would defy all odds but at the same time it had to be something that reflected the true character of a prancing horse. What Ferrari came up with is not a mere sports car but one of the greatest supercars ever made.  

Shorter and lower compared to the 599

The use of an all new spaceframe chassis and bodyshell design give the F12 an even more rigid body than before. It has also resulted in weight reduction of 20% compared to the Scaglietti. The F12 now weighs 1525 kg. Ferrari engineers have also revised the transaxle to match the amazing performance of the F12. The wheelbase has also been shortened.  The engine, dashboard and seats have been lowered in the chassis. This plus the new layout of the rear suspension and gearbox has enabled Ferrari's engineers to make the rear of the car smaller. The overall result is a very compact car with a lower center of gravity and high levels of aerodynamic efficiency. 

Aggressive and aerodynamic front

The F12 has a long front nose, with a huge grill (that may have been inspired by the FF), purposely placed air intakes at the side and a lowly placed air splitter. To make the front more aerodynamic two steps were implemented. The first of two is the Aero Bridge which uses the bonnet to generate downforce by channeling air away from the upper part of the car to its sides. 

Aerodynamic twitches at the sides

The second is Active Brake Cooling, a system that opens guide vanes to the brake cooling ducts only at high operating temperatures. Similar aerodynamic twitches were done at the side right to the back of the F12. A rear spoiler is visible at the back while four exhaust tips help channel the amazing sound from engine.

Twin tip double exhaust system

Under the bonnet is an all-new 6.2 liter naturally aspirated V12 engine that gives out 730 hp! This makes it the most powerful production Ferrari ever made. The engine is married to a F1 dual-clutch transmission system. The system has closer gear ratios developed specifically for the F12 overall performance. The transmission system also gives the F12 impressive acceleration times. The car will gallop from 0-100 km/h in just 3.1 seconds.  0 to 200 km/h is dealt with in an impressive 8.5 seconds. It has a top speed of 340km/h. Braking is taken care of by Ferrari’s latest generation carbon-ceramic brakes. They work together with the car’s Magnetorheological Suspension Control System (SCM-E), E-Diff, ESP Premium, F1-Trac, and high-performance ABS to give it impressive handling and braking capabilities. 

Frau Leather

Inside the all new Frau Leather adorns every corner of the interior. New carbon fiber and aluminum air vents give the interior a classy but sporty feeling. On the passenger side there is a display that conveys information about different modes, gear changes and the engine revs.

F1 inspired steering wheel

The F1 inspired steering wheel has numerous buttons for vehicle control ensuring that the driver’s hand never leaves the steering wheel. Leather covered sports seats keep the driver and the passenger in place during heavy cornering. Carbon fiber touches are visible in the steering wheel, paddle shifters and the dashboard. At the back there is plenty of room for a medium sized suitcase. 

Practical rear space

The price for all this is £250,000 that is nearly Kshs. 33 million excluding taxes.