Ferrari says only that “the F1 dual-clutch transmission” is fitted; it’s likely an evolution of the seven-speed unit installed in the California and modified for use in the FF. Ferrari’s engineers want bleeding-edge tech and performance, so we get a computer-controlled gearbox in lieu of a stick. That, and the hedge-fund managers and oil sheiks who buy these tend to prefer the, er, simplicity of two pedals.
We reserve judgment on vehicle performance until we can perform a test with our own equipment—especially when it comes to exotic cars—but here’s what Ferrari is claiming: The F12berlinetta will accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 3.1 seconds, and is said to circle Ferrari’s Fiorano track faster than any other Ferrari street car.
Ferrari also says that the F12 is 150 pounds lighter than its “previous V-12 coupe.” The various 599 models we’ve tested have weighed between 3800 and 4000 pounds on our scales. The weight savings comes in large part from the piles and piles of aluminum employed to form both the sheetmetal and the spaceframe.
Compared to the 599, aerodynamic drag is said to be reduced, while downforce has been increased by a claimed 76 percent. Carbon-ceramic brakes are available, as is the newest iteration of Ferrari’s magnetorheological suspension.
Written that way, yes, the name looks a little dumb, but the car’s heart is far from it. Like the 599 it replaces, the Ferrari F12berlinetta packs a front-mounted V-12 and rear-wheel drive. Not only does the 6.3-liter powerplant make 730 hp, it does so at a scorching 8500 rpm. Torque is listed at 509 lb-ft. We can’t wait to hear the V-12 going batcrap insano up to its 8700-rpm redline.
In the pictures, the front end of the F12berlinetta looks like a character from a Pixar movie. Otherwise, it’s a sharp design, even if it fails to deliver the sex appeal of ancestors like the 250 GT and Daytona. Deep body-side creases—almost gouges, really—sweep upward as they travel toward the back of the car. As for the interior, it’s typical Ferrari minimalism, with a hint of retro chic in the curvature of the dash and vents. Also, there’s a cup holder. The F12 is strictly a two-seat car; if you want a 2+2 tourer, Ferrari would like to sell you an FF.
Ferrari isn’t yet talking about pricing or availability. The 599 started at $317,000, while hotter variants of that car ran up to $450,000. Figure on a starting price in the mid-$300Ks for the F12berlinetta. As for availability, there probably isn’t any. Deposits already have been collected for many not-yet-built cars, and Ferrari dealers are notoriously uninterested in selling new cars to people who aren’t already in the Scuderia’s famiglia.
