Like all the best Ferraris, the entire character of the car is defined
by its engine, in this case a 6.3-litre V12 with a startling 730bhp. Raw
performance is enough to make conventional supercars seem anaemic by
comparison, yet its manners are perfect and completely in tune with the
seven speed double clutch, paddle shift transmission. As with all other
Ferraris these days, there is no manual option.
You need a chassis of rare ability to cope with that kind of power – and
the F12 has one. It’s beautifully balanced, blessed with outstanding
grip and brakes that are at least a match for the available performance.
The ride is equally impressive, with enough suppleness to make the F12 a
grand tourer as well as a sports car. The steering is the only black
mark; it’s a little too light and a lot too quick and aggressive.
For a car that makes as much noise as the F12 does at full throttle, it
can also be remarkably quiet. If you hold the engine at a constant speed
on the motorway it falls almost silent. Wind noise is well controlled,
too, so the refinement is really only spoiled by tyre roar on certain
surfaces. Then again, when a car has so much rubber, that’s to be
expected.
The driving position is excellent, with the pedals and steering wheel
lining up nicely, and you’ll be surprisingly aware of the F12’s
extremities. The mix of a conventional rev counter with digital displays
for other dials is only partially successful, though, while the
button-laden steering wheel smacks more of owners’ desire to look like
F1 drivers than actual ergonomic efficiency.
A practical Ferrari? Sort of. The F12 has good interior space for its
two occupants (although oddment storage space is very limited) and
there's an impressive 320-litre boot. The boot can be extended to 500
litres by removing the shelf between it and the space behind the rear
seats, which then gives it pretty much the same luggage capacity as a
BMW 7 Series.
For this money you might expect almost every bit of equipment to be
standard. Not so, because while you get carbon brakes, sat-nav and
leather upholstery for your considerable outlay, Ferrari expects the
typical owner to spend tens of thousands more on personalising the car
with a bewildering array of (expensive) options.
