When was the last time that a Ferrari
looked perfect? Hmm...that's hard to zero in on. Isn't it? Some might
say," Wasn't the Enzo a looker?" Really? With that pointy nose-job
taken straight off a Formula One car and with a rear section which had no
styling cohesiveness with the front end, it wasn't a perfect looking car. If at
all it looked any good to some, it isn't being made anymore. The 599 GTO looked
quite smashing though. But that too isn't there with the "On Sale"
poster now. So if we take a look at the catalogue we are left with some
disappointments. And please don't get started on the much-hyped 458 Italia. No
matter how much the trio at BBC Top gear keeps raving about it, the Italia
isn't the best-looking Ferrari which we have seen in the last ten years. Plus,
to make it less-endearing Justin Bieber has one. God help us all then. So how
about the rest? The all-wheel drive FF looks like a mistake made by God and the
California is as bland as David Caruso on a Sunday morning. So are we really
left with none to hold on to? Thankfully, that's why Ferrari created the F12
Berlinetta and we couldn't thank the Italian car maker more for this car.
Ferrari
F12 Berlinetta
The front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
grand tourer is what we might call a car which is made to win hearts and stir
souls. Titled "The Supercar of the Year 2012" by Top Gear, this
beauty may have a name which is a bit girly. But ignore that part, because
beyond that seemingly off-putting moniker lies a fantastically-styled and
meticulously-built mean machine which easily makes it to the list of the Top 10
most beautiful Ferraris ever made. And for some obvious reason you'll be
finding sentences in this write-up ending a lot often with the phrase
"ever made".
The 6.3 liter V12 engine which thrives
beneath that mile-long hood produces 730bhp of power and rips up 509 Ib-ft of
torque. So that easily classifies the F12 as the most powerful high performance
Ferrari ever made. See, we'd warned you. With all that colossal power comes the
great responsibility of delivering mind-blowing performance. Not pulling an
Uncle Ben there, but the F12 can go from 0 to 100kph in around 3.1 seconds and
it urges you to dig your legs deeper into the foot well. Should you feel the
need, it can give you the speed. The F12 take you to the 340kph mark with the
same ease with which Maverick pulls off low-altitude flybys. Just in case it
gives the driver a massive ego boost, that makes it the fastest Ferrari ever
made. To keep you in charge of the proceedings onboard, Ferrari has installed a
7-speed DCT gearbox to keep a rein on those wild horses that it houses
underneath that hood.
The
Speed, The tagline that this is the Fastest Road Car ever to have come out of
the factory floor of the Italian car maker
Let's get back to that part which Ferrari
keeps reminding us about this car. The Speed, The tagline that this is the
Fastest Road Car ever to have come out of the factory floor of the Italian car
maker. Being capable enough to offer a blistering top speed figure of 340kph,
the F12 looks down at every other Ferrari road car ever made. The Enzo, the
458, the 599 GTO and even the greatest of them all - the F40 -all of them are
politely yet sternly intimidated by the sheer boldness and competence of the
F12 to go faster than any other road-going Ferrari has ever dared to. And it
does all that without having to compromise on features or comforts. And it
doesn't try to kill you while you are driving it. Yes, we are looking at you,
599 GTO. It even has a 320 liter boot which in the supercar world is impressive
by all standards. The Aventador hasn't got room for anything more than clutch
purse in its luggage area and here we have room for a couple of travel bags.
Beat that Lambo. And you don't look stupid while getting in and out of the car.
Isn't that what the point is about usually? How you arrive and how you leave?
It doesn't come across as a surprise that
the fact sheet of this car takes one's attention of what was really intended
with this write-up the stunning looks of the F12. No complaints there as the
F12 delivers and satisfies on all notes. Designed jointly by the Ferrari
Styling Centre and Pininfarina, the F12 is one of those cars which melts your
heart with its styling. However, if you are smitten by those voluptuous,
curvaceous lines, perhaps you should send a bouquet to the chaps at the aero
dynamics division of Ferrari, as those guys had an upper hand in calling the
shots while designing the car. But unlike the Veyron which ended up
compromising on its looks for the sake of earth-shattering speed, these chaps
did keep things civil and pleasing to the eye. So while it has the wings, flaps
and vents wherever they are necessary, the exercise doesn't end up making the
car look like it could take to the skies if given a chance. It ends up looking
incredibly beautiful and pleasing. What pleases the eyes and senses the most is
that it has retained the best styling features of the 599 which it replaces and
added some of the cues which are part of Ferrari's current line-up. As an
example, the front section is evidently inspired by the FF and the rear gets
its share of 458 nods. So the F12 essentially has the best elements from its
two stable mates and none of the borrowed features looks out of place. As a
package, it looks complete. It looks perfect.
Just
out of curiosity, we pulled out the family tree of the F12 just to familiarize
ourselves with its predecessors and what we discovered was a list which
comprised of the most incredible looking Ferraris during each age which
transpired
So how do we conclude our preview of what
is arguably the year gone-by's best supercar? With a mention of its lineage, of
course. Just out of curiosity, we pulled out the family tree of the F12 just to
familiarize ourselves with its predecessors and what we discovered was a list
which comprised of the most incredible looking Ferraris during each age which
transpired. The 599 GTB, the 575M and eventually leading up to the Daytona -
one of the all-time greats and the great great grand dad of the F12. Talk about
blue-blooded pedigree.
