Ferrari F12 Berlinetta Heads To Geneva - Rapidly

The fastest Ferrari road car ever, is how the folks from Maranello are describing it.  And it terms of road-going production cars from the storied Italian brand, you could also add "the most powerful" moniker.  Meet the Ferrari F12berlinetta, which was seemingly named in an attempt to irritate editors everywhere.

The F12 (which is probably what most people will end up calling it) takes the place of the 599 GTB in Ferrari's lineup: the top-of-the-range, front engined V12 Grand Tourer.  Less practical and spacious than an FF, less light and nimble than a 458, it's designed (like the 599, 575, 550, 412, 400i, etc before it) to take two people and their things across a continent at high speeds.  Why wouldn't you just take the plane?

Well, for one thing the F12 has 740 horsepower and 509 lb-ft torque from a new 6.3L V12.  That's 118 horsepower more than the 599, which wasn't what you might call underpowered.  The V12 produces 80% of peak torque from 2,500rpm, with a ceiling of 8,700rpm.  The V12 is linked to a twin-clutch automated transmission - no manual - and Ferrari says it's good for a 3.1 second 0-60 time and a top speed in excess of 211mph (340km/h) flat-out.  Despite the increased performance, the F12 is more efficient than the outgoing model too - 30% less fuel consumption, and a drop in CO2 emissions from 415 to 350 g/km.  Impressive.

Surprisingly, the F12berlinetta is smaller in most all dimensions than the outgoing 599 - 47mm shorter, 63mm lower, 19mm narrower, and the wheelbase is shorter as well.  Thanks to more extensive use of aluminum, the new car is 154lbs lighter than the old one, with a curb weight of 3,362 lbs - so the power to weight ratio will be ridiculous, well north of ZR-1 Corvette territory (638bhp/~3,400lbs.)

Of course the F12 is loaded with high-tech performance features.  Carbon/Ceramic brakes, Magnetic Ride Control, electronic rear diff, multiple stability control modes, etc.  One of the most impressive is one you can't really see at all: the aerodynamics of the car.  Ferrari worked in conjunction with Pininfarina to make the F12 both beautiful and wind-cheating, which explains some of the stranger details (like the pinched rear bumper.)  The F12berlinetta has a lower drag coefficient (0.299) and frontal area than the 599, while making more downforce - they claim 123kg at 200km/h.  The result of all this nip, tuck, tech, and traction?  The F12berlinetta laps Fiorano (Ferrari's in house test track) 1 second faster than the 599 GTO, and 2 seconds faster than the Enzo, at 1:23.

Styling is a subjective matter, but the F12 is gorgeous from some angles (side-on) and awkward from others (rear three-quarter, head on.)  Like most exotics, it will probably look a lot better in person, under real lighting and without all that photoshop.  I really like the surface detailing on the sides that transforms from negative to positive space over the rear fenders, and the classic fastback Kamm-tail rear end.  Not as dramatic as an Aventador, but that's to be expected.

The F12berlinetta will debut in the metal at Geneva Show next month, with sales beginning late this year or early 2013.  Price tag? If you have to ask, this might not be the car for you.  High-resolution gallery below.