Ferrari released images and details of their upcoming 599 replacement, earlier today.
The F12 Berlinetta will be Ferrari’s most powerful and fastest ever road car. The power outputs are almost identical, as those reported by us last week at 740CV (approx 730bhp). Ferrari say the V12, which is the same one used in the four seater FF, but will rev to 8700rpm, and put out 80bhp more. Yet the F12 will return 18.9mpg, an increase of 10% over the 599. This is possible in part, thanks to the Start-Stop technology, as used in other current Ferraris.
The F12 will hit 62 in 3.1 seconds, 124 in 8.5 seconds, and lap Ferrari’s home circuit, Fiorano in 1min23seconds. Hugely impressive!
As with all new Ferraris, the F12 Berlinetta will not be available with a manual gear box. Ferrari are using their dual clutch, automatic gearbox.
As suspected the new F12 is actually a little smaller than the outgoing 599. According to our sources, customers complained that the 599 was a bit too difficult to park in their garages. The F12 Berlinetta will be 20mm narrower, 47mm shorter, 63mm lower than the 599. That’s 1942mm wide, 4618mm long and 1273mm high. This has lowered the cars overall centre of gravity.
The car is also now built from an all new 12 alloy aluminium spaceframe chassis and bodyshell, making in 70kg lighter than the 599, at 1525kg. Also, as reported by us last week. The F12 will also be 20% stiffer than its 599 predecessor.
Ferrari note that thanks to the XX programme, they, along with Pininfarina have designed the aerodynamics so that the F12 has 76% more downforce than the 599. The drag coefficient is down to 0.299.
Reduction in drag is reduced partly thanks to a newly designed “Air-Bridge” which channels from the bonnets side intakes though the wheel arches, then splits it though the car’s beautifully sculpted side vents. You can see these vents clearly in the pictures above. The car also has “Active Brake Cooling” which is a system that will open the brake vents when the Carbon Ceramic get hot enough. The system will then close them again when the brakes have cooled down, reducing the drag effect.
We can expect the interior to be a mix between the 458 and the FF. All driving major controls will be mounted on the steering wheel, as per Ferrari’s “Human Machine Interface” system.
Order books will open at the Geneva show, and prices will likely start at around £250,000. So get your cheque books ready and you could be driving the brand new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta by early 2013!
