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Driving the Ferrari F12tdf Through Monaco Will Give You Eargasms

The F12tdf is without a doubt the most extreme conventional car that Ferrari has ever built. We've had plenty of chances to sample the aural experiences through official videos from the Italian manufacturer, but this yellow streak of lightning remains a rare sight.
Driving the Ferrari F12tdf Though Monaco Will Give You Eargasms 1 photo
Photo: Screenshot from YouTube
Only a month after being revealed, all the F12tdf examples were spoken for. Ferrari started cranking them out, and one example has landed in Monaco, the go-to place for people who want to show off.

The tdf is not exactly beautiful, not in the same sense as the Enzo or the 250 GTO. Something about it reminds us of the Aston Martin DBS. Maybe it's the James Bond connection given by the casino setting, or the fact that the Tour de France is a tuned version of the regular F12, much like DBS is a tuned version of the DB9.

But the times have changed, and while the DBS was all about chrome and shiny paint, carbon fiber is now the go-to material for the car industry.

They're going to make 799 of these things, which is 200 more than the 599 GTO. Still, every one has already been bought, which is understandable when you consider the performance on offer.

Under that long yellow hood is a 6262cc V12 engine that delivers 780 horsepower to the rear wheels. Engineers have also shaved 110 kilograms (242 pounds) from the total weight of the car, so when Ferrari claims it will reach 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 2.9 seconds and 200 km/h (124 mph) in 7.9 seconds, you tend to believe them. Still, like most supercars, the F12tdf is spending most of its time being careful not to damage the paint or anger Monaco's famously intolerant policemen.

With the 458 and California having recently been converted into twin-turbo cars and the future of the supercar world looking increasingly "hybrid-electric," the F12tdf could be the last pure Ferrari. In that sense, even though it's not gorgeous, it might become a true collector's car.

Do you still want to know a little bit about what they did to the F12 to make it special? Of course you do. The F12tdf features cornering speeds that are higher, thanks to the significant increase in downforce (+87%). And let's not forget the innovative rear wheel steering, known as Virtual Short Wheelbase, which is integrated with the other vehicle dynamic control systems and makes everything extra-special.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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