FERRARI F12 Berlinetta Review

You don’t need to spend too much time with the Ferrari F12 to realize that this is a hybrid. No, there’s no electric stuff here. We’re referring to the fact that the F12 is a mix between a supercar and a Grand Tourer.

As hilarious as it may sound, using the F12 Berlinetta as a daily driver isn’t that much of a stretch. Of course, this is true as long as your everyday route isn’t confined to the city’s borders. That V12 is one of the most civilized Italian exotic engines we’ve ever fed gas. This is even more astonishing if you consider this is a meaner version of the V12 on the Ferrari FF.

Ferrari’s F12 Berlinetta is also 30 percent more efficient compared to the 599 GTB Fiorano. Coupled with the 24.3 gallons (92 liters) of gas you can stow in the tank, this gives you enough autonomy to use the car in GT mode.

There are limitations though. For example, the seats are a bit too firm, even if you skip the optional racing ones and go for the standard kit. Ferrari brags it’s worked to reduce their size within the cabin. Unfortunately, you can feel this.

Nevertheless, the seat adjustment is an example of ergonomics. You can find your position as if a team of tailors and designers were traveling with you in the car.

Speaking of who’s accompanying you, the F12 borrows the FF’s passenger display scheme. It would’ve been nice if they had upgraded to a multi-color screen though.

Body and chassis

The aluminum monocoque of the Ferrari F12 features 12 different kinds of alloys. The resulting structure is 20 percent more rigid than that of the replaced Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. In addition, the F12 Berlinetta’s curb weight sits at 3,594 lbs (1,630 kg). This makes it about 160 lbs (72.5 kg) lighter than the 599. It also gives it a 200 lbs (91 kg) advantage over the Lamborghini Aventador - to the latter’s defense, the F12 doesn’t sport all-wheel drive.

Powertrain

A 65-degree angle V12 with a 6262cc capacity... this sounds familiar. Of course it does, it’s the same engine from the Ferrari FF. Only it isn’t. The engineers have reworked the unit to deliver 740 HP at 8,250 rpm and 509 lb-ft (690 Nm) at 6,000 rpm instead of 660 HP at 8,000 rpm and 504 lb-ft (683 Nm) at 6,000 rpm.

The intake and exhaust are updated and there’s a new oil scavenger pump for the dry sump lubrication system. Of course, the ECU is also new. Compared to the 599, the F12 keeps its engine lower in the chassis.

There’s also a set of efficiency-boosting measures, including a stop-start system and an alternator that recharges the battery during the engine overrun phase. Ferrari calls this HELE, standing for High Emotions, Low Emissions.

In addition, the seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission has shortened rations - for example, its 7th gear is a direct ratio, not an overdrive.

Road connection

The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is suspended on double wishbones with lower L arms up front. At the back, we get a multi-link configuration. The vehicle features new magnetorheological dampers supplied by BWI.

When it comes to the steering, the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta comes with a seriously tight ration of 11.5:1, only requiring two turns from one lock to another.

Stopping power

Within the wheels of the Ferrari F12, we find a new carbon-ceramic braking system. Brembo has created a new material blend for the rear grabbers. Cooling comes via an active system up front and an F1-inspired layout at the back.

The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta can look at the FF or the 458 and pride itself with the fact that it has two dedicated colors. They’ve come up with Rosso Berlinetta and Aluminum just to make the lines of the car stand out more.

There’s also a carbon fiber exterior package, which includes various goodies for both the exterior and the interior of the F12. Together with the special forged wheels, this shaves over 66 lbs (30 kg) off the car.

Speaking of optionals, the F12 also comes with a set of practical items, such as the suspension lifter, the heat insulating windshield and the dual view front parking camera.

Inside the car, you could probably cover any element with whatever material you feel like. Ferrari does let you choose between individual finishes for various parts of the cabin. You can even choose the size of the leather stitching. Yes, of course Alcantara is on the menu, but it’s not on the house.

Audiophiles are treated with a JBL system that delivers 1,280W through 12 speakers, but the overall infotainment hardware still doesn’t seem to live up to the car’s name or price. Let’s take the navigation system, for example. This works fine, but the screen itself and the positioning within the dash leave you wishing for more.

For those willing to go even further, Ferrari’s Style Center comes with three bespoke collections: Classica, Scuderia and Inedita. These offer exotic materials that make up an excellent dinner conversation.

You'd be forgiven for laughing at us if we said that a V12-powered, rear-wheel drive Ferrari gets an ultra-high safety score. Yes, this is a RWD beast of a car, but, compared to the 458, for example, is much more stable.

It doesn't feel intimidating behind the wheel because, well, it isn't. Of course, this is all true while you stay within reasonable throttle application limits. Even in the rain, the F12 is totally drivable, again, with a reasonable right foot.

That's because the hardware and software that manages the power is probably the best you can find in a road car today. After many tech-a-queques on F1 tracks, Ferrari has come up with stuff like the E-Diff 3 rear differential and the F1-Trac traction control, as well as its special ESC. This things work together to create a power delivery magic and you'll feel it on the road.

Asking about an official safety rating for a car like the Ferrari F12 seems like a joke. Thus, we'll have to rely on Ferrari's claims when it comes to this chapter.

The aluminum chassis' torsional rigidity is up 20 percent from that of the Ferrari 599. The Italians brag about the F12 already meeting the future crash resistance legislation, including side pole and roof roll-over. They're probably referring to the new safety regulations that will enter the scene in 2015, so we're happy with that.

Alas, the F12 doesn't feature an ultra-long list of airbags, like the Mercedes SLS AMG, for example. You'll have to stick to the front and side (with head-destined chambers) setup.

Yep, Enzo would be pretty pleased with the Ferrari F12. Sure, he probably wouldn’t care about the drivability that makes the Ferrari F12 so good, but he’d certainly love the end result: a car you can’t help but fall in love with.

At the limit, the Ferrari F12 generates a synapse between itself and the driver. Every mile driven hard in the Ferrari F12 turns into a brilliant story. And when traveling to the other end of the scale, the Ferrari F12 proves to be a damn good mile eater.

The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta delivers astonishing performance. Narrow roads, highways, tracks, this thing shines everywhere you take it. Sure, there are other cars that do this and some are even faster. However, Ferrari’s F12 Berlinetta manages to match the speed with just as much drivability. It is this mix that makes up the best part of the car.

This is also what places at the top of the cars we’ve driven so far. Sure, the Lamborghini Aventador offered wilder sensations, but it seems like just a toy compared to this. Ferrari’s FF was even more practical, yet it lacked the sheer poise of the F12. This could go on for quite a while, but you get the picture.

The story is not perfect though. The Ferrari F12 still only has two seats and its rear-wheel drive means you can’t enjoy it in any conditions, despite being able to drive it with surprising ease. And here we are, back to the FF.

Nevertheless, the F12 is so sweet that we’re going to have to use a cliché. We’ll say that the worst part of this Prancing Horse is its price. In America, the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta starts at $330,000. In Europe, the F12 comes with a starting price of EUR275,000, plus VAT, so we're looking at EUR327,000 with the usual 19% tax rate.

However, this story hasn’t ended yet. Ferrari may just give us a two-seater FF fastback coupe in the future. And that’s one disturbing thought.