New Car: 2012 Ferrari FF


It’s Forza Ferrari! Meet the FF, Ferrari’s replacement for the 612 Scaglietti. Not only is the newcomer an all-new model, it’s also the company’s most powerful four-seater ever, as well as its first ever four-wheel-drive car.
The FF - an acronym for Ferrari Four (four seats and four-wheel drive) – is described by Ferrari as a car that “represents not so much an evolution as a true revolution”.


And that includes an all-new naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V12 with direct injection. The unit produces 651bhp at 8,000rpm and an impressive 683Nm at 6,000rpm. Performance is suitably rapid, with 0-62mph taking 3.7 seconds, and a top speed of 208mph. The 612 managed the sprint in four seconds and hit 199mph flat out.

Drive is fed via a transaxle-mounted dual-clutch F1 gearbox, but the big news is the FF’s patented four-wheel-drive system. Called 4RM, Ferrari claims the system weighs 50 per cent less than a conventional all-wheel drive transmission, and helps to maintain a 47:53 weight distribution, although is yet to detail whether the system features conventional driveshafts or uses electric motors to power the front wheels.

The FF’s drivetrain is integrated with the car’s electronic dynamic control systems, and Ferrari claims it “delivers record levels of performance on all terrains and in all conditions”.

Despite the addition of four-wheel drive, the FF weighs 1,790kg – 50kg less than its predecessor. That also helps curb fuel consumption, with the FF returning 18.3mpg and 360g/km when specced with the HELE stop-start system, down from 13.8mpg and 470g/km respectively.

Completing the FF’s dynamic package, is Ferrari’s latest SCM3 adaptive dampers and Brembo’s new carbon-ceramic brakes.

As for the striking design, the FF was penned by Pininfarina, under the guidance of Ferrari’s styling chief Flavio Manzoni. It breaks with tradition by offering a unique two-door hatchback. The newcomer measures 4,907mm long, 1,953mm wide and 1,374mm high, making it longer, but narrower and taller than the 612.

Ferrari has said that it will never build a four-door car, but the FF does feature seating for four. What’s more, the FF boasts 450-litres of luggage space with the seats up, which is slightly less than a Ford Focus estate!

An array of personalisation options and accessories has been developed for the FF, including six model-specific exterior colours and special leather upholstery.

The newcomer will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with prices yet to be announced. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express