Overview
Ferrari unveiled the F12berlinetta at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show as the successor to the 599 GTB Fiorano, and it was the most powerful road car the company had ever built. The name points to its twelve cylinders and its berlinetta (two-seat coupe) layout. The Ferrari Design Centre worked with Pininfarina on the shape, and it’s a lot more compact than the 599, shorter and lower, with a short tail, a long bonnet and a cabin pushed back toward the rear axle. The most interesting design feature is the Aero Bridge, a channel along the bonnet that directs air over the body to create downforce without a big wing. It looks aggressive and purposeful, and it’s very clearly a car shaped by the wind tunnel.
Engine and Performance
Under the bonnet sits a 6.3-litre V12 producing about 740 PS (544 kW) and 690 Nm of torque, and it revs to around 8,700 rpm. It’s very strong at low revs but really comes alive near the top, with a hard, ringing note that fills the cabin. Power goes through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and there was no manual option. The F12berlinetta reaches 100 km/h in about 3.1 seconds and tops out at over 340 km/h (211 mph), which made it the fastest road-going Ferrari of its time.
Chassis and Handling
The F12 uses a new aluminium space-frame built from a dozen different alloys, and it’s lighter and stiffer than the 599’s. The engine sits far back in the chassis, behind the front axle, and the gearbox is mounted at the rear, which gives a rear-biased weight balance for a front-engined car. Ferrari fitted magnetorheological dampers, carbon-ceramic brakes, an electronic differential and the manettino dial, along with very quick steering. On the road it feels sharp and light for something this powerful, and it turns in with real eagerness. It’s also a demanding car at the limit, so it rewards a confident, careful driver.
Interior and Comfort
Inside, the F12 is a driver-focused two-seater. The leather-trimmed cabin has supportive seats, a clear instrument layout and a steering wheel carrying the start button and manettino. There’s less space than in the 599, but the boot is still usable for a weekend trip, and the car is comfortable enough for long drives. It’s fast and serious, though it doesn’t punish you on the daily commute.
Production and Legacy
Production ran from 2012 to 2017, and the F12berlinetta was followed by the 812 Superfast. A limited-edition F12tdf, named after the Tour de France races of the 1950s, arrived in 2015 with around 780 PS and rear-wheel steering, and only 799 were built. Today the F12 is seen as one of the last great naturally aspirated front-engined V12 Ferraris, and collectors value it for its power, its sound and its sharp handling.
