The Ferrari has long been used as an analogy for all that is most desirable, of highest quality or untouchable. For example, ‘if she were a car, she would be a Ferrari’ this comparison may be about to change forever. We can now add a suffix ‘F12berlinetta’ to that and be sure that any comparison with this car is the highest compliment you will receive in your lifetime.

When the Ferrari F12berlinetta was (literally) unveiled at the Geneva Motor show last month it was impossible to get near the podium with the media scrum surrounding it. The atmosphere was more akin to red carpet on Oscar night than motor show, but that is the glamour of Ferrari.

So what’s new about it? Well it’s a faster, fitter sports car giving 0-100 km in 3.1 seconds. That’s out-of-body experience levels of acceleration. It clocked Ferrari’s Fiorano test track in 1 min 23 seconds, making it the fastest ever Ferrari to run the famous factory track. You should never actually utilise this car’s top speed of 340 kph or you run the risk of time actually going backwards and ending up before you were born.

The staggering thing is, that this car does it with 30% less fuel than its predecessor. It’s cleaner too with CO2 emissions of 350 g/km a very impressive for a 730 bhp V12 engine. The aluminium space frame chassis uses 12 different kinds of alloy to reduce weight and improve structural rigidity by 20%. The centre of gravity has been reduced, and the engine, interior and seats all sit 25 mm lower in the chassis.

The interior has been streamlined and ergonomicised making it an intuitive reflex-responsive drive. The Ferrari F1berlinetta has improved aerodynamics that increase down force meaning there is no need for a rear spoiler and the overall shape and lines of the car are as tight and exquisite as you’ve ever seen.

This car it must be said, has everything. The power, the looks, the intelligence what more could you want from a car? If the Ferrari F12berlinetta were a movie star it would be…

by Hugo Mc Cafferty