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Displayed on the stand in two new colours,
Rosso Berlinetta and Aluminium, the
F12berlinetta is the most powerful and
high-performance road-going Ferrari ever.
Sporting a new V12 engine, it is built
around highly evolved transaxle architecture
and features state-of-the-art components and
control systems. The F12berlinetta’s
aerodynamics have also been honed to the
extreme in an innovative design that
redefines classic Ferrari themes.
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Ferrari
has debuted two cars at the 82nd Geneva International
Motor Show: the F12berlinetta, which announces a new
generation of Prancing Horse V12s, and the California
which becomes lighter and more powerful as well as
adding the "Handling Speciale" package.
The world première of the F12berlinetta adds the
finishing flourish to an all-new range of 12- and
8-cylinder models that, in the space of just four years,
has achieved the objective of offering different
Ferraris for different Ferraristi. New models that match
ever-increasing power outputs with greater efficiency
with the result that fuel consumption and emissions have
been reduced by an impressive 30 per cent. A result
achieved through in-depth, 360-degree research into all
vehicle systems – engine, aerodynamics, tyres, brakes
and ancillaries.
Displayed on the stand in two new colours, Rosso
Berlinetta and Aluminium, the F12berlinetta is the most
powerful and high-performance road-going Ferrari ever.
Sporting a new V12 engine, it is built around highly
evolved transaxle architecture and features
state-of-the-art components and control systems. The
F12berlinetta’s aerodynamics have also been honed to the
extreme in an innovative design that redefines classic
Ferrari themes.
The F12berlinetta’s wheelbase is shorter and its engine,
dashboard and seats are lower in the chassis. A new
suspension and gearbox layout helped reduce the car’s
rear volume. The result is a shorter, lower and narrower
car than the previous V12 coupé. The F12berlinetta
boasts ideal weight distribution (54% over the rear
axle) as well as a lower centre of gravity that is
further back in the chassis.
The F12berlinetta’s spaceframe chassis and bodyshell are
completely new, and now incorporate no less than 12
different aluminium alloys, some of which have been used
for the first time in the automotive sector. New
assembly and joining technologies were also adopted in
its construction. This has allowed the car’s overall
weight to be kept to just 1525 kg and has maximised its
performance efficiency with torsional rigidity boosted
by 20 per cent.
The new, 200-bar direct-injection 6262cc 65° V12 engine
delivers unprecedented performance for a
naturally-aspirated 12-cylinder. It punches out a
maximum of 740 CV at 8250 rpm, with a specific power
output of 118 CV/l and maximum revs of 8700 rpm, record
figures for this type of engine. Responsiveness and
strong pick-up is guaranteed by maximum torque of 690
Nm, 80 per cent of which is readily available at 2500
rpm.
Exceptional progress has also been made in terms of fuel
consumption and emissions which have been cut by 30 per
cent - putting the F12berlinetta at the top of the
segment with 15/l 100 km and 350 g/km of CO2
respectively.
Aerodynamics play a major role, and a host of innovative
solutions have been discreetly integrated in the
F12berlinetta’s styling. These include the Aero Bridge
which, in a first, uses the bonnet to generate downforce,
and Active Brake Cooling, a system that opens guide
vanes to the brake cooling ducts only at high operating
temperatures. The result of these interventions is that
the F12berlinetta has the highest overall aerodynamic
efficiency of any Ferrari ever built (a value of 1.2,
double that of the 599 GTB Fiorano) with downforce of
123 kg at 200 km/h and a Cd of just 0.299. The fruit of
the collaboration between the Ferrari Styling Centre and
Pininfarina, the F12berlinetta features harmonious and
balanced proportions. It is a truly original, innovative
coupé with all of the signature features of an authentic
Ferrari 12-cylinder. Clothed in sleek, aggressive lines,
it offers superb occupant space and comfort despite its
relatively compact dimensions.
The rear is characterised by a modern, functional
reinterpretation of the Kamm tail which seamlessly
integrates the two vertical fences of the rear diffuser.
The resulting, original T-shape also incorporates two
full-LED circular tail-lights and the clearly
F1-inspired rear fog light.
The F12berlinetta’s technical specifications are
completed by the very latest version of the
carbon-ceramic braking system (CCM3), a further
evolution of the magnetorheological suspension (SCM-E)
and the latest development in electronic vehicle control
systems (E-diff, ESC, F1-Trac, and high-performance
ABS). All controls are integrated in a single,
fast-responding CPU featuring new model-specific
software.
With a Fiorano lap time of just 1’23’’, 0-100 km/h
acceleration in 3.1 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 8.5 s, the
F12berlinetta is the most high-performance road car in
Ferrari history. Over and above sheer performance,
however, it stands out for its nimble and responsive
handling and unparalleled driving involvement even at
lower speeds, a feature normally the reserve of
mid-rear-engined cars, whether on the track or on the
road.
The car’s Frau leather interior is completely new. It
highlights the balance of advanced technology – in the
form of the Human-Machine Interface which places all
controls within easy reach of the driver – and
sophisticated, handcrafted detailing, both of which are
intrinsic to Ferrari’s DNA. The cabin has been optimised
to ensure maximum usability of the interior space with
additional luggage capacity behind the seats, which can
also be easily reached thanks to the large aperture
offered by the tail-gate. On the dashboard are new,
carbon-fibre and light alloy air-vents inspired by the
aeronautical sector. There is also an optional passenger
display for the passenger-side dash.
The other new arrival at Geneva is the Ferrari
California which is not only 30 kg lighter but is also
more powerful by 30 CV. The version on display at the
Show has a Blu Swaters livery with a Grigio Argento
Nürburgring roof and a Sabbia interior. Its engine
delivers 490 CV while the Scaglietti Centre of
Excellence has applied the most advanced aluminium
fabrication techniques to improving the chassis,
significantly cutting its overall weight. Performance
has been enhanced with the 0-100 km/h sprint now down to
3.8 seconds. Owners wanting a more dynamic driving
experience can also opt for the Handling Speciale
package which reduces body roll and speeds up the car’s
responsiveness to driver inputs. The package includes
magnetorheological dampers controlled by an even faster
ECU (-50 per cent response time) running patented
Ferrari software. Also included are stiffer springs and
a new steering box with a 10 per cent quicker steering
ratio.
The two other recent additions to the Prancing Horse
stable will also be present on the stand: the FF in
Bianco Italia livery and the 458 Spider in Giallo
Tristrato. The display is completed by a 458 Italia in a
sporty two-tone Rosso Corsa and Nero Daytona livery.
The stand also features a special area for clients
wishing to make their Ferrari truly unique by availing
of the exclusive Tailor-Made programme which offers a
selection of materials, colours and finishes that span
both the marque’s tradition and history and the very
latest trends. The Tailor-Made area will be showcasing
an FF with several unusual personalisation features,
including a new three-layer Grigio Ingrid livery,
pinstripe cloth and Testa di Moro semi-aniline leather
seats, cashmere headliner and teak-trimmed boot.
Record results for Ferrari in 2011
In 2011 Ferrari ended the year with unprecedented
results: revenues of 2.251 billion euro (+17.3 per
cent), 7195 cars sold (+9.5 per cent), trading profit of
312.4 million euro (+3.2 per cent) and a net profit of
209 million euro. The industrial net cash position
reached 707.5 million euro. At 14.1 per cent, Ferrari’s
ROS (Return on Sales) was again one of the highest in
the automotive sector. Sums invested, including research
and development, were also significant, totalling 279
million euro, in line with 2010.
From the sales point of view Ferrari achieved a record
in America with 1958 cars delivered, up 8 per cent on
2010. The Greater China Area, Ferrari’s second largest
market, saw sales increase 62 per cent to 777 cars, 500
of which in China alone. Excellent results were also
achieved in the Middle East with sales up 22 per cent.
More positive results were seen in Europe with Great
Britain up 23 per cent to 574 cars, and Germany up 14.6
per cent to 705 cars.
Ferrari’s Retail activities, with 50 shops around the
world, saw revenues increase by 34 per cent, with the
Ferrari Store inside the Abu Dhabi theme park again the
highest earner with over 12.5 million euro. The
licensing division renewed major multi-year contracts
with international partners, such as Puma, as well as
signing new agreements with, amongst others, the luxury
brand Hublot (LVMH Group).
Ferrari Tailor-Made
Ferrari Tailor-Made is the exclusive new personalisation
programme developed specifically for clients wishing to
create a truly bespoke car that will be a clear
expression of their own unique personality and tastes.
The Tailor-Made programme continues a long-standing
Maranello tradition which began in the 1950s and 60s, a
time when clients personalised their cars as a matter of
course and enjoyed huge freedom when it came to
materials, colours and finish. The result was genuinely
unique cars tailored to suit the desires of each
individual owner.
The Tailor-Made programme is aimed at a limited number
of owners who are assisted by their own personal
designer, guaranteeing that the resulting cars are both
unique and consistent with the Ferrari brand and its
tradition. Once the car’s details have been defined, the
client can then track all of the various processes
involved in its creation, right up until they take
delivery.
Creativity, research, original materials, superb
craftsmanship and attention to detail are the
cornerstones of the Tailor-Made programme which offers
three collections inspired directly by Ferrari’s DNA:
Scuderia, Classica and Inedita.
Clients are invited to Maranello as part of the
Tailor-Made programme. There they find a dedicated area
that looks and feels very much like a haute couture
studio with a huge array of samples of materials,
treatments and colours to browse. There is also a
material scanner that provides owners with a preview of
the final result.
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