PININFARINA STYLING, EXCELLENT ON BOARD COMFORT & SPACE

"The F 137 design developed around the concept of a GT model that, unlike the 456M, would be more than just a 2+2. While the use of light alloys and the choice of a specific kind of architecture deliver pure thoroughbred Ferrari performance, a carefully designed interior also means that the 612 Scaglietti offers excellent onboard comfort and space.

The layout of the cabin and the relevant components combined with ergonomic research made it possible for us to fit four seats into a roomy, elegant yet exceptionally functional space. The car's Pininfarina styling, developed to suit its structural layout, is designed to epitomise the car's dynamism and performance. The comfortably roomy interior, which comes courtesy of the very efficient chassis, will mean that the occupants get to experience the clean, thrilling roar of the Ferrari V12."

The 612 Scaglietti is by definition a car designed for long journeys: it will eat up the miles on motorways, mixed terrain and even urban areas. This is an exciting car to drive, technologically sophisticated yet nimble and wonderfully comfortable to use in day-to-day situations.

Even getting in and out of the car is no longer awkward for rear passengers. Once aboard, they can experience the 612 Scaglietti's stunning performance in a sophisticated, sports car style interior, from the comfort of soft, body-hugging seats that offer exceptional legroom and headroom too.

Roominess

This is because, beneath its elegant, aerodynamic exterior, the 612 Scaglietti is surprisingly roomy and comfortable, an effect achieved thanks to careful design of the car's structural architecture, wheel base, dimensions (particularly its length), the position of the cabin and the design of its various components from the doors to the seats, and, of course, ergonomics.

These factors plus the positioning of the 108-litre fuel tank on the rear axle have turned the 612 Scaglietti into a truly exceptional car. In fact, the new Ferrari offers much better legroom and headroom than any other traditional 2+2, offering equal onboard comfort to its four occupants.

For instance, rear passengers now enjoy 70 mm more headroom than in the 456M and the backrest has been modified 12 degrees to improve posture and comfort too.

Getting into and out of the 612 Scaglietti is easy for people of all sizes also, thanks to the special door hinges that ensure that the doors open over 150 mm wider than the 456M's; the door frame profiles; the electric "easy entry-exit" switch which lowers the front seat and its headrest and slides it forward while the steering wheel tilts.

The driver and passenger seats are also wonderfully adjustable at the touch of a button to allow them to find the most comfortable position: the seats are adjustable for height, tilt, backrest angle and lumbar support. They can also slide forward and the headrest can be raised. There are also three memory settings which are linked into the exterior mirrors (tuck-in, demister and automatic modification for reversing) and the steering wheel position. For even greater comfort the seatbelts are "on board", i.e. hooked on to the seat structure beside the headrest.

Design

The design of the 612 Scaglietti fully expresses the model's new values. In fact, Ferrari made a conceptual choice with Pininfarina to ensure that the four-seater would be a genuine departure from previous Grand Tourer models. It also made a technical decision that the bodywork would have to clothe a completely innovative structural layout. The 612 Scaglietti translates this approach into wonderfully aerodynamic lines. It is softly and elegantly aggressive, sculpted to express the powerful personality of a prestigious high performance, surprisingly roomy car.

Its strong lines run over full, solid surfaces, creating sensual forms that still have the tension of a true thoroughbred.

The long scallops on the 612 Scaglietti's flanks lend it character and aerodynamic elegance too. These are borrowed from another famous Ferrari, the 375 MM ordered by Roberto Rossellini as a gift for actress Ingrid Bergman. The choice of the scalloped sides was far from casual as the only example ever built of the 375 MM was shown at the Paris Show in 1954: it was a truly magnificent model that married high performance engineering with a sophisticated, thoroughbred body.

The front wheel arches are very long with a shorter overhang while the rear ones are prominent and muscular to support the C-post. A dihedral enhances the line along the whole upper side. The projector headlights have transparent covers too. The 612 Scaglietti's twin Xenon projector headlights also offer a beam that is far superior to traditional halogen lights.

The traditional Ferrari air intake is given an original twist with the wheelarches protruding slightly further than the bonnet. The latter, thanks to a low, pulled-back engine, is set deep between the wheelarches which are the car's dominant volumes and give it an aerodynamic flourish accentuated by the crisp aluminium crease.

The rear section is big and solid-looking with the classic high tail lights. This design meets the aerodynamic demands of the slender profile that increases downforce. Especially for the 612 Scaglietti, Ferrari has added two new shades to its colour range: "Rubino Micalizzato" and "Blu Mirabeau".

Interior

The 612 Scaglietti boasts a wonderfully sophisticated sporty interior that reflects its all-aluminium structure and advanced technologies. The pressed or solid aluminium used for the interior becomes a decorative element: it's there on the desk, the air vent block, the climate control buttons, the F1A paddles, the pedals and passenger treadplate.

The dashboard offers the driver a cluster of analogue and digital instruments. Alongside the big rev counter is the five inch multifunctional display with three modes: base, trip computer and tyre pressure.

The main driving controls are all mounted on the steering wheel too. The dynamic driving buttons are on the right (activate/deactivate Sport and CST) and the display buttons are on the left.

The cabin's functionality is highlighted by the use of great swathes of beautifully crafted leather which is hand-stitches and discreetly but incredibly comfortably padded. The same leather used for the seats is also used for the door pockets handles, and knee rests too.

This is an exclusive, sporty cabin in which comfort is assured by the climate control and audio systems. The former is dual-zone and automatically regulates in-car temperature, humidity and ventilation levels. Aluminium controls on the central console allow both driver and front passenger to set the air flow strengths and desired temperature (17 to a 27 degrees centigrade). The vent clusters (on the dash, doors and central tunnel) guarantee excellent comfort levels to all of the occupants.

The sound system includes a radio, CD player (a compartment on the dash holds four CDs while a further six are contained in the CD loader in the boot) and a six-channel digital unit, developed especially for the 612 Scaglietti by Bose®. Cutting edge in the automobile sector, the system offers the same kind of audio quality of a top flight home entertainment centre. The system boasts three twiddlers on the dash, two woofers and two tweeters on the sides of the rear seats, one amplified 100 W bass box in the front and one 100 W amplified subwoofer (diameter 250 mm) at head-level. A microphone in the roof lamp controls the Audio Pilot - which automatically equalises the sound if it senses other background noise or disturbance. Other features offered as standard with the 612 Scaglietti include: a dusk sensor switch which automatically turns on the headlights when activated, a rain sensor for automatic windshield wiper actioning; an antitheft system with alarm (the immobiliser is controlled by inserting the key which has an inbuilt transponder).

The luggage compartment is bigger too: 240 litres as opposed to the 456M's 190 and the spare tyre cubby hole can be used for extra luggage too.

"Carrozzeria Scaglietti" personalisation programme

The Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalisation Programme allows clients, in typical Ferrari style, to choose the styling flourishes, finishes and accessories for the car to suit their own tastes and needs, adding a truly "personal touch" to their 612 Scaglietti. This forges a special relationship between Ferrari's clients and their cars. In fact, they can even go so far as to have a personalised silver registration plate.

Three specific areas are covered by the programme: Exterior and Colours; Interior and Materials; Equipment and Travel.

With Exterior and Colours, for instance, clients can choose a body paint that is not in the range or a colour matching a sample. They can also put "Scuderia Ferrari" shields on the fenders or have red, yellow or aluminium grey brake calipers. Other options include 19'' modular five spoke rims wheel with titanium screws (designed by Pininfarina) or a version polished using an exclusive system to enhance its shape and volumes.

There is a plethora of personalisation options for the cabin too. Clients can choose, amongst other things, the colours of the area above the dash or those lower down in the interior, order heated front seats, special finishes or Daytona-style upholstery as featured on the Ferrari berlinettas cars of the past.

The Travel section offers a radio-satellite navigation system that includes a radio, a CD player and navigator in a single unit, integrated phone devices including Bluetooth technology (the cell phone and stereo unit can talk to each other cordlessly). Parking sensors are also available.

A special repair and wheel inflation kit comes with the 612 Scaglietti as standard. Upon request 19" spare and "run flat" tyres are available. The latter, which can travel 120 km at zero pressure at speeds of up to 80 km/h, have a reinforced section that stops the structure and profile collapsing.

Also available to make life aboard even more luxurious is the exclusive six-piece Ferrari luggage set specially designed by Pininfarina for the luggage compartment.