The article was originally produced on November 27, 2013, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

With 740 horses and a grin that makes children cry, the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta signals anything but kindness! But appearances are deceiving as so many times, this beast can be a gentle and friendly lamb.

There is something certain when you get into a Ferrari, an atmosphere, which is not found in any other car, spreads and you become almost religious. There is no doubt that the Maranello-based company ranks as one of the world's strongest brands, is there anyone on this planet who does not know what the prancing horse logo stands for? Probably not, even if you live in the most remote places of our earth. With the new dynamite package F12 Berlinetta, which has a V12 engine of 740 horsepower, the model is one of the strongest "street-legal" cars produced by the factory. Only the LaFerrari super model is stronger, it basically has the same engine as the F12 but also with the help of an electric motor.

The model range for Ferrari is fairly easy to follow if you only have a little interest in these red cars from Italy. The new F12 Berlinetta is the successor to the 599 GTB Fiorano and before that it was the 550 Maranello. What we're talking about is Ferrari's GT cars with a front-mounted naturally aspirated engine with 12 cylinders in a V configuration. A car adapted for fast and long trips through Europe and on winding roads in the Alps, always with comfort and power in abundance. The new F12 Berlinetta does not disappoint on these points, it is clear even after reading the specification!

There are some differences between the F12 and the 599, including the size. The F12 has shrunk a lot both in length, height and wheelbase. It has become a more compact car, but instead the amount of power has increased significantly. The 599 GTO which was the last of the 599 versions to be produced delivered 670 horsepower. As previously mentioned, this figure has been increased to 740 in the F12. Maximum power is achieved at a high 8250 r/min. Then you get guaranteed

goosebumps.

The seats in the F12 can be had either in a comfort version or in bare carbon fiber with thin but comfortable padding on the front. That the latter should be the obvious choice really feels redundant to go into. But of course there are Ferrari buyers who are not at all interested in using the car on the track, but only for comfortable highway journeys. The steering wheel, which has the new design for controls, requires some getting used to. Nowadays, the blinker controls are placed on separate sides on the front of the steering wheel, so the right blinker is on the right side and vice versa. High and low beams are also located directly on the steering wheel, as are other controls which are normally located on the levers behind the steering wheel. It is now empty apart from the two large carbon fiber shift paddles. On either side of the large tachometer in front of the steering wheel are screens. These can be crammed full of information like a video game, everything from navigation, infotainment, car settings, speed and trip meters and more. In addition to the aforementioned controls on the steering wheel, there is also the so-called "manettino", a knob with which you determine the character of the car. Manettino's positions determine, among other things, how much the anti-skid system should be engaged and how fast the gearbox should work. On the opposite side of the manetti switch is the start button, the key must first be inserted in the classic way and turned and then you press start and the high-revving 6.3 liter V12 engine roars into action. The lion has woken up from his slumber and sounds very upset!

When you only have to drive normally on a daily basis and not at full attack, the manettino should be set to "Sport" or "Wet" if it were to rain or be slippery. Then the car behaves calmly and harmoniously, the gearbox, which is of the double-clutch type, handles everything silky smooth without any hiccups or jerks. What also affects comfort is an active suspension system. With a button on the steering wheel, the suspension changes directly to a softer option. In this position, one almost forgets the colossal amount of power that is millimeters from the right foot. 

The road leaves the city and is replaced by a highway, the gas pedal is placed as far down as it will go. It feels as if the V12 has woken up even before the pedal has been touched. All power is available to the rear tires which do their best to retain grip. It is as futile as the fight between a wounded antelope and a hungry lion. The anti-skid light is on and practically nothing happens. If you turn the manettino to "Race" more will happen with a similar command. The system will still control the brute force but some release will be allowed. In race mode, the box works at lightning speed and shifts in each gear faster than lightning. Now it goes away! If you know what you are doing, the last two modes "CT off" and "ESC off" can be used. You have here, pretty much, or no help at all if things start to go wrong. With 740 horses on the rear tires, this is a world that demands the utmost from whoever sets out on it. To experience the F12 Berlinetta and its road characteristics, the race mode is sufficient. If you want to see how the car behaves in the other modes, a YouTube search on the name Chris Harris + F12 Berlinetta is recommended. Guaranteed hair raising.