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Euro Motors held an exclusive private preview of the ‘fastest’ Ferrari road car – the F12berlinetta – at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain, which was attended by VIPs, members of the owners club, fans of the marque and the media.
The F12berlinetta ushers in a new generation of Ferrari 12-cylinders. Its makers say it delivers ‘unprecedented performance’ from an exceptional new engine, combined with an innovative design that redefines classic themes along with extreme aerodynamics.
A Ferrari spokesman said: “This is, in fact, the most powerful and high-performance Ferrari road car ever launched thanks to the incredibly efficient engine – in terms of mechanical, combustion and fluid-dynamics efficiency – which, together with advanced vehicle architecture, aerodynamics, components and electronic controls, guarantee unsurpassed driving involvement whatever the road or track.”
Designers added that Ferrari’s traditional transaxle layout has been ‘revolutionised’ to match the more extreme performance of the car.
The wheelbase has been shortened and the engine, dashboard and seats have been lowered in the chassis, while the new layout of the rear suspension and gearbox enabled Ferrari’s engineers to make the rear volume of the car smaller.
The overall result is a very compact model with a lower centre of gravity that is further back in the chassis, and a level of aerodynamic efficiency that sets new standards.
The backs of the rear seats can be lowered to allow more stowage space and specially-designed executive cases have been created to fit snuggly in the space provided.
Scaglietti, renowned for its expertise in aluminium materials and construction, designed an all-new spaceframe chassis and bodyshell using 12 different kinds of alloys, some of which, it claims, have been used here the first time in the automotive sector, and employing new assembly and joining techniques.
This has resulted in a 20 per cent increase in structural rigidity while reducing weight to just 1525kg (70kg less than the previous V12 coupé) with an ideal distribution between the axles (54 per cent over the rear).
The F12berlinetta’s V12 engine delivers unprecedented performance and revs for a naturally-aspirated 12-cylinder. Its maximum power output is 740CV. Torque reaches a peak of 690Nm, 80 per cent of which is already available at just 2,500rpm, and which provides an unrelenting surge of acceleration all the way to the 8,700rpm limit.
The engine is mated to the F1 dual-clutch transmission, which has closer gear ratios developed specifically for this car’s performance. The F12berlinetta boasts a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.1 kg/CV.
Fuel consumption has been reduced by 30 per cent, with CO2 emissions of just 350 g/km – figures which put the F12berlinetta at the top of the high-performance league.
Similarly excellent results have been obtained with the car’s aerodynamic development, thanks to the integration of the design process with extensive computational fluid dynamics simulations and lengthy testing in the wind tunnel.
Its impressive technical specifications are completed by Ferrari’s latest generation carbon-ceramic brakes and the evolution of the magnetorheological suspension control system. Its control systems (E-Diff, ESC, F1-Trac, and high-performance ABS) are also all fully integrated.
The result is that the new Prancing Horse 12-cylinder accelerates from 0-100kmph in 3.1 seconds and from 0 to 200kmph in 8.5 seconds.
With the cockpit designed around the driver, the human and machine interface approach is emphasised, grouping all the major commands within immediate reach to guarantee maximum ergonomics for the ‘most involving driving experience’, its makers added.
The F12berlinetta starts at BD135,000 although additional individual specifications may take the price between BD140,000-BD145,000.
For details, call Euro Motors on 17750750 or visit the showroom in Sitra.
