Ferrari's F12 will be its fastest street car yet

Ferrri's newest supercar will be named the F12, rather than the 620 as widely reported.

By Paul A. Eisenstein, The Detroit Bureau

One thing about a Ferrari, it’s able to make a fast turn, and apparently that applies to the Italian automaker itself, which has delivered a surprise today, announcing that its newest supercar will be named the Ferrari F12, rather than the 620 as widely reported.

One key detail hasn’t changed, however: the new super GT will be the fastest and most powerful automobile ever to wear the prancing pony badge.  Its 6.3-liter V12 will be able to launch the Ferrari F12 from 0 to 60 in about 3 seconds – with a top speed of more than 310 mph. 

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The replacement for the Ferrari 599 will land in an increasingly crowded supercar market that will feature the likes of the new McLaren MP4-12C and the Lamborghini Aventador, so the opportunity to deliver anything but extreme performance will be minimal.

Of course, Ferrari will also put a premium on luscious Italian styling, an advantage it figures it can leverage over the incredibly competent McLaren.  But form, here, is also supposed to enhance function.  And the new F12 will feature a new concept dubbed Aero Bridge that generates additional downforce by funneling air flowing over the hood to its flank.

Then there’s the Active Brake Cooling system, which uses active vanes to guide air, when needed, through ducts to improve brake performance. 

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While there may be subtle visual similarities to the outgoing 599, the Ferrari F12 is a completely new car, the maker insists, with an all-new chassis that features a slightly shorter wheelbase.  The engine, seats and other key components have been lowered to improve the center of gravity.

Ferrari also concentrated on lowering the new supercar’s overall weight, which comes in at 3,355 pounds, about 155 less than its predecessor.  That helps enhance acceleration, handling – and fuel economy, which is reportedly 30% better than the old Ferrari 599.

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Under the hood: a naturally-aspirated, 6.26-liter V-12 making 740 horsepower and 509 lb-ft of torque.  The maker says that will propel it to 100 kmh (62.5 mph) in 3.1 seconds, with 200 kmh (125 mph) in 8.5 seconds, with the top speed 340 kmh.  The F12 reportedly cut something on the order of 2 seconds off the laptime record for a production car at the Fiorano race circuit, at 1:23.

By comparison, the old 599 made 611 horsepower.

We should get a closer look at the new Ferrari F12 at next week’s Geneva Motor Show.