Test drive Ferrari F12 Berlinetta: Great car!
Introducing the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, naturally aspirated 12 hp V741 engine. and a maximum speed of 340 km / h.
Now, after the third red traffic light and the second eerie traffic jam at the exit of the city, right now, as the bus plodders ahead at 50 km / h and the next nine cars mercilessly rob me of one of the most wonderful combinations of 100 turns. kilometers around, everything is getting serious. My heart rate, blood pressure and complexion are increasing alarmingly. In fact, they would inevitably do it if I were driving any other sports car ...
But things look different in the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. Surprisingly different. Its surprisingly reserved character soothes the spirit and even the engine's operating temperature seems to drop to a lower level. I never would have thought we would get to this point. Not like the Italian fury shook our minds and senses just an hour ago. In fact, what an hour - the earthquake lasted all day! Let's get the tape back...
Classic engine building
In front of me - no more and no less - the most powerful and fastest civilian representative of the company from Maranello before the advent of the Ferrari LaFerrari supercar. Twelve-cylinder naturally aspirated engine, displacement 6,2 liters, cylinder angle 65 degrees, crankshaft angle 180 degrees, compression ratio 13,5:1, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission integrated into the rear axle, aluminum ... C'mon, that's enough.
I give contact. Decisively and immediately. I expect the plaster to be sprinkled on the ceiling of the underground garage, pedestrians up two floors will start lying in fear on the sidewalk, and trams will go off the rails. In reality, it is not very far from that ... An engine with such characteristics and with this almost pornographic upright appearance cannot be calm. Incidentally, this cannot be economical despite the unparalleled efforts of engineers. Take a look at the test data and you can see what I'm talking about. The joyful hum of the starter, anticipating the adventure ahead, is followed by the raucous, menacing timbre of the huge V12, accompanied by metallic notes in its push for the upper idle limit.
Where's the damn reverse gear? Yep, there it is, the artistically curved button on the center console. The Italians have followed a tradition of surprises in their ergonomic solutions, and the view from the driver's seat is not one of the marvels in this area either - endlessly long and, undoubtedly, endlessly expensive with a carbon fiber nose spoiler, the F12 Berlinetta is as far from my field of vision as ever. May be. It wasn't until later that I realized that the F12 has a front camera, but still, the distorted perspective of its image doesn't help much.
I pulled lightly on a carbon fiber plate attached to the right of the steering column and we moved forward in the direction we would follow for the next 398 kilometers. I move the little manettino switch to Sport - only Wet is more subdued than it is, and Race, Off. CT" and "Off. ESC" is something you shouldn't try at home. At first, I let the dual-clutch transmission take care of itself, which it handles pretty well - there's only an occasional slight irritating effort when releasing the throttle. At every stop, the Ferrari engine obediently turns off, but even then, CO350 levels below 2 grams per kilometer prove mission impossible. Physics is physics...
On the other hand, the suspension's superior comfort and low noise levels border on magic, considering what a sinister beast lives beneath the F12's beautiful shapes. Prior to his release, the Italian took on the role of a really quick but polite Gran Turismo. A terribly fast but polite GT, in fact. When you vividly talk to the person next to you in seventh gear, you somehow automatically register that you are entering the highway, then a sign appears about the end of the limit, and the next moment you find yourself in front of the 256 km / h figure on the dial in front of you. Just…
Comfort? So what!
Motion stability is not ideal, but it is infinitely far from typical for seizures of this caliber of nerve spasms. The atmosphere is free of ugly hum and annoying vibrations, the deep-seated sports seats are extremely comfortable, and the two-stage adjustable dampers offer class-leading shock-absorbing agility. And most importantly - a dense and warm sound, the distinct low frequencies of which are unobtrusively, but constantly reminiscent of those terrible numbers in the technical specifications. However, the driver should not forget for a moment that the F1,7, weighing just over 12 tons, overcomes the 100 km / h limit in 3,2 seconds, just 5,9 seconds later - twice as fast, and the ceiling speed is somewhere around 340 km / h. Terrible job!
Of course, these are completely illusory values in normal driving conditions, but, fortunately, there are still places where the F12 can show its true nature, immersing you in a completely different world of tens, hundreds and thousands of seconds in which they rule. the full potential of the twelve-cylinder engine, "racing" electronics and suspension settings, manual transmission mode and ... your courage. As soon as you think about gas supply, twelve have already bitten. Strong and merciless. For all their modern sophistication, even the best modern turbocharged engines are not capable of this. The Italian dozen pushes uncontrollably from the idle limit and does not stop its speed, moving to 5000, 6000 and 7000 rpm ... Without pause and thought, it continues up to 8700 to the accompaniment of an enthusiastic crescendo under the hood. Then press, shift into the next gear, and the red flames of the LEDs at the top of the steering wheel pretend to burn my retina. Such precise dosing of power and thrust is possible only with a naturally aspirated engine - thin and precise, like thin slices of truffle on homemade pasta. Basta!
This advantage is especially useful on the track, where it helps to find an acceptable (in my case) and sometimes optimal track that guarantees a good time. The pilot is well supported by the extremely careful tuning of the behavior control electronics. If she interferes, be absolutely sure that without her help you will not be able to be faster. At best, you're stuck in a safe zone. Of course, the systems can also be deactivated, in which case only the electronically controlled differential lock is left to take care of the drive axle's traction – something it does very well. No less and even more impressive is the stability of the contact of the front wheels.
Left and right crochet
Although the F12 allows relatively noticeable lateral hull deflection, the model turns so straight regardless of speed that the effect of changing direction is reminiscent of a hook from a heavyweight professional. It takes some getting used to, but the end result is surprisingly remarkable road dynamics - without any help from dual transmission systems or active rear wheel steering. The Ferrari model gives the impression of a player from the lower weight category and combines exceptional stability and responsiveness.
What's the matter? This term is completely unknown here. Rewind is another theme that the Italian masters know how to perform when the pilot wants. If not, F12 stays neutral and concentrates on speed. And this feeling is omnipresent and constant here. Although the Berlinetta starts to look almost harmless when driving long distances, you should always be on the lookout, consider your level of ability and not be distracted. For example, from the initially mentioned shocking ergonomic concept, which allowed for as many as ten buttons to control various functions only on the steering wheel. I have a feeling that if the pedals and steering wheel weren't absolutely necessary, someone at Ferrari would have inserted them into some sort of anonymous sub-menu of the two little displays next to the tachometer...
Therefore, one should not look too much at such details that, along with visible gaps in the quality of the interior, can raise the intensity of the pulse, blood pressure and complexion to a level that the phlegmatic bus driver in front of me would not. was able to achieve. However, I intend to take the next corner and let the F12 plunge back into the understated side of its nature. At least in the first moves ...
In short
Ferrari Berlinetta F12
Naturally aspirated twelve-cylinder V-type gasoline engine
Displacement 6262 cm3
Maximum. power 741 HP at 8250 rpm
Maximum. torque 690 Nm at 6000 rpm
Transmission seven-speed with two clutches, rear-wheel drive
Acceleration 0-100 km / h - 3,2 sec
Acceleration 0-200 km / h - 9,1 sec
The average fuel consumption in the test is 15,0 l / 100 km.
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta - 268 euros
Evaluation
Body+ Ample interior space, high torsional stability of the body, high-quality materials in the cabin, practical luggage compartment, numerous storage options for small items and personal items
– The operation and control of a number of functions and systems requires getting used to, inaccuracies in the quality of the execution of individual parts, limited visibility from the driver’s seat
Comfort
+ Great seats, great ride comfort
– Perceptible aerodynamic noise
Engine / transmission
+ Very powerful engine with excellent operating manners, harmonious power output, excellent dynamic characteristics, pleasant acoustics suitable for everyday use
– Traction when driving at low speed
Travel behavior
+ Extremely active, dynamic behavior, precise steering, direct cornering response, very well tuned behavior management systems
– Suboptimal driving behavior
Costs
+ Seven years of free service
– High purchase price, very high service costs, likely relatively high impairment
Text: Jens Drale
Photo: Rosen Gargolov
