Ferrari F12berlinetta: The Front Mid-Engine V12 That Replaced the 599

Shown first at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, the F12berlinetta was Ferrari's grand tourer until the 812 Superfast took over in early 2017. Its naturally aspirated V12 produced 740 PS (544 kW; 730 hp), which made it the most powerful Ferrari road car at launch. The car also brought a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox and an aluminium chassis that was lighter and stiffer than its predecessor.

Where did the F12berlinetta come from?

The F12berlinetta debuted at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show and replaced the 599 grand tourer. Its body came from the Ferrari Styling Centre working with Pininfarina, and its body computer system was developed by Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting. The car was a clear step forward from the 599 in both performance and packaging.

The styling borrowed from the FF and the 458 Italia. The front grille resembled the FF's, and the headlights were shared with both the FF and the 458 Italia. Inside, the layout followed the FF, with new Frau leather and trim in aluminium, Alutex and carbon fibre.

Luggage space was larger than in the 599, which was a practical improvement for a car of this type. In 2014 the F12berlinetta received the XXIII Premio Compasso d'Oro ADI, and Ferrari's Senior Vice President of Design, Flavio Manzoni, accepted the award on the company's behalf.

A front mid-engine V12 that set a new output mark for Ferrari's road cars and then spawned a track version.

How much power did the F12berlinetta make?

The 6,262 cc naturally aspirated 65-degree V12 produced 740 PS (544 kW; 730 hp) at 8,250 rpm, with 690 N.m (509 lb-ft) of torque at 6,000 rpm. Ferrari described it as the most powerful road car the company had built when the car launched.

The engine belongs to the F140 family, and it shares its displacement with the FF. Ferrari designed it to be more efficient than the 599 engine as well as more powerful, which is an unusual combination for a car of this class.

That output translated into strong headline figures. Ferrari claimed 3.1 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) and 8.5 seconds from 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph), with a top speed of 340 km/h (211 mph).

How efficient was the F12berlinetta?

Ferrari rated the F12berlinetta at 18 mpg-imp (15.7 L/100 km; 15.0 mpg-US), a 30% improvement over the 599, with CO2 emissions of 350 g/km. The HELE start-stop system reduces fuel use at idle, and that feature forms part of how the car reached its figure.

Efficiency sat alongside performance rather than replacing it. The 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox used shortened ratios to match the engine's output, so the car kept strong acceleration even though it was designed to burn less fuel than its predecessor.

The company's efficiency work was part of a broader engineering effort. Engine management and transmission calibration were tuned together, so the car's power reached the road in a usable way.

How was the F12berlinetta's chassis built?

The chassis is an aluminium space frame co-developed with Scaglietti and made from 12 different aluminium alloys. It improved structural rigidity by 20% over the 599 while cutting 70 kg (154 lb) of weight, and its centre of gravity was lowered by about 25 mm (1 in).

The weight split is 48% front and 52% rear. That balance, combined with the lower centre of gravity, gave the car a stable base for its power and suspension tuning.

Braking came from third-generation CCM3 carbon ceramic discs with ABS. The SCM-E magnetorheological suspension, the electronic limited-slip differential and the F1-Trac traction control system all worked together, and the Manettino dial on the steering wheel adjusted stability, traction and suspension settings.

What aerodynamic features does the F12berlinetta use?

The car drew on techniques from the 599XX and Ferrari's Formula One programmes, using wind tunnel and CFD testing. The Aero Bridge channels air from the bonnet along the flanks, while Active Brake Cooling ducts open only when the brakes are hot. The result is 123 kg (271 lb) of downforce at 200 km/h (124 mph) and a drag coefficient of 0.299.

Downforce rose by 76% over the 599 GTB, a substantial gain that gave the car more grip at speed. The cooling ducts show a practical balance, since they stay closed for lower drag until the brakes need air.

Designers therefore treated aerodynamics as a system, linking the bonnet, flanks and brake cooling into one package rather than adding features one at a time.

What tyres did the F12berlinetta use?

The F12berlinetta was fitted with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres. The front size was 255/35 ZR20 and the rear size was 315/35 ZR20, which gave the car a wider footprint at the back than at the front. Those tyres worked with the car's suspension and electronic controls, which were tuned to handle the power.

The rear tyre is noticeably wider than the front, a pattern that matches the car's heavier rear weight distribution of 52%. Putting the widest rubber where the weight sits is a sensible approach, and it helps the car manage its output.

The tyre choice sat alongside the car's magnetorheological damping and its traction electronics. Both were adjusted through the Manettino dial, which kept the driver's choices in one place.

How fast was the F12berlinetta around Fiorano?

Ferrari reported a Fiorano lap time of 1 minute 23 seconds for the F12berlinetta. That was three seconds slower than the LaFerrari, a full second faster than the 599 GTO and two seconds faster than the 458 Italia.

The lap placed the car between the LaFerrari and the 458 in Ferrari's own hierarchy, which gives buyers a useful yardstick. Because these are company figures, they show the car's intended pace rather than results from independent testers.

Fiorano is the company's test circuit, so the times reflect a controlled environment. Even so, they give a clear sense of how the F12berlinetta sat within the range at launch.

Lap times of this kind are among the most quoted figures for a grand tourer, which is why Ferrari gives them prominence in its launch material.

What is the F12tdf?

The F12tdf is a track-focused version of the F12berlinetta, unveiled in October 2015. Its 6.3-litre V12 made 780 PS (574 kW; 769 hp) at 8500 rpm, and the car weighed 110 kg (243 lb) less than the standard F12. Production was limited to 799 units.

The name pays homage to the Tour de France automobile race, which ran from 1899 to 1986. Ferrari's 250 regularly won that race between 1956 and 1964, and the F12tdf's badge links the car to that run of success.

The extra output came from the same engine family as the standard car. The block was shared, so the power gain came from tuning rather than from a new unit.

Ferrari quoted 2.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and 7.9 seconds from 0 to 200 km/h for the F12tdf. Its claimed dry weight was 1,415 kg (3,120 lb), and the car lapped Fiorano in 1 minute 21 seconds, 1.3 seconds behind the LaFerrari.

Which one-off F12 models were built?

Ferrari and its coachbuilders produced several one-offs, including the F12 TRS barchetta, the SP America coupe and the SP275 RW Competizione. Each one answered a specific commission, and none went into regular production.

The F12 TRS was built under the Special Projects programme, and it made its public debut in Sicily in June 2014. Only two were built, and both went to the same customer. A second car appeared in black, then in liquid silver with a redesigned front bumper, headlights and mirrors.

The SP America was a one-off coupe completed in 2014, commissioned by Danny Wegman. The SP275 RW Competizione took its inspiration from the 1964 275 GTB/C, and it used the F12tdf's 780 PS engine in a coachbuilt body with a yellow exterior colour.

What open-top and limited F12 variants were made?

The F60 America was a roadster built to mark 60 years of Ferrari in North America, with ten examples produced. The SP3JC was a roadster based on the F12tdf, presented in November 2018 with two matching cars. The SP3JC kept the F12tdf's V12 unchanged.

The F60 America used all-new bodywork and a light removable soft top, with an asymmetrical cabin that had red trim for the driver and black for the passenger. The SP3JC had redesigned front and rear fascias and transparent hood vents that show the engine.

The Touring Berlinetta Lusso was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015, and a run of five examples was announced. The Touring Superleggera Aero 3 was limited to 15 cars, which kept both projects deliberately exclusive.

Why was the F12berlinetta replaced?

The F12tdf appeared in October 2015, shortly before the 812 Superfast arrived in early 2017. The 812 Superfast replaced the F12berlinetta, closing out the car's production run. The F12berlinetta had succeeded the 599, and it passed on the grand tourer role to its own successor.

The change followed the usual Ferrari pattern of a new flagship arriving with fresh technology while the predecessor's essentials carried forward. The F12tdf had already shown the platform could be pushed further before the handover.

What are the Ferrari F12berlinetta specifications?

The table sets out the core figures for the standard F12berlinetta, from engine and gearbox to performance and aerodynamics. Imperial figures appear in brackets alongside metric ones wherever the original data gives both, and every entry matches the figures set out earlier.

Read against the F12tdf and the one-offs, the table shows a platform that Ferrari could tune across a wide range. The standard car sits at the centre of that range, with track and open-top derivatives built from the same core.

Frequently asked questions

How much did the SG50 Edition differ from the standard car?

The SG50 Edition was a one-off made to mark Singapore's 50 years of independence. It used Rosso Singapore paintwork, matching leather upholstery, Singaporean lions embroidered in the headrest and a numbered plate on the steering wheel.

Was there an open-top F12?

Yes, there were two open-top derivatives. The F60 America was produced in a run of ten, with an asymmetrical cabin, while the SP3JC was a later roadster built on the track-focused F12tdf and presented as a pair of matching cars.

How many F12tdf cars were built?

Production of the F12tdf was capped at 799 units. Ferrari unveiled the car in October 2015, and it sat alongside the standard F12berlinetta and the one-off models as the track-focused member of the range.

Which engine award did the F12berlinetta win?

The naturally aspirated V12 was recognised twice in 2013. It won the International Engine of the Year award in the Best Performance category, and it also took the Best Engine above 4.0 litres category, which reflected how strong the engine was in its class.