An all-new V12 Ferrari is always going to be big news and the
new F12berlinetta
is certainly among the most anticipated cars at the Palexpo. And the over-stylised press shots released before the show are one thing - seeing it in the metal is what counts. Easier said than done, even here at the show - you need sharp elbows to get anywhere close to it.
Aero bridges a neat styling signature
Ours are necessarily pointy though and having managed to get up close to the car there's a lot more to the styling than those early photos suggested. Most interesting are the flying buttress style 'aero bridge' side panels that draw air over the bonnet, through ducts on the wings and then displace the disrupted airflow coming from the wheelarches. All very Ferrari but it looks dead cool. Ditto the extended 'resonators' on the intake plenums (red crackle paint coated, natch) that increase the amount of air available for the combustion chambers.
Given that the 599 it replaces was neither a) looking too shabby for its age nor b) too tardy to drive the F12berlinetta is going to have to be pretty special. Default Ferrari hyperbole - 'better than the last one' Fiorana lap time: check, video of Alonso and Massa driving it and saying it's 'very nice': check - is present and correct. Likewise some suitably impressive spec sheet numbers, not least the 8.5-second 0-125mph time. That's some mighty traction from the rear wheels there.
California gets Handling Speciale
And though it looks big it's actually usefully smaller than the 599 too, being 63mm lower, 47mm shorter, 20mm narrower and losing 30mm in the wheelbase. The matt aluminium paint shows off the body detailing very nicely too. Expect a price of £240K or so when it goes on sale next year.
Against a show-stopping debut like that of the F12berlinetta a mild upgrade for the California is, let's face it, going to struggle for column inches but, ever dutiful, we can report the Handling Speciale equipped version is here too. The quicker steering rack, faster dampers and stiffer springs of the optional Handling Speciale pack should help you explore the extra 30hp (now 490hp) gifted to all Californias by a range of engine tweaks aimed at improving both performance and flexibility. We'll let you know how they play out as and when we get a drive in one.