By Ben Pulman
First Official Pictures
21 January 2011 11:00
This, believe it or not, is the new Ferrari FF – it’s the Prancing Horse’s replacement for the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. FF stands for Ferrari Four, to designate that this new GT features both four seats and Ferrari’s first ever four-wheel drive system. It will be unveiled at the 2011 Geneva motor show in March, and ahead of the FF’s debut Ferrari has released these three pictures.
Why has Ferrari built this car? Like the California it’s designed to be more usable than Ferraris of old, and more appealing to new customers that wouldn’t have otherwise considered a car from the Prancing Horse. Prices have yet to be announced, but you'll need at least £220k if you want a Ferrari FF in your multi-car garage later this year.
Give me a moment to digest those looks. Tell me amount the new Ferrari FF’s four-wheel drive system.
Dubbed 4RM, the Ferrari FF features the Italian sports car company’s first ever four-wheel drive system. Few details have so far been released on the patented set-up – which is said to weigh 50% less than a conventional four-wheel drive system – but Ferrari claims it manages ‘continuous and intelligent predictive torque distribution to all four wheels’. The low weight also helps weight distribution, while the advantages of four driven wheels aids traction and acceleration – the Ferrari FF will hit 62mph in 3.7 seconds.
How come? Thank the four-wheel drive system, plus sophisticated electronics, a transaxle dual-clutch gearbox, and the whopping great big direct-injection 6.3-litre V12. The brand new 6262cc engine produces 651bhp at 8000rpm (that’s just 10bhp down on the 599 GTO) and 504lb ft at 6000rpm. Combine with the 1790kg (dry) weight and you get a power-to-weight ratio of 364bhp/tonne. The top speed is 209mph. It'll leave the 540bhp/434lb ft Scaglietti standing.
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