Early in your time in a Ferrari FF you may find yourself thinking "you know what, for a car with 660hp it doesn't actually feel that quick." There's a simple reason for this. Namely that even at part throttle or revs it sounds and feels pretty damned rapid. But 660hp rapid?
Beauty AND the beast in looks and manners
Simply it's not a lack of pace. It's a lack of opportunity, chances to explore the truly exciting bits of the rev counter so fleeting given the numbers on the adjacent speedo you'd be entirely forgiven for thinking it wasn't actually that fast. And then a quirk of fate sees you heading out onto a foggy, slippery track. And even in the murk, even on winter tyres and even not being able to see far beyond the end of that ludicrously long bonnet the truth is revealed.
This is an extraordinarily rapid motor vehicle and, perhaps in its own way, the most entertaining car in the current Ferrari range.
Quirk of fate
Eccentricity is a quality rarely found in mainstream brands. And, yes, we'd include Ferraris in that bracket, all things relative.
You know what you're getting with a V8 Berlinetta of course; a yelpy engine, an expertly contrived sense of knife-edge thrills and the ability to convince even the most cack-handed that they're but one step away from the offer of a Scuderia seat. Add to this street presence to inspire a thousand camera phones and you're set. OK, so they're really hoping to capture the moment you punt the car into a piece of Knightsbridge street furniture but, hey, live the dream.
Turbos are coming they say ... shame
A front-engined V12 is, meanwhile, the relatively refined and mature alternative. A tradition the
F12
seems to have followed admirably, up to the point it revealed itself to be one of the more crazed supercars of recent times. Either way, both templates have lineages stretching back decades and clearly defined roles in Maranello's product range.
Wacky baccy
Like the 612 Scaglietti before it, the FF is a fascinating glimpse of what Ferrari is capable of when it decides to cut loose and get creative. And creative it most definitely is, from its inventive part-time four-wheel drive system to its four-seater shooting brake packaging. Credit due too - the temptation to build some manner of SUV, crossover or Aston Rapide style four-door coupe must have been considerable. But no.
Incriminating evidence viewable by passenger
selfless sacrifice
at the altar of Ferrari's finance division brought us extended insight into life with an FF, the speed with which he used up his self-imposed mileage limit testament to how much he enjoyed it. So why a return to the PH pages for this car, given we've also tested its 'shooting brake' pretensions with an extended roadtrip testing ability to carry
firearms and fishing tackle
Well, Ferrari offered us the key. And given a turbocharged replacement for the magnificent 6.3-litre V12 is pending we thought we'd better enjoy the normally aspirated goodness while we still can.
Final fling
And enjoy it we did. As Harris found out, the FF has the ability to be, simultaneously, both an event car and something that somehow seems an entirely sensible proposition for everyday use. Which, for a £312K (as tested) V12 Ferrari with dimensions to make your average aircraft carrier blush is some achievement.
You'll never want to get out...
It takes a while for the engine to catch having pressed the big red button but the sound of the V12 spinning on its starter motor gives a delicious sense of anticipation for what's to come. And the moment it actually fires is pure automotive theatre.
How Ferrari will make the turbocharged replacement for this engine prick the hairs on your neck in the same way remains to be seen, the way it goes from low-rev gruffness through buttery smooth mid-range and onto soaring, operatic (sorry, had to be said...) top end is just pure magic. That there's no configurable nonsense to go through to achieve this is refreshing too. At the national limit and with the bumpy road setting selected on the dampers you can cruise with the Manettino in Sport in total comfort and composure, engine and wind noise admirably contained and the world a peaceful and relaxing place. To bring the noise and double the indicated speed in mere seconds requires little more than extension of your right foot. And a hearty sense of denial.
It's a big old bus on track but still jaw dropping
Which brings us back to that greasy, foggy test track. Where the ability to double, or even treble, speed limits in the blink of an eye is innocent fun, not cause for an extended prison sentence. And, yes, the digital speedo on the lap video was reading mph, not km/h...
On track - as on the road - it feels like a big old bus. And the odd disconnection of being seated a long way back from a darty, pointy front end takes some getting used to. On winter Sottozeros the FF will punish over ambitious approach speeds by pushing on. But a lift reveals hot-hatch like playfulness to tuck back into line, or you can just moderate your turn-in accordingly. And from there the integrated transaxle gearbox/E-Diff will bleed out any understeer into a neatly contained four-wheel drift. And, as you start dialling in the corrective lock and pondering just how much space is required to gather up an FF on the lock stops, the Power Transfer Unit on the front of the engine wakes up the 4RM system to send some drive torque to the front wheels. Making you look like a complete hero, when all you in fact did was point it in the intended direction of travel and mash the throttle. And it does this with everything switched off too, without feeling dumbed down or like you're being artificially flattered by the technology.
Guns, golf clubs, bikes - it'll do lifestyle alright
By removing any mechanical connection between the front and rear axles and making the front drive entirely on demand Ferrari has a cake and eat it combination of uncorrupted steering feel on turn-in and face-saving traction on the way out. Managing torque split and wheel speeds between two entirely separate transmissions and traction control systems is a boggling concept but one achieved with real panache. It's a trick hybrid sports cars from the BMW i8 to 918 Spyder and new NSX mimic electronically of course. But the FF does it mechanically with a sodding great V12. Which is, evidently, way cooler.
And it does all this with room for the family, the shopping and the sporting lifestyle accoutrements of your choosing. It is, possibly, the perfect car. Better than that it seems there are plenty knocking about in the classifieds too, some bearing the scars of some pretty hearty depreciation.
Onboard in the FF!
FERRARI FF
Engine: 6,262cc V12
Transmission: 7-speed transaxle dual clutch rear-wheel drive plus independent part-time 4RM front axle drive system
Power (hp): 660@8,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 504@6,000rpm
0-62mph: 3.7sec
Top speed: 209mph
Weight: 1,790kg dry (1,880kg 'kerbweight' for European market version)
MPG: 18.3mpg (NEDC combined with optional HELE package - see below)
CO2: 360g/km (with optional HELE package - see below)
Price: £227,142 before options (£312,743 as tested comprising "Scuderia Ferrari" shields £990; Rosso Corsa brake calipers £864; 20-inch dark painted forged wheel rim £3,552; sports exhaust £432; rear view mirrors cluster dark painted £432; panoramic glass roof £10,560; black rev counter £0; carbon fibre driver zone + LEDs steering wheel £4,434; dashboard inserts in carbon fibre £4,272; carbon fibre central zone £2,400; carbon fibre central tunnel £1,920; exterior sill kick in carbon fibre £1,110; charcoal Alcantara upholstery for upper zone £1,134; charcoal alcantara door panel armrest £732; 'Colour upon request' for Alcantara parcel shelf - charcoal £306; ventilated full electric seats £2,112; 'Colour upon request' for contrasting stitching £348; embroidered prancing horse on headrests £1,248; charcoal leather and Alcantara interior trim £2,592; charcoal Alcantara carpet £1,824; Alcantara boot carpet £816; HELE - High Emotion Low Emission £960; AFS - front lighting system £1,248; privacy rear windows £2,640; front and rear suspension lift system £3,564; front parking camera with Dual View £1,920; Hi Fi premium system £3,552; TV tuner £1,152; rear seat entertainment £3,168; passenger display £2,400; boot storage nets £366; exterior in Rosso 2007 F1 £19,130*; rear spoiler painted 'Nero' £3,020*; stitching on upper dashboard 'Nero' £402*
Total retail price)
*Factory fit ExtraCampionaro Options
Track photos and details: Anthony Fraser
