The F12berlinetta, the fastest Ferrari ever built, makes North American debut at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif., Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, August 19th at the First Tee of the Pebble Beach Golf Links, the North American Premiere of the F12berlinetta will usher in a new generation of Ferrari 12-cylinders in the form of a car that delivers unprecedented performance from an exceptional new engine, combined with innovative design that redefines classic themes along with extreme aerodynamics.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120814/NY57367 )

The F12berlinetta represents the very cutting-edge of mid-front-engined sports cars. In the United States, deliveries of the F12berlinetta are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2013.

"With many of our most valued clients and avid fans joining for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, this is the ideal moment for the North American premiere of the new F12berlinetta," says Marco Mattiacci, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ferrari North America. "Both beautiful and breathtakingly fast, the F12berlinetta carries forward the traditions of the great Ferraris of today and yesteryear," Mattiacci continues.

The reaction from the global motoring press to F12berlinetta has been highly positive, with uniform praise for its extreme performance capabilities balanced with equally exceptional drivability, together with its innovative design and exceptional passenger comfort.

The F12berlinetta is the most powerful and high-performance Ferrari road car ever launched thanks to the incredibly efficient engine – in terms of mechanical, combustion and fluid-dynamics efficiency – which, together with advanced vehicle architecture, aerodynamics, components and electronic controls, guarantee unsurpassed driving involvement whatever the road or track.

Ferrari's traditional transaxle layout has been revolutionized to match the more extreme performance of the car. The wheelbase has been shortened and the engine, dashboard and seats have been lowered in the chassis, while the new layout of the rear suspension and gearbox enabled Ferrari's engineers to make the rear volume of the car smaller. The overall result is a very compact car with a lower centre of gravity that is further back in the chassis, and a level of aerodynamic efficiency that sets new standards.

Scaglietti, renowned for its expertise in aluminum materials and construction, designed an all-new spaceframe chassis and bodyshell using 12 different kinds of alloys, some of which have been used here for the first time in the automotive sector, and employing new assembly and joining techniques. This has resulted in a 20 per cent increase in structural rigidity while reducing weight to just 1525 kg (70 kg less than the previous V12 coupe) with an ideal distribution between the axles (54 per cent over the rear).

The F12berlinetta's 6262cc 65 degree V12 engine delivers unprecedented performance and revs for a naturally-aspirated 12-cylinder. Its maximum power output is 740 CV (730 bhp) which translates to a specific output of 118 CV/l. Torque reaches a peak of 690 Nm (730 lb-ft), 80 per cent of which is already available at just 2,500 rpm, and which provides an unrelenting surge of acceleration all the way to the 8,700 rpm limit. The engine is mated to the F1 dual-clutch transmission, which has closer gear ratios developed specifically for this car's performance. The F12berlinetta boasts a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.1 kg/CV.

The result is that the new Prancing Horse 12-cylinder accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.1 seconds and from 0 to 200 km/h in 8.5 seconds. It also completes a lap of the Fiorano circuit in 1'23", faster than any other Ferrari road car. Benchmark performance and maximum driving involvement are guaranteed by immediate turn-in, with smaller steering wheel angles, and increased cornering speed. Stopping distances have also been drastically reduced.

The design of the F12berlinetta is a result of the collaboration between the Ferrari Styling Centre and Pininfarina and is a perfect balance of uncompromising aerodynamics with harmonious proportions interpreting the typical elements of Ferrari's front-engined V12 cars in an original and innovative way. A coupe with sleek, aggressive lines whose compact exterior dimensions conceal exceptional in-car space and comfort. The all-new Frau leather interior highlights the balance of advanced technology and sophisticated, handcrafted detailing. In the middle of the light and lean dashboard, there are new carbon fiber and aluminum air vents clearly inspired by the aeronautic field.

The cabin has been optimized to ensure maximum usability of the interior space with additional luggage capacity behind the seats, which can also be easily reached thanks to the large aperture offered by the tailgate. With the cockpit designed around the driver, typical of all Ferraris, the Human Machine Interface approach is emphasized, grouping all the major commands within immediate reach to guarantee maximum ergonomics for the most involving driving experience.

About Ferrari North America
Ferrari North America, Inc. is headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, and is the exclusive North, Central and South American importer of Ferrari vehicles including the 458 Italia, 458 Spider, the California and FF Grand Tourers, and the new Ferrari F12berlinetta. For more information please visit www.ferrariusa.com  and follow us on Twitter @FerrariUSA.

Photographs of the Ferrari F12berlinetta can be downloaded from www.media.ferrari.com.

For further information:
Ferrari Press Office
tel. +39 0536 949337 - fax +39 0536 949049
e-mail: [email protected] - www.media.ferrari.com

SOURCE Ferrari North America, Inc.