FF, FF-M or FF-GT, Which would you prefer?

Please rate the model that you like most of the three shown. The two variants based upon the FF were prepared by my son Daniel who is 18. We had a good time preparing them and would enjoy reading your comments as well. By offering a range of models based upon the FF, Ferrari can appeal to a broad range of consumer styling and lifestyle preferences. Ferrarichat is monitored by Ferrari so perhaps the comments may help get the M or GT versions added to the production line.

Check out the article in CAR Magazine Online: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Motoring-issues/CAR-readers-son-designs-Ferrari-FF-spin-offs-2011/
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The four people concept is admirable, but the contorsions required to get into the back seats is something that has not been addressed from what I can tell. If you are heading out to dinner with another couple, who sits in back? Try putting two gals with evening dresses in the back seat and they will both look at you like your out of your tree. I think the evening would start out on the rocks if even one of the gals had to sit in back. So it looks like the guys would have to sit in back and one of the gals would drive with the other in the passenger seat. This is what seems like the way the conversation would go before departing for dinner at any swanky steakhouse. This defeats the purpose of having the four place car in the first place. If there are women who view this post, I would appreciate hearing from them on the practicality of the current FF design.

The "M" model is a 2+2 (Two adults and Two kids). The "GT" has a package tray in place of the two rear seats in the "M". The panel beaters at Pininfarina can produce either the "M" or the "GT" on order without upsetting the production line of the FF. So, the question is do you want a four adult seater two door and how would you use it? I am confident the "M" and "GT" would take their place in parked in front of the Steakhouse, but I think the "FF" would still be in the garage because the gals would balk at the ingress/egress issues. It would be interesting to hear what the woman have to say on this topic.

 

The four door version of the FF is nearing completion. It should be posted by Monday evening. It does look a bit like the Porsche as the rear door follows the roof line in an eliptical way. The overall roofline is based on the FF-M version with a stretched frame and body. The rear wheel is larger than the front to address ride and overall fender to wheel relationships. Again, its not if you like it or not, its to guage a range of opinions. Your's counts, but only as some have shown, +1, -1, 0. This interested me as my background is in marketing and marketing research. Ferrarichat, on the whole, seems to be too.

 

It's amazing how a small change is a drawing can make a big improvement in the overall appeal of a design. You will note that the GT version in the three car comparo seems shorter than the M or the original FF. That was the not the intension, but there is a slight difference. This difference is due to stretch or squash in the image. The following shows how the GT version looks with the exact overall length and proportion to the original FF press release photo. I think it looks better, what do you think?
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The purpose is to offer customer choice and to meet consumer demand for an all-weather all-wheel drive super car capable of selling in volume north of the mason-dixon line. Chicago is a good market for a car such as this as in amost all of Europe and Scandinavia. The original FF is an interesting body design, but unconventional body designs like this are seldom rewarded with market success. The GT would compete with a variety of high end GT's and provide the all weather capability through its all-wheel drive system. So if choice matters, then the GT would be worked into the production line to provide incremental production efficiencies and stretch the production run of the FF to help generate improved operating margins and return on initial tooling and start-up production expenses. I am sure Ferrari has done focus groups on the FF, but they probably have not considered the Series concept where this car could also be offered as a cabriolet model as well. A true four door version to compete with the Jaguar could also work, although it would sit on a stretched frame. We are working on a four door version that will be posted shortly. The strenght of the engineering effort is superb with the FF. There is alot more that can be done with this model to help meet enthusiast demand across a number of consumer groups and styling preferences. That's the purpose of offer a Series of models based upon the FF.

 

The GT only has a package tray in the rear. So seating for four is out of the question. This model would serve a different and larger market that the FF. It would likley overlap with the 612, but would likley appeal to the 612 buyer profile. The M version is a 2+2 much like the first Mustang Fastback where it could accomodate two 12 and unders in the back seat. So the range of vehicles offered are the FF (4 Adults), the M (2 Adults and 2 12 and under) and the GT (2 Adults and thier luggage). Regarding the sketches, they are an exercise that my son and I undertook one evening. Here is a sketch my uncle Alex did for Dick Hickey in the olden days. It eventually was built as a one off hot rod and recently sold for about $250k. The Tucker Torpedo now resells for over $1m, if you can find one. My uncle also designed that as well. Styling is a professional career in the automotive industry and has lead to many advancements in design and aerodynamics. As for the FF roofline being sacred due to its aerodynamic effect at speed, the FF's high speed stability is credited to its rear defuser located beneath the rear bumper. This feature is widely used in F1 racing and provides the vast majority of the downforce for the FF. The GT version would actually be more aerodynamic than the FF since the GT has a sloping rear that will hold the air longer over the length of the car and will reduce turbulence at the rear of the car as well. I think the GT would likely have a top speed of nearer to 218-220 based upon this design and its reduced drag. The increase in top speed is achieved with no change to the engine output and the GT may actually save an additional 80 to 120 lbs in weight due to the reduced sheet metal used in the GT over the FF. So the sketches really are not silly after all when you understand automobile design and aerodynamics. I work with my son in nurturing his artistic talents and share them with the membership at Ferrarichat to see what comments we can draw further inspiration from. It's worth the effort, even when the occasional poster will throw stones. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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My estimates for the GT are based upon my informed WAG. My uncle explained automotive aerodynamics to me when I was young and he took the time to explain the concepts and math involved in determining a drag coefficient. Also, I studied the Pete Brock Daytona Cobra Coupe in comparison to versions designed by the UK and Italian firms prior to its introduction to the European race circuit in the mid-60's, it was clear that a fastback version was the way to go for high speed superiority on the Mulsane straight. The slight variation in roofline as executed by the fabricators was also evident. The camback design coupled with a rear spoiler allowed that car to outperform anything that it shared the track with. My brother Steve is writing a biography of Alex detailing the numerous projects that Alex was involved with thoughout his illustrious automotive design career from his early involvement with Augie Dusenberg and the design of his land speed record holder to his involvement late in his career with other streamlining projects. Here are couple of early pics that show Alex's handywork in designing modification for the 65' Mustang by adding a rear spoiler and a redesigned front air intake. Also included is a "Breadvan" which did not have the top end speed Ferrari had hoped for and evokes the FF in its current form.

The FF height and width lead me to believe that it's coefficent of drag is high compared to the 612 or 599 and that the chopped GT version would dramatically improve the GT versions top end performance over the FF. The rear diffuser is performs the same function as the Daytona rear spoiler. If diffuser's were understood in the mid-60's, they might not have had to add the spoiler to hold the Daytona down at speed.

Also attached is a modern interpretation of a GTO 612 by a well regarded designer. Stunning concept.
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