Make it lightweight also and the would truely be Christmas!!!
After driving the F12 in cold and wet Northern Europe the past few weeks have made me wonder.... dare I say it..... some kind of 4wd system like on the GTC.....?
Make sure you guys fit sotto zero's (or equivalent winter tire). They work MUCH better in colder temperature. If you don't drive like a clown, no need for the 4wd. If you do, 4wd alone won't safe you...
I assume Ferrari's reticence to produce an open top V12 beyond extremely limited numbers is the market is fickle for open top variants and Ferrari can't risk a flagship V12 struggling. On Ferrari's investor relations page they dedicate a rather amateurish page to how they successfully marketed the LaFerrari Aperta, starting with the Black Box. Something you would be hard pressed to find on any other rival corporate website. I personally wouldn't have bothered preferring to retain the mystery but there's obviously real sensitivity how they explain their marketing process to a non petrolhead (cynical?) analyst audience. I hope that sense of nervousness declines with time, Ferrari know well in the auto business any loss of confidence in design hits the order book fast. And also costs a fortune to put right. Which is why I am hoping the F12M is aggressive and distinctive.
Merry christmas Camlet I'm not so sure the market is fickle for open tops. Every famous sportscar has its open top version and it always sells beautifully. DB9 conv, XKR conv, 911 conv, Ferrari V8 spiders, have always sold like little hot breads. In fact , I can't name a major sportscar wthout its open top version. It's mandatory in the range IMO. That is still a big mystery for me. Ferrari loses millions not doing this. Why sell 100 barchettas when you can sell 3000 maranello spiders... Do you plan to get a F12M ?
Probably because they couldn't sell 3000 V12 spiders most likely. The market for open top cars has tapered in recent years. Yes, there are lots of models on the market but little volume. Even with the 488 a greater portion of coupes is being sold as a proportion of the total. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hi dc. And a very Merry Christmas to you too. I'm sitting on a beach in Miami typing this so currently my Christmas Day has been very acceptable. Even had my daughter's boyfriend stream live the Queen's Christmas speech to our TV. Clever stuff these days. I'm biased but even at 90, Queen Elizabeth still oozes class and common sense. Hope your Christmas is excellent and your 2017 is full of good health and happiness. My dealer principal told me he wants me to have his first or second M, happily I've not had to place a deposit yet. Will oblige him if the car is as dramatic as he promises. When he told me he had kindly put me down for the F12 Speciale (as he called the TDF before it was launched) he said that car "will be unbelievable". He wasn't wrong then and I'm sure he's not wrong now.
Ahahah Christmas on the beach I've never done that... Enjoy... You're building an awesome front engined v12 stable !
Miami has its benefits, including one the best pizza joints anywhere. And pizzas served with superb craft beers. But awful for the waistline! With the TDF I've now four magnificent V12s. The problem is another may require a sale according to Mrs Camlet's guide to "How To Deal With A Ferrari Crazed Husband" Seriously, emotional attachment is my weakness - each car has a story and a unique appeal -and storage is a pain in the ass. I am in awe of our American colleagues who have space for their personal Scuderia. Anyway #workhardplayharder
like I suggested to Traveller send the car to Spain for a holiday! He had the right idea with his F40...
I think Camlet and cesman are on the right track. Though I wasn't aware that 488 spiders were not as high a % of the production as 458 spiders. It just seems to me Ferrari has always given a special place to V12 and then even more so with V12 open cars. Whether its a convertible version of the 275, 550, 575, 599 and now with the F12. All of these have been limited, in some cases its super limited. I think the best argument for changing this setup is Ferrari must be leaving money on the table. But I wonder if they are. We would need to know how many F12berlinetta they have sold, whether they would have more demand if an open variant were available, the cost to meet that demand, and if they would have more production capacity. I think if it were as (relatively) simple of selling another ~1,000 units say with a $75k premium ($75,000,000 added revenue) they would do it. The fact that they have not done it suggests to me it isn't so simple.
Merry Christmas to everyone here! I think you have to look at the demographics of the V12 buyer when considering an open top variant. It might show that they are more mature minded and perhaps older. Personally, I have no desire for an open top but don't know if there is a connection. Perhaps an open top is not required for the F12 as it has been so successful that launching a campaign simply to sell an open top version would not get someone like me to buy in. I think going aggressive in performance while still maintaining the GT essence is where the line should go and where the market would be huge. Leave the open tops for the limited versions.
I have a different theory on open top standard production V12 - IMO Luca kept it from happening in order to keep it for LE's only Therefore extending the cache of the brand. So current platform was not designed for it.But when the F12M successor does get a clean sheet new chassis design Sergio will make sure it is capable of producing standard production open tops.How else is he going to accomplish his goals of moving production numbers up ? Just my 2 cents BTW If there isn't healthy demand for convertibles why the Cali T
Because at the entry level (assuming new car purchase) there's no alternative. And because that's deliberate in order to appeal to the broadest segment possible, including the softer Bentleys and Astons? Different market from a big very expensive performance focused open top V12 (say that after a couple of G&Ts lol). HNY.
When I posted my initial suggestion about why the V12 should be a production car, given the company's focus is making money, it just makes no sense to earn so little from such a limited run. Not offering the F12 as a production convertible and selling a few specials cost them a fortune and the huge profitability that a 2021 model could create with a chassis designed from the ground up to be either fixed head or convertible, means either a very expensive Limited run of anything up to 1000 cars, or a less expensive production model. I don't understand just because history has always meant keeping very limited Aperta runs for V12 models, why it should not change.
Another thought for you all, perhaps when the whole new model (F12M successor) arrives in ~2021/22 it will be hybrid and thus feature better emissions and economy numbers and allow Ferrari to more greatly expand the model range. Maybe there is a greater market demand out there for a convertible but satisfying it would run afoul of the current regulations?
I'm with you on your thinking - Luca was a gaurdian of the brand's history hence the return to front V12s and limiting open top verisons Sergio didn't agree hence squeezed Luca out and his outlook will be to explore whatever segments he can to reach 10,000 units a year
Whatever the truth, it's not likely to happen with the F12M so could we get back to topic on this thread? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The future is clearly more of LE and customization across the range (and for most "luxury" brands) whether one likes it or not. There is simply too many $£¥ out there..... same trend is seen on the various YouTube car channels. Not sure that all these limited edition models will be bought by car enthusiasts like us.... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My prediction for the front. I expect some kind of air intake around the headlights, exiting from vents in the upper aft of the hood and front fenders. Front spoiler was visible in the latest pics of the test cars, but the vertical winglets (of which I expect at least one per side, and slightly bigger than those on tdf) are purely artistic licence on my part. As noted by some already, expect the rear quarter window to be recessed at the aft end (458 style) leading to a scoop for flow-through to some rear facing exits. Image Unavailable, Please Login
