So no regular production NA V12 post 812? Really? I find that hard to believe....unless there will be a rear-mid-engined V12...
It means solely that BB will become Ferrari's top offering for some time, surpassing current front engined V12 range in terms of performance and hp. At least until the 812's hybrid successor see the daylight.
flagship: the finest, lagest or most important one of a group of things. The 812 will be only replaced as a flagship model.
I would tend to agree that, despite the 812's performance, a front engine car is not really perceived as a flagship especially in light of Ferrari's F1 association and compared to the raft of new hypercars, all mid-engined.
I'm in an aging minority now, I guess, but a front V12 will always be the most classic and desirable Ferrari to me. Love my 360, but I need to have a V12 (again) also.
Times evolve. If I’m not mistaken there was a time when Ferrari’s “flagship” regular production model was the 612 (on the basis it was the most expensive). But at that time the 599 & 612 were seen as GT cars. The f12 repositioned the 2-seater V12 as a sports car with the 812 extending that positioning. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
That was true of the 456M as well, if I'm not mistaken. A fully optioned one was the most expensive car in the Ferrari lineup I think. And the 2002/2003 cars were all made to order after Schumacher's special edition/endorsement (He was the Ferrari test driver who dialed in the 456's handling, if the stories I've heard are true). Didn't Enzo drive a 2+2 most of the time?
Because of a strong competition, Ferrari need better mid engine range offer AND attractive V12 front engine range. They have to be competitive everywhere.
Because the driving dynamics would kill me? Seriously, the 360 is a handful. Even with the Sport level nannies. Always a trailing throttle induced oversteer away from oblivion. The 456M, OTOH, was neutral until it pushed. There is a reason Enzo resisted the notion of a mid-engine Ferrari. He thought only gifted race drivers could deal with them. He was right, mostly.
I have to say that of all the Ferraris I've been able to sit in the 812 felt the most natural driving position and would seem to be the most normal to drive around in traffic. The mid-engined ones do have a special feel to them but the LaF, I don't know how that can be driven in other than a race track environment.
He was wrong, that's why the sportiest Ferraris are rear-mid engined nowadays. Of course a front-mid engined car is easier to drive, but it has more limitations. At any rate, modern electronics help even the less gifted drivers.
Thank you for making my - and Enzo's - point: Without the nannies there would be even more bloodstains than there already are. He did not consider the possibility of electronic intervention back then because he could not have conceived of such a thing in those times. The "Horsepower Wars" era we have been enjoying in both front and mid engine cars is possible only because of the nannies. And I'm okay with that, but one thing will never change; the driving dynamics of front engine cars will always be more naturally forgiving than mid engine cars without electronic intervention. I love both, but I wouldn't give a girl I love an F8, she'd get a Portofino. And I'd rather drive a Lusso in more circumstances than an F8.
they will do an 812 "Superamerica", that's a sort of 812 VS. I know since one year that 812 would have been replaced by the mid engine hybrid V8: I can write it just today as today a Flavio Manzoni interview confirming that has been published on Quattroruote May issue. V12 will become V8 V8 will become V6 What I still don't know is if the V12 will survive on some limited production or will disappear. It won't be on standard production cars after the 812 Superamerica. Or at least this is what rumors say ciao
V12 will always be there but only for icona and hypercar ranges. It will help Ferrari ambitious plan with huge margins limited cars.
Imho the V12 will live on in future production cars (possibly on the new "elegant GT" too), with further developments already planned as stated by Galliera and Leiters. Right now, there's no reason to think it will be exclusively used for Icona/Halo models.
Okay, fair points. Then again I wouldn't give a girl I love any sportscar whatsoever (well, I gave mine an Alfa, but it is not that quick anyway), let alone a 600 HP Ferrari, be it front-mid or rear-mid engined, for that matter.