I did not like the look of the 612 too much, but it is a pretty car. The FF is awesome. I think it is everything a Ferrari Daily Driver should be, Thanks for not building an SUV, although if Ferrari made an SUV I might consider to buy one as well. The FF has a radical look, and it is beautiful. Moreover, it is convenient, powerful, and it can be used all year long with proper tires. Ferrari has said that it outperforms the 599 GTB and that says a lot. Haters are not buyers. I bet this car will be a much better sales success than the 612 ever was. I have it on my wish list.
It's different and it takes time sometimes for people to get over something new. I think in the end, many will understand why they made this car the way they did. I still wish the rear section of this were on the 458. The sunk in tail lights are really interesting.
That first photo is definitely not a good one for the FF, but I think the lens has (hopefully) distorted the image. Pete
It's certainly more interesting and I bet a heck of lot better performing with the AWD. I'm sure this AWD system will end up on the new 599, maybe as an option or perhaps standard.
Amedeo Felisa answering the question Will we see this four-wheel-drive system on other Ferraris? "No, because the other cars in our range do not require it. The V8 cars do not have as much torque to transmit as our V12 cars, and cars like the 599 GTO are super sports cars, so being lightweight is more important than having four-wheel drive. Also, 80 per cent of our customers use their sports cars in dry conditions, or in high-grip conditions, so four-wheel-drive would add cost but not add to the driving experience."
I do not believe AF's statement. A month ago He also would have said they are not developing a 4wd system. The point of this system is to get HP to the ground. They have previously said that it is very difficult to get 600+ HP to the ground with a 2wd system. Watch Clarkson in the GTO. This is why he hates it. I predict that they will in fact use it on a V8 and V12 car.
Personally (and I do not live in a snowy area) I'd rather have the uncompromised steering than 4WD. If Ferrari does go 4WD, they are following Lamborghini ... sigh. Pete
Clarkson drove the GTO in pretty bad conditions, AF said owners don't usually drive their cars in conditions like those. Clarkson never liked the 599, that's more why he hated it. It's also not necessarily the hp that is hard to transmit to the ground, it's the torque. I could possibly see Ferrari put it in another V12 car (though I doubt it), but never a V8. The FF has the 4RM system purely because it is meant to be driven in all conditions.
I still don't understand why Ferrari are now making such huge engines. Once upon a time they used to be all about hp/litre and efficiency, now they make monster sized engines that quite frankly are not required. A 3 litre v12 would be a great car ... and all that is required. Pete
I'd love to see a lighter Ferrari that wouldn't need such a huge engine but between Gov't mandated weight needed to make the cars safe and those heavy luxuries that this market segment demands it just isn't going to happen.
Watch Clarkson's DVD "Italian Job". He doesn't like the GTO because it cannot use it's power and handles in a challenging manner with the electronics on or off. The FXX and the 599XX both produce between 700 and 800 HP. This is where the production cars are heading. I read that when they were first developing the system it was to give short bursts (30-60 sec or so) of power to the front wheels when it sensed s a loss of traction. I believe this system is to get the ever increasing HP to the ground. I do not believe it was developed specifically or exclusively for the FF. That wouldn't make good business sense. Too much R&D has gone into it to limit to their least moved product.
I agree about the system being expensive in R&D, but remember it was originally going to be a Maserati system. Clarkson can't put the power down correctly in any car so I think that's a moot point. The 599 had over 600 hp and didn't really have a problem, the Enzo has almost 700 and that was almost 10 years ago it was released.
This is not about Clarkson. The GTO kicked The Stig off the track. The 599 has suffers from understeer. Watch Tiff Needel drive the 599 around Fiorano and come to a similar conclusion Claskson came to about the 599 GTO. The Enzo had a moving rear wing to aid with downforce. All of these cars have Manattino and handle better in Race mode than with out TC systems. It was about ten years ago when they started this 4WD drive system. It is intended for performance and to increase speed and decrease lap times.
The 599 is not necessarily a track car so it was never really at home there, along with it's extra weight that doesn't help. Amedeo Felisa told EVO magazine that the 4RM system was originally going to be a Maserati system for the Quattroporte, but the Quattroporte never had an engine torquey enough to need a 4WD system, here's the link http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/264793/ferrari_ff_new_pictures_and_video.html
I'm not sure why you sent the link. I never said you misquoted him. I said I don't believe all of his statements. Our discussion was about Ferrari's 4wd system and if it intended to be used on future models. I believe it was intended for many models and like the F1 transmission will possibly become a new standard as HP rises.
I put the link just to show the full interview, it wouldn't matter I guess though if you don't believe AF, it is hard to believe everything he says I'll admit. I just don't see Ferrari putting the system on the rest of their range, even though it retains the sporting character of a RWD system it adds weight and most wouldn't want it on a Ferrari, just look how hard it is for the FF to be accepted even though it represents what the first three decades of Ferrari was! I guess the true question is when the HP and large capacity motor race will end. Like others have said I think it would be cool to see a small capacity V12 like those seen in the earliest of Ferrari's, however, it's hard to argue with 507lb ft of torque... and 386lb ft from 1000eek rpm!!
