The F12 Berlinetta ushers in a new generation of Ferrari 12-cylinders in the form of a car that delivers unprecedented performance from an exceptional new engine, unparalleled handling and innovative design and aerodynamics. The F12 Berlinetta's 200-bar, direct-injection 6262 cc 65° V12 delivers absolutely unprecedented performance for a naturally aspirated 12-cylinder engine. It has a maximum power output of 740 CV at 8250 rpm, while its specific power output is a record-breaking 118 CV/l. Responsiveness and strong pick-up is guaranteed by maximum torque of 690 Nm, 80 per cent of which is already on tap at 2500 rpm, with a constant surge of power all the way up to the 8700 rpm rev limit. Just as is the case with F1 engines, the V12 has very low inertia and thus revs rise very rapidly. Driving involvement is intensified by the rich, full exhaust soundtrack typical of Ferrari's naturally-aspirated V12s. The F12berlinetta's performance levels give a good idea of the engine's incredible efficiency, where both fuel consumption and emissions are now 30 per cent lower thanks to the Stop&Start system, a “smart” alternator, and Multispark ignition system. These, along with numerous other technical solutions, have reduced internal friction making the F12berlinetta best-in-class for its power-emissions ratio. The car's compression ratio has also been increased to 13.5:1 and a new 3.0 ECU has been adopted that uses ionization currents to control sparking and detect misfires. The Multispark ignition generates three sparks of different durations and intensities in quick succession. At low engine speeds, this optimizes combustion and, consequently, lowers fuel consumption. The engine is also equipped with Stop&Start and a “smart” alternator which recharges the battery only when there is no demand for power. Meticulous attention was also paid to reducing internal friction, exhaust backpressure and intake depressurization. The cylinder block has four oil scavenge pumps with rotors using smaller diameter blades which optimise extraction efficiency. Lubrication is guaranteed by an engine oil pump with variable geometry. The design of the pistons includes an anodizing treatment to the first piston groove, with PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating on the first piston ring and Graphal-coated piston skirts. All of this reduces friction between the piston and the cylinder liner. The camshafts are super-finished using a lapping process that reduces surface roughness to under 0.05 Ra, thus minimizing the coefficient of friction between the cam lobes and the tappets. The tappets themselves have been given a DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coating that reduces their coefficient of friction, increasing performance and reducing fuel consumption. The cylinder head features different conduit designs, new intake manifolds and new plenums fitted with resonators. The resonators create overpressure inside the intake tract the moment the intake valve opens and immediately before it closes, guaranteeing improved cylinder filling and generating a powerful supercharging effect which increases engine performance. The whole exhaust sequence has also been optimized – the catalyzers have been miniaturized and hydroformed manifolds have been adopted, reducing their form and size without impinging on their capacity, resulting in improved permeability and reduced backpressure. The system's geometry and materials have been developed to harmonize the intake and exhaust soundtracks to underscore the car's extremely sporty character. All of the pipes connecting the 6-in-1 exhaust manifold to the single catalyzer per bank are of equal length and this optimizes the sound giving predominance to the first-order combustion harmonics. The characteristic engine sound can clearly be heard in the cockpit in all driving conditions. The seven-speed F1 dual-clutch transmission boosts both performance and ride comfort at once. The technology involved is based on the independent management of odd and even gears which are pre-selected using two different in-put shafts. Gear shifting time – calculated as the overlap between the opening and closing phases of the two clutches – is thus zero and there is no interruption of torque delivery to the wheels. Shortened ratios have been developed for the F12berlinetta and 7th gear is a direct ratio, not an overdrive, to ensure that the car's huge performance potential can be exploited in every gear. The E-Diff3 electronic differential has also been integrated into the gearbox, helping to cut the car's overall weight. The F12 Berlinetta's spaceframe chassis and bodyshell are completely new and use different types of materials and technologies, many of which originated in the aeronautical industry. No fewer than 12 different types of alloy have been used, including two new structural alloys. F12 Berlinetta's cabin design features a cutting-edge look that is understated yet sophisticated. Volumes have been reduced to a minimum to enhance sportiness and efficiency. The F12 Berlinetta's aerodynamics were developed hand-in-hand with its styling, using CFD (computational fluid dynamic) simulations along with more than 250 hours of testing in the Wind Tunnel. — SG
