FF…Ferrari’s Fours: Four Seats; Four Wheel Drive

The Ferrari 612 was unthinkably ugly as far as Ferraris go especially since it replaced the 456 which was a rather handsome beast. We’re not surprised then when the new broke that Ferrari has been equally controversial with the 612′s replacement…

Earlier today Ferrari unveiled the 612 Scaglietti’s replacement to a select few customers and popped the pics through to the motoring press ahead of its official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It’s alarming because a) it looks a bike a wagon and obviously drawn some heavy inspiration from the Sultan of Brunei’s Pininfarina-built 456 Venice Estate and, of course, features an all wheel drive system.

Styled by Pininfarina and code-named the  FF ( two F’s for four seats and four wheel drive) for now, it is an important model for Ferrari not because it’s pitched squarely at the growing segment of four seater performance cars like the Aston Martin Rapide, Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-Benz CL to name a few.

Ferrari claims it the FF offers exceptional performance and versatility. And this is a good thing because Ferraris have always offered exceptional performance, but not always the most versatility. Ferrari claims it’s a true four seater, while the wagon-like rear end makes loading space and head and shoulder room for rear-seat passengers, something of a revelation compared with the existing lineup. Ferrari claims this practicality issue struck them when Fernando  Alonso could not play practical jokes on Filipe Massa by stuffing him in the boot of his company issue 458 Italia…well not really we made that up, but when you you see the lineup of Ferrari branded products available you need a big trunk to hold all that junk.

The FF is powered by a new 660-hp (492kW), 6.6-liter V-12 direct-injection engine and critically, apart from the un-Ferrari like contours, be another first for the company as it is rumored to feature an all wheel drive system.

The FF will be more fuel efficient than the outgoing 540-hp (402kW) 5.75-liter Scaglietti, with CO2 emissions of 360 grams per kilometer.  At best the Scaglietti emitted CO2 emissions of 470g/km. That’s 100g’s per kilometer better.

The FF will go on mid-way through they year and as yet pricing remains moot.  The FF has a 335kph top speed and accelerates from 0 to 100kph in just 3.5 seconds.

Thanks to Autonews for the tip and pictures.

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