A brand-new and extreme variant of the Ferrari F12berlinetta has just been unveiled to the world: the Ferrari F12tdf. Unlike the past F12 special editions, this one will have a higher production number that makes it much more attainable.
Why “tdf?” This car is meant to pay homage to the Tour de France Automobile, a historic race that ran between 1899 and 1986. It was a race that Ferrari dominated back in the 1950s and ’60s.
While the F12tdf may resemble the F12berlinetta in some ways, a press release from the marque today assures us it is most certainly not the same car.
At its heart is Ferrari’s multi-award-winning 6.3-liter V12 engine, the same one found in the F12berlinetta, but now with increased power. Numerous engine modifications by Ferrari’s engineers boost power from 730 hp to 769 hp, and 508 lb-ft of torque up to 519 lb-ft. Filtering this power through the gears is a revised version of the F1 DCT with 6 percent shorter gear ratios. This makes for 30 percent faster upshifts and 40 percent faster downshifts.
One thing Ferrari wanted to address in the F12tdf is the berlinetta’s tendency to create oversteer on a whim. This is why they are debuting their new Virtual Short Wheelbase to the world in this limited edition model. To summarize, it’s a new and innovative rear-wheel steering system that works in unison with the car’s computers to provide better steering wheel response times and the “turn-in of a competition car while increasing stability at high speed.”
The most noticeable change that sets the F12tdf apart is its design. And, while this new look for the model is fantastic, it does much more than just look pretty. Through a new front fascia, side skirts, rear spoiler and rear diffuser, it has incredible aerodynamics. In fact, its aerodynamic efficiency figure is double that of the F12berlinetta’s, while its downforce is 570 lbs at 124 mph, 236 lbs more. In increasing aerodynamics, Ferrari has also decreased the car’s weight, dropping 242.5 lbs overall.
Do all of these modifications to the powertrain and overall build of the car result in faster performance? You bet.
• 0-62 mph: 2.9 seconds (.2 secs quicker)
• 0-124 mph: 7.9 seconds (.6 secs quicker)
• Fiorano Lap Time: 1’21” (2 secs quicker)
Inside, Ferrari breathed more sportiness into the cockpit through a wrap-around effect and the extensive use of carbon fiber. They also used Alcantara instead of traditional leather, and technical fabric for the seats.
Ferrari is only planning on making 799 examples of the car. So, if you’re interested, you better act quickly.
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(Source: Ferrari)
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