Official Debut Announced for The Finali
Mondiali at Mugello on November 8
The
F12tdf is a concentration of technical innovations which involve all those
areas central to Ferrari’s DNA: engine, aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics. As a
result, in terms of acceleration, roadholding and agility, the new berlinetta
is second to none.
The
F12tdf’s performance is assured by the 780 cv, naturally-aspirated V12 derived
directly from the F12berlinetta’s multi-award-winning engine. The car’s
exhilarating dynamic behaviour, specifically its lateral acceleration in
corners, is due to an 8% increase in the ratio of the front tyres compared to
the rear ones. The car’s natural tendency to oversteer as a result of the
change in tyre sizes is compensated for by the innovative rear-wheel steering
system – known as the Virtual Short Wheelbase, which is integrated with the
other vehicle dynamic control systems – that guarantees the steering wheel
response times and turn-in of a competition car while increasing stability at
high speed. Cornering speeds are also higher thanks to the significant increase
in downforce - +87% - which has reached unprecedented levels for a
front-engined V12 berlinetta.
A
radical redesign of the bodywork, interior, engine, transmission and running
gear, along with the abundant use of carbon-fibre inside and out, has slashed
110 kg off the car’s overall weight.
All
of these factors combine to produce record performance figures: 0-100 km/h in
2.9 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 7.9 seconds in addition to a substantial boost in
lateral acceleration. The F12tdf laps Fiorano in just 1’21”.
Outstanding
stopping distances are guaranteed by the adoption of the new Extreme Design
one-piece brake callipers already seen on the LaFerrari. This new-generation
system means the car can brake from 100-0 km/h in just 30.5 m and from 200-0 in
121 m.
The
engine is the F12berlinetta’s 6262cc 65° V12 on which Ferrari engineers worked
to boost maximum power output from 740 cv to 780 cv at 8,500 rpm, yielding a specific
power output of 125 cv/l. The engine’s sporty response is assured by a maximum
torque figure of 705 Nm (up from 690 Nm) at 6,750 rpm with 80% already
available at 2,500 rpm, resulting in unparalleled, progressive pick-up all the
way to the red-line at 8,900 rpm.
Numerous
modifications have been developed for this engine, starting with the use of
race-inspired mechanical tappets and variable-geometry intake trumpets used on
Formula 1 cars which help boost volumetric efficiency at high revs.
The
F12tdf is equipped with a specific version of the F1 DCT with 6% shorter gear
ratios that delivers 30% faster upshifts and 40% faster downshifts.
Ferrari’s
engineers sought to create an extremely agile and powerful car which could also
be driven by less expert drivers. They drew on the wealth of experience built
up in the XX programmes are dedicated to developing extremely high performance
cars driven by non-professional drivers.
Extraordinary
chassis dynamics, in terms of maximum lateral acceleration and responsiveness,
are in part achieved by the increase in the front tyre dimensions, which jump
from 255 to 275, along with the front channel size - up from 9.5” to 10”. This
modification guarantees higher lateral acceleration generated by the front axle
but, alone, this would have caused oversteer on the limit, making the car more
challenging for less expert drivers.
To
enable even gentlemen drivers to make full use of the performance, Ferrari
developed its new Virtual Short Wheelbase system. Debuting on the F12tdf, the
rear axle is active, allowing the rear wheels to pivot around a vertical axis.
Using
model-based control logic developed entirely in-house by Ferrari, the rear axle
steering automatically adjusts the rear wheels, working out the optimal
steering angle as a function of the steering wheel angle, speed of steering
inputs and vehicle speed.
The
Virtual Short Wheelbase improves the car’s responsiveness to make it feel more
agile, with instantaneous turn-in that can be best appreciated on twisty roads
and on more technically challenging tracks while, at the same time, improving
stability at high speeds.
AERODYNAMICS
The
F12tdf’s aerodynamic performance is nothing short of record-breaking – its
aerodynamic efficiency figure is 1.6, almost double that of the F12berlinetta.
Downforce is 230 kg at 200 km/h, which is an impressive 107 kg more.
Development
affected every area of the car’s surface, producing striking elements that lend
its forms a unique sleek power. At the front, a highly complex bumper
contributes to downforce generation. It features a radically scooped lower
section and incorporates a competition car-inspired splitter, dive planes,
floor wings and louvres to boost the efficiency of both the sides and the
underbody.
The
Aerobridge on the car’s front flank has been redesigned to increase the
energising effect of the air flow along the top of the sides, while at the
rear, louvres on the wheelarch create a depression that extracts air from the
inner wheelarch, thereby increasing the efficiency of a section of the
underbody that is usually little used in generating downforce.
The
rear spoiler is now 60mm longer and 30mm higher, while the rake of the rear
screen has been made more vertical to extend the surface area over which the
spoiler can generate downforce and to capitalise on its advantages more
effectively. The concave curvature of the rear luggage hatch either side of the
rear screen further enhances the solution.
Three
pairs of GT-racing-derived strakes have been adopted on the aerodynamic
underbody and are responsible for 30% of the increase in downforce compared to
the F12berlinetta. The rear diffuser has been completely redesigned and now
sports a system of three active flaps. It has been split into three channels and
features curved fences and vertical splitters to boost the power of the
vortexes and enhance the expansion of the flow in the horizontal plane. This
radical aerodynamic design work essentially created a whole new car that also
marks a major stylistic departure from the F12berlinetta.
Designed
by the Ferrari Styling Centre, the new F12tdf has particularly imposing yet
sensual forms, the product of Ferrari’s continuous commitment to melding
sculptural beauty with functional demands.
All
of the bodywork panels, from the chiselled nose to the tail, have been revised.
Wider front and rear tracks also give the car an even more aggressive stance.
In
terms of the formal design language, the objective was to create a
sophisticated interaction between the sculptural surfaces of the F12berlinetta
and a more graphic treatment of the various new aerodynamic features. The best
testament to this intent is the evolution of the Aerobridge, the design of
which is further enhanced by the use of bare carbon-fibre. Developed in such a
technical manner, this component combines with the other details in creating a
coherent aesthetic approach to the whole car.
The
car’s uncompromising sportiness is expressed with the same degree of purity in
the deliberately Spartan cockpit. The wrap-around effect that embraces the
driving position is intensified by the use of carbon-fibre housings for the
instruments and satellite pods. The door panels have been pared back to a
single carbon-fibre shell, while the glove compartment has disappeared to be
replaced by simple knee padding. Alcantara rather the traditional leather was
chosen for the cabin trim, technical fabric for the seats and patterned
aluminium instead of mats for the floor, once again with the aim of saving every
last ounce of weight.
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