Not everyday, one runs into the ultra exclusive Ferrari F12tdf. The Ferrari F12 TDF —Tour de France— pays homage to the Tour de France, the legendary endurance road race that Ferrari dominated in the 1950s and 60s, particularly with the 1956 250 GT Berlinetta which won four consecutive editions. It was a race that rewarded cars that combined maximum performance with the driveability and ease of use that enabled the competitors to race for hundreds of kilometers a day over fast, tortuous roads and on circuits. The F12tdf is the ultimate expression of the concept of an extreme road car that is equally at home on the track, and exclusively available in a limited production of 799 cars.
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, road handling and agility, the new Berlinetta is second to none.
The F12tdf’s performance is assured by the 769 hp, naturally-aspirated V12 derived directly from the F12 Berlinetta’s multi-award-winning engine. The car’s exhilarating dynamic behavior, specifically its lateral acceleration in corners, is due to an 8% increase in the ratio of the front tires compared to the rear ones.
The car’s natural tendency to oversteer as a result of the change in tire 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 guarantee 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 fiber inside and out, has slashed 110 kg off the car’s overall weight. All of these factors combine to produce record performance figures: 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds and 0-124 mph 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 calipers already seen on the LaFerrari. This new-generation system means the car can brake from 62-0 mph in just 100 ft and from 124-0 in 369 ft. In all a stunning machine worth every penny.
Sticker Price $550,000 USD depending on options. For more info on Ferrari click here.
