Ferrari FF

Ferrari FF
Overview
Manufacturer	Ferrari
Production	2011–2016
Assembly	Italy: Maranello
Designer	Lowie Vermeersch at Pininfarina and Flavio Manzoni at Ferrari Styling Centre
Body and chassis
Class	Grand tourer
Body style	3-door shooting brake
Layout	Front mid-engine, four-wheel-drive
Related	Ferrari F12berlinetta
Powertrain
Engine	6.3 L F140 EB V12
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,990 mm (117.7 in)[1]
Length	4,907 mm (193.2 in)[2]
Width	1,953 mm (76.9 in)[2]
Height	1,379 mm (54.3 in)[2]
Kerb weight	1,880 kg (4,145 lb)[3]
Chronology
Predecessor	Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Successor	Ferrari GTC4Lusso

The Ferrari FF is a grand touring car produced by the Italian carmaker Ferrari from 2011 to 2016. The successor to the 612 Scaglietti, the FF—whose name is an acronym for "Ferrari Four"—is a three-door shooting brake. Development of the FF began in 2007, and it debuted at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 2011; production started in the same month in Maranello, Italy. Designed under the direction of Lowie Vermeersch and Flavio Manzoni, the FF shares parts, mainly the engine, with the F12berlinetta—a coupé that was introduced one year after the FF.

Upon its release, the FF became the world's fastest four-seater car and Ferrari's second-fastest grand tourer after the 599 GTO. The FF features a 6.3 L V12 engine known as the F140 EB. It produces a power output of 485 kilowatts (650 hp) and a torque output of 683 newton-metres (504 lbf⋅ft), sufficient to give the car a maximum speed of 335 km/h (208 mph) and a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration of 3.7 seconds. Its transmission is a seven-speed dual-clutch. The FF has received numerous awards, including Top Gear's Estate Car of the Year in 2011. It was succeeded by the GTC4Lusso in 2016.

History

The 612 Scaglietti, which preceded the FF

The Italian carmaker^[4][5] Ferrari began development of a successor to the 612 Scaglietti in 2007.^[6] Under the direction of Lowie Vermeersch—former Design Director at Pininfarina—and Flavio Manzoni, work on the shooting brake after the creation of the Pininfarina Sintesi, a concept car. Although Ferrari initially wanted the car developed from that concept, the project was transferred to Italdesign, which presented an angular proposal. It eventually returned to Pininfarina for further development.^[6] Other developments took place at Ferrari's Styling Centre.^[7]

Ferrari debuted the FF at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 2011.^[8][9] Official manufacture of the FF began in the same month^[10] at the facility in Maranello, Italy.^[11][12] At launch, Ferrari announced that it would produce 800 FF units annually. The carmaker further stated that the entire first year's production run had already been sold out.^[12][13] Upon its release, the FF became the world's fastest four-seater car and Ferrari's second-fastest grand tourer after the 599 GTO.^[1][14] It was produced at the Maranello facility until it was discontinued in 2016 after a production run of five years during which 2,291 units had been built.^[15] It was succeeded by the GTC4Lusso.^[16][17]

Design and naming

Rear view

The name "FF" is an acronym for "Ferrari Four",^[18] highlighting its four-wheel drive capability.^[19] The FF reflects the design language of contemporary Ferrari models, incorporating the distinctive pulled-back headlights of the 458 Italia and the twin circular tail-lights found on both the 458 and the 599 GTB Fiorano.^[20][21] The electronic rear differential is built into the gearbox housing, and all chassis and powertrain control systems—including the magnetic adaptive shocks, stability control, layout, and electronic differential—are combined into a single module.^[22] The FF incorporates a predominantly space frame construction and—like all contemporary Ferraris—is made from aluminium. This design, compared to its predecessor, reduces weight by five per cent and increases torsional rigidity by six per cent.^[2][23]

The FF is a grand touring car^[24][25] with three doors and four seats.^[26][27] The FF's seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox is positioned at the rear of the car, contributing to its weight distribution of 47 per cent at the front and 53 per cent at the rear. The electronic rear differential is built into the gearbox housing, and all chassis and powertrain control systems—including the magnetic adaptive shocks, stability control, and electronic differential—are combined into a single module.^[22] The FF's design is largely influenced by the need to manage airflow over and around its body efficiently. It has a relatively high drag coefficient of 0.329, but vents along the sides and rear, which direct air out of the wheel wells and around the car, mitigate this figure. The trade-off for the increased drag is improved downforce, improving road grip at higher speeds, most prominent in the split-level diffuser at the rear, which features an aerofoil-shaped centre element.^[2]

The four-wheel drive system in the FF is referred to as "4RM" (ruote motrici—Italian for 4WD).^[28] At 41 kilograms (90 lb), it weighs fifty per cent less than traditional methods, helping maintain a low centre of gravity.^[2] This system uses a secondary gearbox to channel power from the front of the engine. The front gearbox is geared six per cent longer than the rear's first gear and six per cent longer than the rear's fourth gear (reverse is the same). Thus, the front gearbox's first gear covers the rear's first and second gears, while its second gear covers the rear's third and fourth gears. Power is transmitted through two electronically controlled, hydraulic wet multiplate clutches, located on the driver's side of the front transmission, one for each wheel. These clutches adjust slip to match the speed of the rear wheels and enable torque vectoring for side-to-side power distribution.^[29]

The FF features a 6,262 cc (6.3 L; 382.1 cu in) naturally aspirated direct injection V12 engine.^[30][31][32] It produces a power output of 485 kilowatts (650 hp) and a torque output of 683 newton-metres (504 lbf⋅ft), sufficient to give the car a maximum speed of 335 km/h (208 mph) and a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration of 3.7 seconds.^[33][34] The FF shares its engine with the F12berlinetta, a coupe introduced in 2012.^[35] The shooting brake design, with its folding rear seats, gives the Ferrari FF a boot capacity of 450 litres (16 cu ft), which can be expanded to 800 litres (28 cu ft) when the rear seats are lowered.^[36] The car's suspension is known as the "SCM3", a magnetorheological self-adjusting damping system. The FF includes Brembo's carbon ceramic brakes.^[37][38] The FF has a CO₂ output of 360 grams per kilometre (20 oz/mi) and a fuel consumption figure of 15.4 litres per 100 kilometres.^[39]

SP FFX

The Ferrari SP FFX, introduced in 2014, is a one-off model based on the Ferrari FF, featuring a custom body with a coupé-style rear end instead of the FF's shooting brake design.^[40] Commissioned by a customer in Japan, it was built by Ferrari's special vehicles division to a design by Pininfarina. Early patent drawings of the SP FFX led to speculation that it was the design for the next-generation Ferrari California.^[40][41]

Reception

The FF has received mixed reviews, with many publications describing the car as a "Ferrari for the whole family".^[42][43] Reviewing for The Sunday Times, Jeremy Clarkson described the FF as "a very special, very fast car, with a dollop of practicality and a four-wheel drive system that may not add much". He praised the car's appearance from the front as "fantastic" and from the side as "wonderful," but criticised its rear, calling it "hopeless", "bland" and "dreary", even suggesting that "Kia does a better job".^[44] David Undercoffler of the Los Angeles Times stated that the FF "represents the next evolution in a long line of grand touring cars from Ferrari, as opposed to more high-strung sports cars such the mid-engined 458, designed with race-car handling foremost in mind".^[45] Ezra Dyer of The New York Times described the FF as "a daring car" and praised the "confidence it represents".^[46]

Hannah Elliot of Forbes claimed that the FF was "the most perfectly balanced car I can ever remember driving".^[47] Dan Neil, reviewing for The Wall Street Journal, described the FF as a "car that despises prettiness and mocks your bourgeois notions of sleek and rakish".^[48] In another review by Neil, he described the FF as "the coolest Ferrari of all time", praising its "brain-solvent performance without looking like it gives a damn what you think".^[1] Patrick Hoey of Motor Trend called the FF "docile" and "user-friendly" and appreciated its light steering. Hoey, however, criticised its "ignition key that must be turned before the start button will operate" and its steep price.^[49]

References

Citations

1. Neil 2011, p. D.10.
2. Gitlin 2016.
3. Booth 2013, p. C.2.
4. Kenzie 2011, p. W.18.
5. English 2016, p. 2.
6. Gallina 2014.
7. Bonhams 2018.
8. Arnott 2011, p. 33.
9. "Ferrari FF makes debut". Top Gear.
10. Sloane 2011.
11. Smith 2011, p. 66.
12. Melton 2012, p. Z74.
13. Ciferri 2011.
14. Baker & Knapman 2011, p. 9.
15. Newton 2024.
16. Neil 2017, p. D.10.
17. Dobie 2016.
18. Burns 2013.
19. Connolly 2014, p. 4.
20. Schultz 2012.
21. "Gone in 3.7 seconds". The New Indian Express.
22. Austin 2011.
23. "First drive: 2012 Ferrari FF". Motor Trend.
24. English 2011, p. 2.
25. Mills 2011.
26. Davis 2015.
27. Ziegler 2016.
28. Meiners 2011.
29. Austin 2011a.
30. "Ferrari FF: the facts". The Daily Telegraph.
31. "First photographs of the FF Ferrari unveiled". Waterloo Region Record.
32. Dobie 2015.
33. Baime 2023.
34. Moore 2011, p. D.3.
35. English 2012.
36. Pattni 2011.
37. Raynal 2011.
38. du Plessis 2011, p. 3.
39. Naidu 2016.
40. Kingston 2014.
41. Dredge 2023.
42. Ewing 2011.
43. Valdes-Dapena 2012.
44. Clarkson 2011.
45. Undercoffler 2013, p. B.1.
46. Dyer 2012, p. AU.1.
47. Elliott 2012.
48. Neil 2011a.
49. Hoey 2015.

Bibliography

News

• Arnott, Sarah (1 March 2011). "One extreme to the other: Geneva puts the slump behind it". The Independent. p. 33. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Baime, A. J (8 September 2023). "His Ferrari is built for family life". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Baker, Erin; Knapman, Chris (22 January 2011). "4WD Ferrari FF revealed". The Daily Telegraph. p. 9.
• Booth, David (12 August 2013). "Don't let its looks deceive you". The Gazette. p. C.2.
• Bunker, Ted (1 August 2024). "GPB Capital co-founders found guilty of fraud". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Burns, John F. (18 October 2013). "Placing reality on hold, at least temporarily, in a Ferrari FF". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Clarkson, Jeremy (10 July 2011). "The Clarkson review: Ferrari FF (2011)". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Connolly, Paul (2 February 2014). "Sublime Fourrari breaks the mould". Belfast Telegraph. p. 4.
• Davis, Tony (1 October 2015). "Why the Ferrari FF is a V12 grand tourer for all the family". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• du Plessis, Henri (25 January 2011). "... Or an ugly beast?". Cape Argus. p. 3.
• English, Andrew (24 March 2011). "Ferrari FF review". The Daily Telegraph. p. 2. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Dyer, Ezra (3 June 2012). "Family travel at the $300,000 price point". The New York Times. p. AU.1. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• English, Andrew (2 July 2016). "Ferrari's shooting brake is off target". The Daily Telegraph. p. 2.
• Ewing, Jack (2 March 2011). "A Ferrari for the whole family". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• "Ferrari FF: the facts". The Daily Telegraph. 26 March 2011. p. 135. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• "First photographs of the FF Ferrari unveiled". Waterloo Region Record. 28 January 2011. p. 29.
• "Gone in 3.7 seconds". The New Indian Express. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Kenzie, Jim (26 March 2011). "Ferrari's hot hatch". Toronto Star. p. W.18.
• Melton, Brian (4 January 2012). "Spunk and a trunk". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. Z74.
• Mills, James (23 January 2011). "Ferrari FF: F f flipping heck". The Times. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Moore, Dave (29 January 2011). "Ferrari makes an estate car". Dominion Post. p. D.3.
• Naidu, Brenwin (2 April 2016). "Quick Spin: Ferrari FF". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Neil, Dan (1 April 2011a). "Supercar on ice". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Neil, Dan (2 April 2011). "The coolest Ferrari ever—drive carefully". The Wall Street Journal. p. D.10. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Neil, Dan (18 May 2017). "GTC4Lusso: A Ferrari for the whole family". The Wall Street Journal. p. D.10. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Schultz, Jonathan (29 February 2012). "Ferrari previews the F12 Berlinetta ahead of Geneva Auto Show". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Sloane, Alastair (22 March 2011). "Ferrari FF flies off production line". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Undercoffler, David (24 January 2013). "Ferrari FF four-seater is practical but still ferocious". Los Angeles Times. p. B.1. Retrieved 12 September 2024.

Websites

• Austin, Mike (1 March 2011a). "Explaining the Ferrari FF's two-gearbox four-wheel-drive system". Car and Driver. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Austin, Michael (23 March 2011). "2012 Ferrari FF". Car and Driver. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• "2012 Ferrari FF Coupé Chassis no. to be advised". Bonhams. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
• Ciferri, Luca (20 March 2011). "Ferrari FF first year's production sold out". Autoweek. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Dobie, Stephen (16 November 2015). "The 20 most powerful naturally aspirated supercars". Top Gear. BBC. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Dobie, Stephen (1 March 2016). "Bye bye FF, hello Ferrari GTC4Lusso". Top Gear. BBC. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Dredge, Richard (9 June 2023). "Road-going cars so great they only built them once". Yahoo! Autos. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Elliott, Hannah (5 July 2012). "Driving The FF: Ferrari's perfect getaway car". Forbes. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• English, Andrew (14 September 2012). "Inside the F12". Road & Track. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• "Ferrari FF makes debut". Top Gear. BBC. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• "First drive: 2012 Ferrari FF". Motor Trend. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Gallina, Eric (4 November 2014). "Ferrari's new FF shooting brake". Car Design News. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Gitlin, Jonathan M. (8 February 2016). "Getting to know the FF, a Ferrari you can drive every day". Ars Technica. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Hoey, Patrick (9 June 2015). "2015 Ferrari FF review". Motor Trend. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Kingston, Lewis (28 January 2014). "One-off Ferrari SP FFX unveiled". Autocar. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Meiners, Jens (21 January 2011). "2012 Ferrari FF official photos and info". Car and Driver. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
• Newton, Andrew (27 January 2024). "Was $324K the Ferrari FF's breakout sale?". Hagerty. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Pattni, Vijay (21 January 2011). "Four-wheel-drive Ferrari shooting-brake revealed". Top Gear. BBC. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Valdes-Dapena, Peter (5 June 2012). "A Ferrari for the whole family". CNN Money. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Raynal, Wes (20 January 2011). "Ferrari FF technology focused on performance, less weight". Autoweek. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
• Ziegler, Chris (8 February 2016). "The closest thing to a Ferrari family car is now the GTC4Lusso". The Verge. Retrieved 11 September 2024.

Magazines

• Smith, Sam (August 2011). "Esquire's Car of the Year". Esquire. Vol. 156, no. 1. p. 66.

External links

• Official website, archived 25 April 2024