Arabian Horses Have a Friend

Italy, a place known as a “living art gallery”, a treasure trove of amazing architecture and art, antique treasures, renaissance works , fine wine and food. In the north of Italy in the region of Emilia Romagna lies the province of Modena, famous for many traditions. Passions for cooking, motoring and car design predominantly. 

A short drive from Modena will take you into a small town by the name of Maranello. A rather industrial looking town, nothing overly special about it, until you realize that Marenello is the home to quite possibly the most well-known motor manufacturer in the world, Ferrari. Their stables and paddock take such a large area of the town. A museum also, which highlights the passions and timeline of Mr Enzo Ferrari and beyond.

Ferrari has a presence in the world like no other and that presence extends to the Middle East. The exclusive Marque has been selling fine motoring masterpieces in the Middle East since 1982 and has increased every year in fan base and sales. 

In the cosmopolitan city of Dubai, I am given a key to one of Ferrari’s finest works of art. A masterpiece super GT that has had its fair share of aggressive media, destroying tyres and showing of its god like power. The car! The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. 

The F12 is front engine, thus the long bonnet but step back and take it all in. It’s a shape that evokes sensations, no other car can evoke. My heart rate increased when looking at the car. The emotion of seeing a Ferrari let alone having the key were like receiving the most anticipated gift. The feeling you get when you look into the eyes of your new born baby! The lines of the car are long flowing and almost feminine but smaller elements of the F12 create a masculine finish. You can see an obvious route of airflow from front to back and can imagine seeing the car in the wind tunnel, watching the smoke creating the almost organic shape. The grille is large and with obvious wind displacement and who can miss the Cavalino placed in the front grille and on the rear of the car. 

Slide into the deep leather throne, under the F1 influenced steering wheel and take in the interior design, smell and ambience that Ferrari has crafted. You are first greeted by the rev counter, perched pride of place at the centre of two small LED screens. Stitched leather around the console slowly draws your eyes towards the centre of the dashboard. Three round alloy vents sit at the top centre of the dash, just below them a nice chrome Ferrari badge and below that the controls for the air conditioning. Your eyes stretch to the passenger side and the designation ‘F12 Berlinetta’ sits near another vent and above the small slim passenger information screen. Rub your hands along the stitching, which almost sends goose bumps along your arms and follow across the doors and seats, lest we forget the space behind the seats for your small cases. The cabin a minimalists dream, no centre screens and radio lights, all functions are centred on and around the steering wheel. The radio function switches are merely three knobs just under the centre vents and to the right of the steering. However as you may imagine, with a car that carries its own soundtrack, I had made one action getting into the car and that was to turn the stereo off.

I put the key in and watch the display’s power into life. Utility functions such as radio, GPS system and reverse camera are available on the right hand screen, while car settings such as suspension, driver modes and safety warnings are available on the left screen. 

Then comes the point you have wake the Prancing Horse from its slumber. Sat at the lower left of the steering wheel is a bright red Start button and with anticipated pleasure I pressed it. The 731 Cavallino powered 6.3 litre V12 comes to life with a small rev and continues to purr while it waits for your next move. I selected first and gently rolled out of the car park. The first thing that grabs you is the length of the front of the car, wonderful when you understand what sits beneath. I like to sit low and low the seat goes, so low that you have no view of the bonnet/hood, merely the top of the steering wheel and that’s a good thing. Sitting low you feel part of the drive, you feel the road and you become one with the car. The F12 runs firm but accepts bumps and imperfections in the road with so much ease. You expect some jarring with the race spec suspension but believe me the suspension soaks the imperfections up like a sponge. Steering is precise and direction changing is sharp and direct, with very little movement of the wheel. Acceleration, well the Ferrari F12 has plenty of it and given in a progressive fashion the car will swiftly hit 62mph (100Kph) in 3.0 seconds. The feeling of the car pushing into hi speed sends the hairs on the back of neck standing. You sense the history in the car; you feel the pedigree in racing but understand the passion and engineering that has gone into its crafting. 

The F12 has a launch system, which if used allows you to accelerate with the least amount of slip from a stand still. Press to launch, select first and the gearbox will hold the revs at 3000. Lift the brake and push the accelerator. You launch swiftly, progressively and with practically no lurch of the car. The engineered soundtrack bellows from the exhaust and is clear for all to hear. Paddle right for second at approx. 7000, then again for third, while at this point already passing 62 mph (100kph), and then paddle to fourth. You calm into highway speed and bring the car up to 7th gear and continue to cruise. 
Corners are taken as if on rails and the F12 is well balanced, installing confidence the more you drive it. Dropping down the gears as you make an approach, causes a blip in the revs. There is even a small amount of engine braking assisting, as a biker it was quite obvious and satisfying to feel a car with the same. Carbon ceramic brakes pull the car up sharply and work in tandem with the suspension preventing excessive jittery movement. There is very little need for correction in the turns if to work with the F12’s power and set-up and in turn the F12 works with you. The medium between man and machine delivers such a soul filled drive and an experience that will never be forgotten.

Too many see the Ferrari F12 as the most aggressive car of the Ferrari fleet. Power that bites, steering too sensitive, comparing cars, figures and prices. The F12 Berlinetta is not to be compared and is only as aggressive as the person behind the wheel. Your drive is better if to think of the history and engineering behind the car. I found the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta smooth, refined and so precise to drive. You know where the limits are, you can feel the soul of the founder and the hours, weeks, months and years of engineering excellence. Many would not run a car like this every day but if you felt the need, it is as comfortable as many an everyday day car and I personally could drive the F12 everyday with no issues. Mentally and physically you bond with the heart and soul of this fine Ferrari. Tease it and it will bite, work with it and it will work with you. The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is a Super GT that proudly decorates any street with the style and sound of excellence.