Working in Modena right at the start of
Enzo Ferrari's great adventure, Sergio Scaglietti bodied some of the
most beautiful cars ever to emerge from Maranello. Scaglietti wasn't a
man who relied on pencil and paper to create his magnificent designs: he
worked like a sculptor, fashioning their forms from aluminum. And now
Luca di Montezemolo has dedicated the understated yet historically
important all-aluminium 612 to the memory of that great designer.
The 612 Scaglietti is the perfect
marriage of sporty thoroughbred Ferrari berlinetta performance and
excellent onboard comfort for four occupants. The replacement for the
highly successful 456M, the new model’s own winning combination derives
from a roomy interior enhanced by significantly larger dimensions, a 60
kg reduction in weight, and a range of uncompromising design solutions.
The 612 Scaglietti’s most significant features include:
All-aluminum space frame chassis and
bodywork construction used for the very first time on a Ferrari
12-cylinder and built entirely by Ferrari at the Scaglietti
light-alloy technologies facility. The result is a massive 60%
increase in overall structural rigidity (rigidity-weight ratio). The
612 Scaglietti’s advanced aluminum construction also translates into
improved comfort and handling, in addition to offering maximum
occupant protection in the case of a collision.
A mid-front layout with the engine
mounted behind the front axle, and the gearbox and differential in
unit at the rear ensure that the centre of gravity is kept as far back
and as low as possible. This in turn significantly improves the car’s
dynamics in terms of performance (0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds),
stability and braking efficiency, as well as delivering much nimbler
handling. Excellent weight distribution (46% front, 54% rear) is
enhanced by a performance-oriented handling set-up with active damping
and the special CST stability and traction control system, used here
for the very first time on a Ferrari.
A 65° V12 engine with a displacement
of 5748 cc which is rounded off to give the figure 6 (litres) in the
612 model designation. The V12 represents the very pinnacle of Ferrari
engine design, thanks in particular to improved fluid dynamic
characteristics of the intake and exhaust manifolds, generating a
blistering 540 bhp at 7250 rpm. The six-speed mechanical gearbox is
available with both a manual and a new generation electro-hydraulic
set-up, known as the F1A, designed to marry fast manual gear shifting
with comfortable automatic use.
Designed by Pininfarina to epitomise
dynamism and elegance, the 612 Scaglietti boasts characteristic
scalloped sides that recall the famous 375 MM bodied by the Turin
coachbuilder for Rossellini and used by Ingrid Bergman. Its
thoroughbred spirit effortlessly combines with outstanding comfort and
space on board, from the ease of entry for all four occupants and the
notable legroom (helped by an increase in length of 139 mm compared to
the 456M), to the excellent rear seating layout with extra headroom.
Lastly, the overall roominess of the 612 Scaglietti is complemented by
a 240-litre luggage compartment - a full 25% larger than the 456M’s -
which can hold a five-piece Ferrari luggage set or two golf bags.
The level of on-board comfort is
completed with a range of new generation of ergonomic features: the
instrument binnacle and steering wheel-mounted commands designed for
maximum driver control, dual-zone climate control, and a Hi-End Bose
sound system specifically developed for the 612 Scaglietti’s
sophisticated aluminium and leather interior which can, naturally, be
fully personalised on request.
