In naming the marque's new-from-scratch GT, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo continues to recognize and honor the people, partners, and places that make a Ferrari something special. After the Maranello and Modena came the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina, so dubbed in honor of Ferrari's longtime design house of choice. The elegant 2+2 shown here, which replaces the decade-old 456 models, is named after Sergio Scaglietti, who founded the company that, to this day, performs most of Ferrari's chassis and body assembly work.
The 612's all-alloy V-12 sits well aft of the front axle.
The 612 Scaglietti, which makes its world debut at the Detroit auto show in January, is the first V-12-powered Ferrari to use all-aluminum space-frame construction conceptually similar to that of the 360 Modena; the exterior panels are crafted of the same light metal. This foundation is some 60 percent stronger structurally than the 456's steel chassis. The 612 is larger than its predecessor, rides on a nearly 14-inch-longer wheelbase, and packs much more technology on board. Yet it weighs approximately 132 pounds less. Its Pininfarina design team was led by Ken Okuyama, also responsible for the Ferrari Enzo. The 612 Scaglietti bears an undeniable resemblance to a custom-bodied Ferrari 375MM from the 1950s, originally built for filmmaker Roberto Rossellini and driven often by his wife, Ingrid Bergman.
2004 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
| Base price: | $250,000 (MT est) | | Vehicle layout: | Mid-front engine, rwd, 2-door, 4-pass | | Engine: | 5.7L/540-hp V-8, DOHC, 4 valves/cyl | | 0-60 mph, sec: | 4.0 (mfr est) | | On sale in U.S.: | Spring/summer 2004 |
|
The "6" in the name stands for "6.0 liter"--gratuitous rounding up for an engine that displaces 5748cc. Its output, however, is legitimately generous: 540 horsepower, with a 434-pound-foot torque peak at 5250 revs. The 65-degree V-12 is backed by a conventionally shifted six-speed manual transaxle or one with Ferrari's latest-generation SMG paddle-shifter system, called F1A. The engine is mounted aft of the front axle, with the trans located at the rear, making for 46/54-percent weight distribution. The suspension boasts not only active damping, but Ferrari's first-ever stability-control system--driver defeatable, of course. Top speed? Around 195.
Expect an interior trimmed in an enticing leather-and-aluminum motif, and the longer wheelbase should make for adult-rated rear seating. Inside, you'll find all the usual power goodies, high-end Bose audio hardware, and dual-zone climate control.
Since aluminum space-frame construction has now been designed and engineered for a front-engine Ferrari, it'll likely form the basis of the next-generation Maranello. That car, probably two to three years away, should be lighter, sportier, and faster than the current 575M. Just something else for exotic-car aficionados to look forward to.