The core of this article is the new
Ferrari FF. It will be officially unveiled in the forthcoming Geneva auto show and it replaces the
612 Scaglietti. The FF stands for
Ferrari Four, four seats and four-wheel drive. It has a lot of important mechanical upgrades, four wheel drive and of course different design.
(Ferrari FF - photo Ferrari)
As usual it is designed by studio
Pininfarina and it is an evolution of the current Ferrari trends, especially
458 Italia and
California. The 612 may be an excellent car (all recent Ferraris are) but it is not a visual masterpiece. Engineers placed the big V12 engine behind the front axle in order to reduce the polar moment of inertia. This has dynamic advantages in comparison to the previous 456GT/M where more mass was placed in the front. However this arrangement increases the wheelbase and yields challenging proportions with a huge distance between the A-pillar and the front wheels. Unfortunately the design of 612 not only eliminated that 'problem' but instead underlined it. The almost flush wheel arches and the discreetly concave surface accentuate the length of the car.
(Ferrari 612. - photo Ferrari)
The FF follows the opposite path even if it retains similar dimensions (and probably an evolution of 612 aluminum frame). The wheel arches are enlarged and blended with the other surfaces. There is also an air extraction in the front fenders that disrupts the huge lateral surface and visually tightens its shape(not unlike the Pininfarina designed Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione).
(Ferrari FF - Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione/ - photo Ferrari/Alfa Romeo)
Of course the most groundbreaking feature apart from all wheel drive is the FF's rear, which can be described as a hatchback or a shooting brake. This will obviously improve the practicality of the car. It is a very clever solution not only to improve luggage space (450lt expendable to 800!) but also to increase the headroom for the rear passengers.
(Ferrari FF - photo Ferrari)
Even with this unusual rear end the FF is exquisitely proportioned with excellent volumes balance, similar to the rest of the Ferrari range, the 599, the California and especially the 458. However great proportions aren't the only thing FF shares with the rest of the lineup. Segments of FF's design are mismatched, fuzzy and even kitsch.
(Ferrari FF - photo Ferrari)
The front is a mix of 458 (similar headlights), classic Ferrari grill and a hint of 550 in the lower part of the spoiler. It actually looks like a bad mix of three different cars. The air ducts in the back could have been better integrated and the slotted flap(!) in the diffuser is an obvious overkill. The crease in the rear fender seems also a little out of place.
(Ferrari FF - photo Ferrari)
However the FF is in total a distinctive, balanced and overall well-designed car. It is also huge, longer and wider than a Bentley Continental although it is ~500kg lighter (!).
(Ferrari GG50 Concept by Giugiaro - photo Italdesign / Giugiaro)
Giugiaro presented a similar in principal concept in the 2005 Tokyo motor show. The
GG50 was based on the 612 and it was a great departure from the (Pininfarina styled) design language of Ferrari. Today it still looks modern and the FF easily (or even preferably) could have been a discreet evolution of GG50.
(Ferrari GG50 Concept by Giugiaro - photo Italdesign / Giugiaro)
Throughout the Ferrari history one should search a lot to find even hints of similar concepts. The most famous was the 250GT SWB racecar modified by Giotto Bizzarini and Piero Drogo, though it was never approved officially from Ferrari. It had the nickname breadvan because the extended roofline that shaped its Kamm tail made it look like a van. This shape was the product of aerodynamics and not utility.
(Ferrari 456 estate - photo archive / Ferrari)
A closer to FF concept was the very low production 456 Venice Estate. Only seven were custom ordered (along with two 4-door sedans) from Pininfarina. The estate and sedan custom 456s were 4 door and retain the beautiful lines and shape of the original coupe.
