Ferrari F12 Berlinetta arrives in 2013

The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta ratchets up the supercar bar with unprecedented performance from its new engine, combined with innovative design that redefines classic themes along with extreme aerodynamics.

The mid-front-engined sports car is the most powerful and high-performance Ferrari road car ever launched. Ferrari's traditional transaxle layout has been revised to match the more extreme performance of the car.

The wheelbase has been shortened and the engine, dashboard and seats have been lowered in the chassis, while the new layout of the rear suspension and gearbox enabled Ferrari's engineers to make the rear volume of the car smaller.

The overall result is a very compact car with a lower centre of gravity that is further back in the chassis, and a high level of aerodynamic efficiency. Scaglietti, renowned for its expertise in aluminium materials and construction, designed an all-new spaceframe chassis and bodyshell using 12 different kinds of alloys, some of which have been used for the first time in the automotive sector, and employing new assembly and joining techniques.

This has resulted in a 20 per cent increase in structural rigidity while reducing weight (1525kg) with 54 per cent over the rear.

The F12 Berlinetta's naturally aspirated 6.2 litre, V12 engine delivers 544kW with a torque peak of 690Nm, 80 per cent of which is available at 2,500 rpm. The engine revs to 8,700 rpm and is mated to a F1 style dual-clutch transmission, which has closer gear ratios developed specifically for this car's performance.

The Berlinetta's technical specifications are completed by Ferrari's latest generation carbon-ceramic brakes and the evolution of the magnetic suspension control system.

The result is that the new Berlinetta accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.1 seconds and from 0-200 km/h in 8.5 seconds. It also completes a lap of the Fiorano circuit in 1'23", faster than any other Ferrari road car.

The design of the car is a result of the collaboration between the Ferrari Styling Centre and Pininfarina. It's gorgeous.

The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta will arrive Australia in early 2013, when local prices and specifications will be announced.