The 2012 Ferrari FF ranks 3 out of 7 Exotic Sports Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 15 published reviews and test drives of the Ferrari FF, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
The 2012 FF features Ferrari’s first all-wheel drive system. So far, the automotive industry likes this ground breaking car because it’s both fast and friendly to backseat passengers.
Exotic sports cars cost more than $100,000, and with good reason. They have European nameplates, some of the nicest interiors on the market, powerful engines and exotic exteriors that cause drivers who own normal cars to stop and stare. The all-new 2012 Ferrari FF, which replaces theFerrari 612 Scagietti, fits into this category. However, the FF stands out because it is a grand tourer that seats four, but still offers impressive sports car performance.
The Ferrari FF is different than competitors like the Aston Martin DB9, which is also a grand tourer, because it seats four comfortably. Not all reviewers say passengers six-feet or taller will be comfortable, but the FF does have the most comfortable back seats in the class. The FF also has four-wheel drive, making it the first Ferrari that doesn’t operate solely on its rear wheels. This powertrain may make some shoppers nervous, but test drivers say it’s hard to tell when the four-wheel drive system is in use. The FF is a great handler, and the four-wheel drive only kicks in when it’s needed. In normal driving conditions, the FF simply relies on the rear wheels.
The 2012 FF gets fantastic reviews for its 12-cylinder engine, four-wheel drive and comfortable rear seats, but one thing reviewers aren’t impressed with is its exterior styling. "It's not exactly beautiful, but this Pininfarina-penned coupe is charming with an undeniable Ferrari presence,” writesAutoWeek. “The look starts with a toothy jack-o'-lantern front end and flows into a shooting-brake backside, creating a silhouette that will remind just about everyone of the first BMW Z-coupe. The FF looks a bit ungainly, or perhaps oddly proportioned as Ferraris go, but it's less so than the four-dour Porsche Panamera." The negative comments don’t end there. The FF is also called a “toilet brush on wheels,” and some writers say it lacks the sexiness that Ferraris are known for. But, the FF’s love-it-or-hate-it exterior styling is what makes it so comfortable on the inside. If you’re looking for an exotic sports car that can seat four comfortably, the FF is your only option.
Shoppers who like the FF’s mixture of exotic sports car and practicality will have to wait. Ferrari didn’t make many, and according to Edmunds, they’re already sold out for the first two years. If the prospect of waiting a few years to get this model doesn’t deter you, perhaps the FF’s price will. It starts at about $300,000.
Other Sports Cars to Consider
The 2012 FF’s Italian nameplate shows that this sports car was designed for performance, but technically, this four-seater should appeal to shoppers in the market for a grand tourer. In that case, the Aston Martin DB9, which costs about $100,000 less than the FF, should appeal to some consumers. The DB9 has an aggressive exterior that screams exclusivity, luxury and speed. This exotic sports car is also one of the few that’s comfortable enough for long drives. Like the FF, the DB9 also has a V12 engine, but it doesn’t have all-wheel drive. And despite its four-person capacity, no one will sit comfortably in the back row.
The Ferrari FF won’t appeal to all shoppers looking for a sleek sports car that seats two because the FF straddles the line between grand tourer and super fast eye-catching speed demon. If you’re after an exotic sports car in the latter category, test drive the Lamborghini Gallardo. It has one-of-a-kind exterior and a 10-cylinder engine with some of the highest performance ratings in the class. Unlike the 2012 FF, the Gallardo is truly designed for the racetrack.
Details: 2010 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
The 2012 FF is an all-new model from Ferrari. It has a 6.3-liter V12 engine, a dual-clutch transmission and a four-wheel drive system called 4RM, which is a first for Ferrari. If you can afford the nearly $300,000 FF, and haven’t registered for one, you’ll have to wait. Ferrari has sold out of the first batch.
- "It's a Ferrari, for cryin' out loud, and a pioneering one at that. And it's wicked fast. If you want a Ferrari to actually carry a couple of friends on a weekend blast to the Hamptons, or for a ski trip to the Sierra, there is no other." --AutoWeek
- "This is absolutely the coolest Ferrari of all time, "cool" insofar as it delivers brain-solvent performance without looking like it gives a damn what you think, cool insofar as its radical Pininfarina styling (a "shooting brake," or three-door hatch GT) waves a contemptuous finger at conventional wisdom." -- Wall Street Journal
- "The last time Ferrari blew absolutely everyone away with wall-to-wall surprises and equally sizzling performance all wrapped into one car was in 2002 with its Enzo. We're not saying that all things between then and today have been shabby, mind you. And we're also not saying that the 2012 Ferrari FF does it in marquis-and-fireworks Enzo-style, but the unexpected innovations aboard this gorgeous trailblazing all-weather shooting brake will keep conversation heated for an uncommonly long time. This is Ferrari thinking way outside its box of usual GT forms and, for no other reason than this, we must applaud them." -- Autoblog
- "So after blowing quickly through most of 24 gallons of pricy premium Euro fuel, did the FF make me yearn to sell my house and my surplus internal organs to own one? No. This car is bound to disappoint any serious enthusiast who has sampled a 458. It's just a bit too Ferrari for Dummies in some ways -- automated and idiot-proofed (which is probably just what the insanely wealthy novice drivers in Ferrari's Asian growth markets need)." -- Motor Trend
FF Performance - 8.7 (Very Good)
Naturally, the automotive industry can’t get enough of the 2012 FF, Ferrari’s latest addition to the family. But, this all-new model may be getting more attention because it’s a groundbreaker: It’s the first Ferrari to get four-wheel drive. “With 4RM, Ferrari really has added something to the automotive engineering landscape,” writesEdmunds. “This is new. This is different. This really works. As long as the snow isn't too deep, you can drive this V12 Ferrari all year 'round." Read More
FF Exterior - 6.5 (Mediocre)
As a whole, the automotive industry isn’t fond of the 2012 Ferrari FF’s appearance -- its bloated rear end doesn’t look as sexy as the Aston Martin DB9’s derrière. But, "What the shape lacks in traditional Ferrari sexiness, it makes up in attention to detail, both inside and out,” writes Road and Track. “It truly is a car that looks better in person than in photographs." Read More
FF Interior - 8.5 (Very Good)
Yes, the 2012 Ferrari is considered an exotic sports car, but its roomy two-by-two cabin makes it a great vehicle for weekend cruises. "This is a grand tourer in the finest sense of the word," says Popular Mechanics.Read More
FF Safety - NA
Even though it’s a new model, it’s unlikely that the federal government and the insurance industry will test the 2012 Ferrari FF because it’s a low production vehicle.
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