2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta

The world's most powerful road-going Ferrari proves more thrilling than fearsome.

When I was a gawky, car-obsessed teenager, I convinced my parents to stop at the Ferrari factory in Maranello during a family vacation in Italy. After casually attempting (and failing) to persuade the gatekeeper that I deserved a factory tour, I skulked to the gift shop across the street and settled for a golf ball-sized Ferrari-esque metal shift knob. The memento seemed like an appropriate way to commemorate my near-brush with the automotive legend.

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Perhaps that memory might help you appreciate the surrealism of finding myself behind the button-laden steering wheel of an idling 2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta two decades later, ready to embark on my first lap of the fabled Fiorano test track. The F12 represents an extreme evolution of supercars since my first factory visit: Ten years ago, the mid-engine carbon-chassis Enzo lapped the track nearly two seconds slower than this latest flagship, and the F12's output of 730 horsepower makes it the most powerful road-going Ferrari in history. If cultural progress is measured by performance, we're enjoying an automotive Golden Age of epic proportions.

2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta

That said, the word intimidation doesn't begin to describe the feeling when the naturally aspirated V-12 roars to life, filling the leather, aluminum, and carbon fiber-lined cabin with a resonant bass rumble. But it didn't take long to see the unexpectedly supple side of this ultra high-performance 2-seater.

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The Power—When Does it Quit

The F12's spec sheet indicates it can hit 62 mph in 3.1 seconds, but that number doesn't convey the seamless, screaming whoosh of acceleration as the chronograph-style tach needle shoots toward the 8500 rpm redline. No engine layout can challenge the indomitable wave of power produced by a large V-12, and Ferrari's latest lump sets a new standard in this rarified segment. With an astronomic compression ratio of 13.5:1 and a specific output of 115.8 hp/liter, this front-mid mounted engine dispatches power to a dual-clutch 7-speed rear transaxle and E-diff powering only the rear wheels. As such, the onus is on the electronics to manage all that power. In a straight line, launch control shoots a clean shock of thrust to the 315-width Michelin Pilot Super Sports, which barely slip as they rocket the low-slung 2-seater forward. The positive g-forces are rollercoaster-grade thrilling, but the best part is the sound. Soulful, haunting and melodic, there's nothing quite like an Italian V-12 at full wail, climbing in tone just before a split-second shift bolts it into a lower octave. The cog swaps are imperceptibly smooth, thanks to a brief injection of fuel between gears that prevents negative g-forces from entering the dynamic equation. Keep the right pedal mashed with enough tarmac ahead, and the acceleration doesn't quit until the virtual needle on the TFT speedometer is pinned at 211 mph.

2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta

Things That Go Like Stink Must Also Brake and Turn

Abruptly lifting off the accelerator pre-charges the F12's hydraulic brake system, readying the carbon-ceramic stoppers for the task of slowing this 3362-lb. coupe. Just before Fiorano's Turn 1, the oversized aluminum brake pedal proves as effective as it looks—more than enough speed is scrubbed off in preparation for turn-in, which yields a remarkably deft transfer of body mass. Credit the F12's shorter wheelbase and lower center of gravity compared to the 599 it replaces; in medium-speed turns there's virtually no perceptible understeer as the magnetorheological dampers work their magic and the Michelins claw into the tarmac. A 46/54 front to rear weight distribution helps keep the F12 neutral in corners, but the real credit goes to the E-Diff, which varies the torque balance from side to side and helps the car haul through corners. The degree of intuitive feedback conveyed by the steering wheel inspires greater and greater speed, and two laps into Fiorano the fear is gone: Ferrari's latest flagship has proven surprisingly manageable despite its outrageous capabilities, to the point that testing this extravagantly priced exotic on public roads seems like a positively unstressful prospect.

2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta

On the Road: Let's Do the Space Warp Again

Grazing the edges of the F12's track dynamics was a spine-tingling but surprisingly confidence-inspiring experience, and an afternoon jaunt through the winding hills near Maranello puts the new Ferrari supercar in an entirely different context. Not only does its upwardly swept silhouette seem alien against the region's dominant subcompact hatchbacks, so does its ability to make minced meat of the twisting roads. The firm, jostling ride is softened when the steering wheel-mounted button is pressed, but even when the manettino is set to "Race" mode there's very little slip angle to speak of during mid-corner throttle mashing. The seamlessness of the computer makes for a counter-intuitively untaxing driving experience, and understanding the Herculean limits of the brakes, tires, and engine encourages daring velocities on the road. Before the carabinieri can catch onto me, I disable the nannies and touch the throttle midcorner, which slides the tail out in a flagrant sidestep; quicker than you can say, "Sorry officer, I don't speak Italian," the dial returns to "Race."

2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta

How Much Excess is Enough?

When the 2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta reaches our shores later this year, it will top a 5-car car lineup that was only two cars strong when Chairman Luca di Montezemolo took the company's reigns 21 years ago—right around the time of my adolescent visit to the factory. Their flagships have changed dramatically with the times, and Ferrari's lineup will undergo another upheaval from the top when the new Enzo hits the road in 2013, boasting a hybrid powerplant that is rumored to deliver more than 850 horsepower. As tasty as the F12 proved during my daylong fling, my expectations of a beastly, intractable animal were dashed by its alluring road manners. Hope springs eternal that the upcoming Enzo will pack a wallop that's not only smooth enough to thrill, but strong enough to scare.

2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta