Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

Ferrari has confirmed the name of the successor to the 599 GTO as the F12 Berlinetta ahead of its official debut at next week's Geneva motor show.

The car, originally thought to be named the F620 GT, is the most powerful Ferrari road car ever launched with advanced vehicle architecture, aerodynamics, components and electronic controls.

The design process – undertaken by both Ferrari and Pininfarina – involved with lengthy wind tunnel testing and extensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations.

A key aerodynamic (and visual) device is what Ferrari refers to as The Aero Bridge. It uses the hood surface and a floating front fender to generate downforce by channelling air away from the upper part of the car to its flanks where it interacts with the wake from the wheel wells to decrease drag.

Another way drag has been reduced is through the use of Active Brake Cooling, a system that opens guide vanes to the brake cooling ducts only at high operating temperatures. Downforce is increased by 76 percent (123 kg at 200 km/h) and drag reduced, with a Cd of 0.299.

Its interior – another collaboration between Ferrari Styling Center and Pininfarina – continues the themes seen in the recent 458 Italia and FF.

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