Ferrari reveals wild 574kW F12tdf

Ferrari has revealed a lighter, more powerful version of its already insanely quick F12 coupe called the F12tdf.

The Italian supercar-maker named its latest model after the legendary Tour de France road race that was held during the 1950s and 1960s and won by Ferrari in 1956 with the 250 GT Berlinetta.

Powered by a revised 6.3-litre V12, engineers have managed to raise the already stratospheric power and torque outputs of 536kW/690Nm to an incredible 574kW/705Nm. The power increase mainly comes from new mechanical tappets and trick variable-geometry intake trumpets that help boost efficiency at high revs and is a technology borrowed from F1 cars, say Ferrari.

Revving all the way to 8900rpm, the F12tdf offers jaw-dropping acceleration. Thanks to shorter gear and 30 per cent faster upshifts (downshifts are also now 40 per cent quicker) the F12tdf can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 2.9 seconds and complete the 0-200km/h dash in just 7.9 second, says Ferrari. Top speed, meanwhile, is said to be “in excess” of 340km/h.

Ferrai says it drew on its experience with the XX exclusive track day special and wanted to create an “extremely agile and powerful car which could be driven by less expert drivers.”

This meant engineers fitted, wider grippier tyres to cure understeer but counteract the inevitable near uncatchable oversteer with a new rear-wheel steering system that adds agility and high speed stability.

Also transforming the F12 at high speeds is a new aero package that almost doubles the amount of downforce available at speeds of over 200km/h.

Featuring a new front bumper that gets a lower sculpted air intake, there’s also a race- car inspired splitter, dive planes, floor wings and dramatic louvres that all contribute to channel the air more efficiently around the car and provide the F12tdf with added downforce.

On the front wings there’s also a new aerobridge that speed up the airflow across the top of the car. Look closer and you’ll also spot louvres on the wheel-arches that help suck air out generating downforce.

At the rear of the car the air-bending continues with a new longer and higher rear spoiler and a more steeply-raked  rear screen that, again, helps the spoiler generate more downforce. There’s also a concave rear luggage hatch on either side of the rear screen that’s also been redesigned by the wind tunnel testing that, in total, sees a 30 per cent increase in downforce compared to the regular F12.

Finally, the F12 berlinetta was put on a diet to create the new tdf version. That’s why there’s a stripped-out cabin and weight-saving carbon-fibre is used from everything from the instrument binnacle to the door panels. Even the glovebox and carpets were sacrificed to save the pounds. The result is a car that weighs in (dry) at 1415kg -- no less than 110kg lighter than the standard F12.

Alas, despite the weight savings and trick new aero the F12tdf still only manages efficiency of 15.4L/100km and 360g/km of CO2.

Just 799 F12tdf-series Ferraris will be made. The Italian supercar-maker has yet to announce prices but expect it to costs in excess of $700,000 when it does.