The Short-Lived History of the Ferrari FF
The Ferrari FF is the nickname given the vehicle that was actually called the Ferrari Four. The reason for this is because of the fact that it came with four-wheel drive and four seats. The model wasn’t around for long but it made an impact. It made its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show on the first of March.
The five-year reign of the Ferrari FF
The FF was produced from 2011 through 2016. It was the design of Pininfarina and Ferrari Styling Center under the direction of Flavio Manzoni. It was a Class Grand tourer S with a 3-door body style and a mid-engine layout. The vehicle was assembled in Maranello, Italy with a total of 2,291 examples of the vehicle produced.
A first for Ferrari
Even though it’s no longer in production, the FF was the first four-wheel drive production model made by the Ferrari brand. It was made to succeed the 612 Scaglietti grand tourer. The three-door body style was referred to as a shooting brake. It was a sporty vehicle that combined a hatchback with the qualities of an estate car with two doors.
The Gumball 300 Ferrari FF
The Ferrari FF was released in 2012 with an F140 EB 6.3-liter382.1 cu. engine with natural aspiration and direct injected V-12. It cranked 651 horsepower and 504 lb-ft of torque. The car achieved a top speed of 208 mph and the acceleration was a lightning fast 0-62 mph in just 3.7 seconds. During its reign, the FF was known as the fastest four-seater in the world. The first production year, only 800 of them were produced and the price tag sat at around $300,000 USD.
The transmission
The large and powerful engine was mated with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission and it’s worth noting that the four-wheel-drive system was brand new on the world scene and it was patented by Ferrari, who engineered it in-house. They called it the 4RM. The benefits of the new system were a fifty percent reduction in weight over conventional systems along with an intelligent distribution of power to the four wheels which were doled out as needed.
The Exterior
The Exterior of the FF was contemporary and attractive with headlights that pulled back similar to the 458 Italia and taillights from the beast as well with the twin circular design. They threw in an egg-crate grille with four exhaust tips and defined side skirts to achieve their design concept of the shooting brake configuration which resembled the shape of a conventional wedge.
The Interior of the FF
The FF was designed with rear seats that collapsed upon request to increase the capacity for cargo space. The main element of the design is to provide the total boot capacity of the vehicle between16 cubic feet to 28 cubic feet as a luxury feature. The interior is hinged on luxury as a drawing card. Leather is used throughout the interior in the upholstery and the interior trim, much like the FFs predecessors and this is one thing that Ferrari has maintained as a standard within this class of luxury vehicle. Other creature comforts including carpeting, a high-quality sound system, a GPS navigation system, and premium air conditioning were stock.
An Award Winning vehicle
The Ferrari FF was an award-winning vehicle and this began from its first unveiling to the end of its production in 2016. It won the “Most Beautiful Super Car for 2011” award at the Shanghai Auto Show, and the same year was nominated by Oriental TV for the “Most Popular Imported Car Model.” It was also a winner for two Top Gear magazine awards including “Estate Car of the Year 2011” and the Top Gear Indian magazine’s “Luxury Car of The Year in 2012” distinction.
Fuel efficiency
When it came to fuel efficiency, the Ferrari FF had dismal ratings. The super powerful engine was a fuel guzzler that only achieved 13 mpg in US ratings. It was rated as one of the least fuel efficient vehicles on the market, tying with the Bentley Mulsanne 8 Cylinder 6.8-liter.
All in all, the Ferrari FF was a dream luxury car and those who weren’t concerned about gas mileage were thrilled with the other amenities. If offered a sporty sexiness. The leg room and creature comforts of the interior were posh. The power, performance, and handling were responsive and explosive, so what more could one have asked for?
