The Ferrari F12 is the quickest RWD production car. Ever.


Following a failed wheel speed sensor during PCOTY testing, we gave the utterly amazing 730 horsepower F12berlinetta another round of testing, just to be sure it was as fast as we thought. SPOILER ALERT: It is.



Editor’s note:A failed wheel-speed sensor sidelined the Ferrari F12 during the PCOTY competition, which turned out to be just another excuse to borrow the car again and find out exactly how fast it is. We ran the car at our usual testing venue, and also at our private race track, the Motown Mile. Below is a Road Test Editor Robin Warner’s first-hand account of piloting the car.
As the speedometer ticks past 100 mph, all is right with the world. My hands lightly grip the carbon fiber steering wheel, my favorite concerto plays in presto (without the radio on), and the car continues hustling along steady and arrow-straight. It feels stable. I feel calm. But then it dawns on me: it was but 6.6 seconds ago that I matted the throttle from a standstill, and I’m still accelerating. Hard.
I’m in the 730 hp V12-powered F12berlinetta, a $323,338 Italian flagship. Inspired by Ferrari’s Formula One Scuderia, the F12 has seven-speeds, five manettino settings, and zero clutch pedals. It just covered a quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds while approaching 130 mph. Less than 12 seconds later, it eclipsed 170 mph—still accelerating.
Am I going faster than Fernando Alonso right now? Probably.
That’s quick and begs the question: Has any rear-wheel-drive car accelerated quicker? Does the F12 beat everything in the 1/4 mile? A couple months ago, we drove one to see if it was during our inaugural Performance Car of the Year evaluation. Unfortunately, a bad wheel speed sensor prematurely took the F12 out of contention. So Ferrari sent keys again and said: “this time test it.” When the car arrived, it came with two sets of tires. The Pirelli P-Zero, standard equipment on the car, and Michelin’s Pilot Sport Cup 2. They will be an F12 option in 2014. Wider than the Pirelli’s, the optional tires provide more grip in dry and warm conditions. Options are good. Bolting on the Michelins allowed us to launch harder.
The result is clear: The Ferrari F12berlinetta is the quickest rear-wheel-drive production car in history.
Performance Results:

Weather
With Pirelli tire
With Optional Michelin tire
Temp: 55° F
Temp: 46° F
Humidity: 39%
Humidity: 58%
Barometer: 29.98 in HG
Barometer: 30.32 in HG
Elevation: 930 ft
Elevation: 930 ft
Wind: Calm
Wind: Calm

Acceleration
With Pirelli tire
With Optional Michelin tire
0-30 mph: 1.4 sec
0-30 mph: 1.2 sec
0-60 mph: 3.1 sec
0-60 mph: 2.9 sec
0-100 mph: 6.8 sec
0-100 mph: 6.6 sec
0-130 mph: 11.5 sec
0-130 mph: 11.2 sec
0-150 mph: 15.7 sec
0-150 mph: 15.4
0-170 mph: 24.9 sec
0-170 mph: 22.4
1/4 mile ET: 11.1 sec
1/4 mile ET: 10.9 sec
1/4 mile TS: 128.1 mph
1/4 mile TS: 128.5 mph
5-60 mph: 3.7 sec
5-60 mph: 3.5 sec


Braking
With Pirelli tire
With Optional Michelin tire
60-0 mph: 115 ft
60-0 mph: 118 ft
80-0 mph: 195 ft
80-0 mph: 181 ft





Read more: 2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta - Road Tests - Road & Track

 

SHOPPING
Road & Track's 2013 Holiday Gift Guide

It's the gift-giving season, and we've got you covered with hero-making selections for the wife, kid, dad, or sibling.

Read More

shoes gear grom

Latest Tweet
Before you tune into football today, watch #Senna race in '82. VIDEO: http://t.co/eiczQzqstQ http://t.co/aObo1MRZs6


@RoadandTrack Follow Retweet


NEWS
Tour the McLaren Technology Center in Google Street View

Drool over famous McLaren race and road cars without leaving your desk.

Read More




news Google Street View McLaren

BETTER THAN COFFEE
A vintage racing two-stroke supercar is better than coffee

The Melkus RS1000 was something special. A mid-engined, two-stroke, gull-wing-doored supercar designed and built in the Eastern Bloc. Watch it get put through its paces on track in this video.

Read More

vintage racing better than coffee racing video

VIDEOS
Driving the greatest car never made, the Jaguar C-X75

Alex Goy becomes one of the lucky few to pilot the Jaguar C-X75 in the newest XCar film. Is it the greatest car never made?

Read More 1d


C-X75 videos Jaguar C-X75

VIDEO
Take a break from the holiday grind with this classic rally recap

The turkey is gone and your family is starting to get on your nerves. Take a much-deserved break and watch this recap of the entire 1998 WRC season.

Read More 1d

WRC video vintage race car video

FUTURE CAR NEWS
The five things you need to know about the 2014 Morgan 3 Wheeler

A better Morgan 3 Wheeler for 2014, but don't worry. It hasn't gone soft.

Read More 1d




Share

• 
  

future car news new cars 2014 Morgan 3-Wheeler


BUY THIS (AND THIS)
Buy this 1987 Honda CRX SI and OWI robotic arm

Do you love Honda CRX's? We've got a rare one just for you paired, with a highly functional robotic arm. Read more at Road & Track.

Read More 1d




Share

• 
  

gear robotic arm buy this and this

PHOTOS
Photos: Jeremy Cliff wall art

View a selection of wall art from Jeremy Cliff featuring iconic cars like the Ferrari F40.

Read More 1d




Share

• 
  

culture art Jeremy Cliff

GEAR
Spruce up your walls with these amazing photo prints

We found a photographer with some serious skills, and he sells some seriously cool car prints.

Read More 1d




Share

• 
  

gear posters art

TEST TRACK LUNACY
Nissan's insane test facility tortures the Taxi of Tomorrow

How will Nissan assure that the NV200 can handle anything that New York City's infamous roads can throw at it? At this torture facility out in the middle of nowhere.

Read More 1d




Share

• 
  

nissan taxi of tomorrow nissan Brett Berk

SENNA
Before you watch football today, watch Senna race FF2000 in 1982

Because Ayrton Senna came up the open-wheel ranks long before the digital age, there's little video of him racing during his formative years. This newly-unearthed 1982 Formula Ford 2000 race in Ireland changes that. Forget football. Watch this!

Read More 1d




Share

• 
  

1982 mondello Ireland



SENNA Before you watch football today, watch Senna race FF2000 in 1982

Because Ayrton Senna came up the open-wheel ranks long before the digital age, there's little video of him racing during his formative years. This newly-unearthed 1982 Formula Ford 2000 race in Ireland changes that. Forget football. Watch this!

Read More 1d




Share

• 
  

Ireland ayrton senna formula ford 2000


GEAR Limited edition Filmography of Cars poster is all kinds of awesome

This sweet limited editon poster will satisfy any lover of movie cars.

Read More 1d

gear filmography of cars poster calm the ham


EDITOR'S LETTER Editor's Letter: The troubles with choosing our 2013 Performance Car of the Year

Editor-in-Chief Larry Webster reflects on the difficulty in choosing the 2013 Performance Car of the Year from a strong field in this month's column.

Read More 1d




Share

• 
  

editor's letter 2013 Performance Car of the Year Larry Webster


PHOTOS

Photos: Nissan Historic Collection


Read More 1d




Share

• 
  

photos Nissan Historic Collection historic


NEWS Don't call it a comeback: The Alfa Romeo of old is alive and kicking

Returning to the American market was supposed to be a cornerstone of the 'reinvented' Alfa Romeo. But with both Chrysler's IPO and the 4C's US launch delayed, it's all unraveling. Looks like old habits die hard in Turin.

Read More



Read more: http://www.roadandtrack.com#ixzz2m349EuhG