2012 Ferrari FF

After teasing us for quite a while now, Ferrari has finally revealed the official details on their new successor for the 612 Scaglietti. Called the FF - an acronym for Ferrari Four (four seats and four-wheel drive), the new model is the company’s most powerful, versatile four-seater ever, as well as its first ever four-wheel drive car.

The concept car was designed by Pininfarina, and according to Ferrari "the new car represents not so much an evolution as a true revolution." The new model will deliver "unprecedented level an extremely sporty, high-performance character with incredible versatility, superb comfort and sophisticated elegance, guaranteeing both driver and passengers an absolutely unique driving experience."

The FF moniker stands for "Ferrari Four" in reference to the fact that all four of the wheels are driven and there are four seats. Ferrari claims that its all-wheel-drive system, which it refers to as 4RM, is 50 percent lighter than comparable systems, but provides no details on how this was achieved. (RM stands for ruote motrici, so 4RM just means “four-wheel-drive” in Italian.) The Italians claim a dry weight for the car of 3946 pounds, which makes it less than 100 pounds heavier than the 612 Scaglietti, for which Ferrari quotes a dry weight of 3880 pounds. (The ready-to-run curb weight of the last 612 we tested was 4123 pounds.) Fifty-seven percent of the FF's weight is perched over the rear axle. Incidentally, British manufacturer Jensen built a four-seat, all-wheel-drive supercar called the FF in the late Sixties. The acronym then stood for Ferguson Formula, and Harry Ferguson Research supplied its all-wheel-drive system.

The four-seat Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is a great car, but not our favorite Ferrari. Launched in 2004, it’s getting long in the tooth, and the curvaceous body, lacking in tension, never really grew on us.

At this year’s Geneva auto show, though, Maranello will debut a Scaglietti successor that is not only visually exciting in a way the 612 never managed to be, but departs from the Ferrari gospel in two tremendous ways: It’s the first all-wheel-drive prancing horse, and it’s a two-door station wagon, or shooting brake.

Say What?!

The Pininfarina-styled four-seater folds futuristic shapes and detailing into classic front-engine proportions. The front end is dominated by a hood and headlights that are inspired by the 458 Italia, while the greenhouse sits far aft and flows into a rear end with recessed taillights and a low tailgate. It is long (193.2 inches), wide (76.9 inches), and relatively low (54.3 inches), and to our eyes, it is absolutely stunning. The FF, says Ferrari, seats four comfortably and offers ample space for luggage.

The FF unveiled on Ferrari.com