F12 BERLINETTA Architecture

THE F12BERLINETTA’S SPACEFRAME CHASSIS BODYSHELL ARE COMPLETELY NEW AND USE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES, MANY OF WHICH ORIGINATED IN THE AERONAUTICAL INDUSTRY.

NO FEWER THAN 12 DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALLOY HAVE BEEN USED, INCLUDING TWO NEW STRUCTURAL ALLOYS.

This has helped keep the car’s weight down (50 kg has been saved on the body-in-white alone which equates to a saving of 90 kg if the previous chassis were re-engineered to meet crash legislation) and maximise the efficiency of its performance (torsional rigidity has been increased by 20 per cent).

Crash resistance (lateral pole impact and roof roll-over) is already in line with future legislative requirements and particular attention was taken during the design phase to improving production quality, and minimising repair times and thus costs for the client.

THE F12BERLINETTA DELIVERS TRULY EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE AND DRIVING INVOLVEMENT THANKS TO ITS HIGHLY EVOLVED TRANSAXLE ARCHITECTURE WHICH WAS DEVELOPED WITH EXTREMELY AMBITIOUS OBJECTIVES IN MIND.

These were to reduce overall weight, lower and move the centre of gravity rearwards in the chassis, and reduce the car’s frontal area whilst contemporaneously increasing passenger and luggage space compared to the previous V12 coupé to ensure maximum comfort over lengthier journeys. To achieve these objectives, the engineers lowered the engine, dashboard and seats.

Furthermore the rear of the car is now more compact, thanks to the repositioning and reduction in size of the fuel tank (permitted in part by a more efficient engine which delivers the same range as before) and to the new transaxle layout allowed by the rear multi-link suspension and F1 dual-clutch transmission with integrated electronic differential.

Rather than a traditional separate boot, the F12berlinetta features a generous tail-gate incorporating the rear screen which contributes both to the compactness of the design, and the generous luggage space and its accessibility, while ensuring maximum structural rigidity

This solution also ensures that more of the car’s mass sits inside the shorter wheelbase to the benefit of handling dynamics.

The end result is a car that’s lighter by 70 kg with a centre of gravity that’s 25 mm lower. It’s also shorter (-47mm), lower (-63 mm) and narrower (-20 mm) compared to the previous V12 coupé.

The rear overhang has been greatly reduced (-82 mm) while the front one has been estende (+65 mm) to accommodate the cooling systems required for the powerful V12 engine. Weight distribution is ideal - 54% at the rear – and is unmatched by competitors within the segment.