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By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent
The FF is the most versatile, luxurious and comfortable car in the Ferrari stable. But it is also the ugliest.
To make a grand tourer that can transport four adults and their overnight bags at speeds in excess of 330kmh comfortably, the Prancing Horse had to settle for a shape that obeys spatial and aerodynamic laws.
Hence the FF's unflattering side profile, with all of Pininfarina's sleekness terminating abruptly in the rear. The same way that Porsche Panamera's rear end drops off. But just as most of us have gotten used to the Panamera, we will in time learn to love the Ferrari FF. Maybe.
The car's potential for speed is matched by its incredible stopping power... it also absorbs the shock of the nastiest speed limiters like no other sports car
Once you get past its unconventional shape and step into its cabin though, the FF astounds you.
The cockpit is as logical and ergonomic as the F458's, with a Ferrari F1-style multi-function steering wheel taking centre stage.
The interior is luxuriously appointed - in the case of the test car, a tan leather upholstery with a finish more commonly seen on designer handbags than in cars. Quite refreshing, really. It allows the characteristics of the leather to come through more apparently.
Although it does not appear so at first glance, the rear seats are actually quite commodious. The extension of the glass area right to the C-pillars allows for bright and airy accommodation.
The Panamera offers a bit more room, but the FF offers a lot more vroom.
With a 6.3-litre V12 spinning beneath its vast bonnet, the FF has more power and torque than most drivers know what to do with.
Stable speedster
The beauty of a huge engine is its utter effortlessness. The GT will cruise lazily at 100kmh with the tachometer barely touching 1,800rpm. The car's speedy and silky seven-speed transmission helps, but you get the feeling that the big V12 is really doing most of the magic.
Open up the throttle a little and the FF tugs at the reins like a bronco, even if the cabin rattles and buzzes briefly between 1,500rpm and 2,000rpm.
But no matter how ballistic the 660bhp power plant gets - with explosive aural effects to match - the car's super-confident steering and brilliant chassis make going fast in this barge of a Ferrari a cinch.
Ferrari's electro-magnetic suspension is put to good use in the super saloon, where rear occupants may not always share the driver's exuberance (especially after a good meal). But the technology worth singling out is the FF's innovative all-wheel-drive system.
The system lets the FF cruise like a rear-wheel-drive under normal conditions. But as soon as it detects a low-grip situation, or even an under- or over-steer situation, it redistributes torque to the front wheels until stability is restored.
It is an elegant solution that saves weight and fuel.
The joy of the FF, however, lies mostly with its driveability. Despite being nearly 5m long and having the accelerative power of a missile, it requires no more effort to drive than a VW Golf.
Whether hurtling down an open highway or finding its way in heavy traffic or negotiating a serpentine carpark ramp, it is as easy as pie.
The car's potential for speed is matched by its incredible stopping power. And even though it is sprung firmly for those deliciously fast corners, it absorbs the shock of the nastiest speed limiters like no other sports car.
Make no mistake, the FF is a sports car. Even in Comfort mode, it is often too fast for your conscience. But driven with steely discipline, it comes across as a laid-back tourer that is uncharacteristically quiet, comfortable and even docile.
This ability to be at extreme ends of the performance spectrum just messes with your mind. So much so that you'd buy one, even though the same money will buy you two Panamera Turbos.
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FERRARI FF
Price: $1,115,000 without COE
Engine: 6,262cc 48-valve V12
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch with paddle shift
Power: 660bhp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 683Nm at 6,000rpm
0-100kmh: 3.7 seconds
Top speed: 335kmh
Fuel consumption: 15.4 litres/100km
Agent: Ital Auto
