Any aspiring whiz kid in Singapore would have heard about the 5 Cs. There are Cash, Condominium, Credit card, Career and Car. They have allegedly represented the Singapore dream and to a certain extent, have driven Singaporeans to settle only for the best. Of course, it's arguable that the quest to achieve the Cs has assisted in the growth of Singapore's economy.
The hard-to-attain 5 Cs are a symbol of wealth accumulation that is perceived, rightly or wrongly, to brush people's lives with brighter colours such as fine dining, luxury living and prestigious cars. In other parts of the world, especially in Asian countries, these affluent lifestyles are merely beginning to take place. But sophisticated and superior Singapore is a bit more advanced in this respect.
Taking the Lexus LFA as an example; while the rest of the world was allocated between one to three units of the Japanese supercar, Singapore received one of the highest numbers of units, selling a total of six LFAs. Perhaps having the highest percentage of millionaire households played a major role in supercar sales in Singapore. So the question in hand is - will the Ferrari FF sell as well?
The hard-to-attain 5 Cs are a symbol of wealth accumulation that is perceived, rightly or wrongly, to brush people's lives with brighter colours such as fine dining, luxury living and prestigious cars. In other parts of the world, especially in Asian countries, these affluent lifestyles are merely beginning to take place. But sophisticated and superior Singapore is a bit more advanced in this respect.
Taking the Lexus LFA as an example; while the rest of the world was allocated between one to three units of the Japanese supercar, Singapore received one of the highest numbers of units, selling a total of six LFAs. Perhaps having the highest percentage of millionaire households played a major role in supercar sales in Singapore. So the question in hand is - will the Ferrari FF sell as well?
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Presented in March 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show, the grand tourer is Ferrari's first production four-wheel drive model. The FF, which denotes for "Ferrari Four" - for four seats and four-wheel drive, has been heavily critiqued for its out-of-the-box looks.
From being "fugly" and "unconventional", the FF has been showered with negativity with regards to its shape, although it is the "shooting brake" (low-slung, two-door wagon-like automobile) form that is necessary for the 2+2 GT to blend the rear accommodation and boot capacity. But one still cannot deny the fact that the FF is still being treated as an unobtainable treasure that challenged the whole notion of what a Ferrari should and can be.
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Exterior
On first glance, the Ferrari FF is a huge car that is pleasing to the eye, with a face that bears a permanent "smile" which are cues taken from its predecessor, the 612 Scaglietti. Despite the debate about the appeal of its design, the Maranello-based sports car's carefully thought out proportions and delicate curved surfacing ensure the latest model from Ferrari has no problem turning heads. The body has been totally restyled, but the Pininfarina-penned FF has managed to retain an overall styling that is charming and classically Ferrari.
At almost five metres long, the FF's dimensions are almost similar to the 612, except for its higher height that is formed by the extended roofline with a sudden drop at the back, making this Ferrari more of a hatchback.
Fans of the afore mentioned shooting brake design would have appreciated the FF's quirky looks, except that it's an acquired taste that not many can swallow, more so when compared with the undying and visually feasting 612 Scaglietti. In all other aspects of measurements, the FF still sits low enough to be a supercar worthy of the Prancing Horse badge.
On first glance, the Ferrari FF is a huge car that is pleasing to the eye, with a face that bears a permanent "smile" which are cues taken from its predecessor, the 612 Scaglietti. Despite the debate about the appeal of its design, the Maranello-based sports car's carefully thought out proportions and delicate curved surfacing ensure the latest model from Ferrari has no problem turning heads. The body has been totally restyled, but the Pininfarina-penned FF has managed to retain an overall styling that is charming and classically Ferrari.
At almost five metres long, the FF's dimensions are almost similar to the 612, except for its higher height that is formed by the extended roofline with a sudden drop at the back, making this Ferrari more of a hatchback.
Fans of the afore mentioned shooting brake design would have appreciated the FF's quirky looks, except that it's an acquired taste that not many can swallow, more so when compared with the undying and visually feasting 612 Scaglietti. In all other aspects of measurements, the FF still sits low enough to be a supercar worthy of the Prancing Horse badge.
In fact, we reckon that the FF is an advancement styling step away from its usual line-up and from many angles, it looks nowhere near awkward. The 458-inspired headlights stretch over the front flared fenders to complete the sinister look, thanks to the grille that has been enlarged and widened over its predecessor.
The rear remains to be distinctively Ferrari, too, with quad tailpipes inching their way out from the rear diffuser, and sculptural lines elegantly enveloping the circular taillights. It's small attention to details like these that allows the Ferrari FF to make up for what it lacks in terms of its shape.
Unlike the 458 Italia where it exudes an impression of latent power and athletic elegance on the road, there are undeniable subtle nuances of unrestrained passion and potency about the FF, especially when it's idly motionless at traffic lights. Love it or hate it, the FF is one futuristic package that Ferrari has honed to ensure its understatedness over unbridled aggression that certain supercar brands may voraciously divulge.
The rear remains to be distinctively Ferrari, too, with quad tailpipes inching their way out from the rear diffuser, and sculptural lines elegantly enveloping the circular taillights. It's small attention to details like these that allows the Ferrari FF to make up for what it lacks in terms of its shape.
Unlike the 458 Italia where it exudes an impression of latent power and athletic elegance on the road, there are undeniable subtle nuances of unrestrained passion and potency about the FF, especially when it's idly motionless at traffic lights. Love it or hate it, the FF is one futuristic package that Ferrari has honed to ensure its understatedness over unbridled aggression that certain supercar brands may voraciously divulge.
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Interior
Once you're firmly seated inside, the steering wheel immediately catches your attention. Filled with a myriad of controls, its main feature is Ferrari's Manettino selector which offers a choice of five different vehicle dynamic settings.
On the right of the steering wheel, two new functions - Wet and Comfort - have been added to the usual "choices" of Snow, Sport and ESC off. On the left, one will find the engine start switch and a button with the damper icon just above it. This button intelligently reduces the suspension's damping stiffness when activated and it proves to be useful over less-than-friendly tarmac conditions.
Like the 458 Italia, the steering wheel also houses the signal controls, leaving only the gigantic but no less friendly-to-use paddle shifters as the only "protrusions" from the steering column. The instrument cluster features a centre-mounted tachometer (typical Ferrari yellow in colour) flanked by two high-resolution LCDs.
To the left of the instrument cluster is a graphic display that can toggle between power transfer that takes place and trip information while the speedo (digital or analogue), front and rear parking cameras are located on the right.
Once you're firmly seated inside, the steering wheel immediately catches your attention. Filled with a myriad of controls, its main feature is Ferrari's Manettino selector which offers a choice of five different vehicle dynamic settings.
On the right of the steering wheel, two new functions - Wet and Comfort - have been added to the usual "choices" of Snow, Sport and ESC off. On the left, one will find the engine start switch and a button with the damper icon just above it. This button intelligently reduces the suspension's damping stiffness when activated and it proves to be useful over less-than-friendly tarmac conditions.
Like the 458 Italia, the steering wheel also houses the signal controls, leaving only the gigantic but no less friendly-to-use paddle shifters as the only "protrusions" from the steering column. The instrument cluster features a centre-mounted tachometer (typical Ferrari yellow in colour) flanked by two high-resolution LCDs.
To the left of the instrument cluster is a graphic display that can toggle between power transfer that takes place and trip information while the speedo (digital or analogue), front and rear parking cameras are located on the right.
The FF that we tested came with optional carbon fibre trim which certainly lifted the cabin to a level that's on par with its motorsports history, although some may reckon that the optional trimmings strikes an odd note amid the luxurious cabin. The seats are aggressively bolstered and as a result, they are comfortable and supportive over rather long distances.
The sheer size of the FF becomes clear once you get yourself planted snugly into the rear bench. Thanks to the generous wheelbase of close to three metres, head and legroom is adequate for two full-sized adults at the back, with no claustrophobic sentiment whatsoever. Boot space is astonishing too for a car of this stature, with 450 litres of trunk capacity and a whopping 800 litres with the rear seats folded.
The sheer size of the FF becomes clear once you get yourself planted snugly into the rear bench. Thanks to the generous wheelbase of close to three metres, head and legroom is adequate for two full-sized adults at the back, with no claustrophobic sentiment whatsoever. Boot space is astonishing too for a car of this stature, with 450 litres of trunk capacity and a whopping 800 litres with the rear seats folded.
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The Drive
Toggling only between Comfort and Sport modes for the entire day (since it is sunny Singapore we're talking about here), the Ferrari FF lets out a deafening scream of relief once the engine gets started, like a caged-up fiend that's waiting to get out. Engage the Drive mode by way of pressing one of the paddle shifters and you're ready to head bang on the tarmac.
This richer and louder sound is courtesy of Ferrari's first V12 powerplant raging underneath the bonnet. What's also the first is that this massive powerplant is mated to the seven-speed dual-clutch F1 gearbox, churning a maximum of 660bhp and 683Nm of torque while lowering the total fuel consumption by 25%.
It is no wonder why, then, that the FF's pace on the roads is deceptive. Despite its heft increment over the 612 Scaglietti of 40kg, the FF remains to be an out-and-out rubber burner. Point at the empty space, squeeze the throttle and you're way above the speed limits, accompanied by an exhaust note that's every bit dramatic as its styling.
Like a proper GT, the FF is a front-engine layout and otherwise necessary, power is sent to the rear wheels as much as possible to propel the 1.9 tonnes supercar. But once the car detects wheel slip, it will send sufficient drive to either or both front wheels to maximise grip and accelerative performance. That's where the four-wheel drive comes into play. Although Ferrari appears to be late in implementing the 4WD compared to arch rival Lamborghini, it was never part of its philosophy to adopt one.
Toggling only between Comfort and Sport modes for the entire day (since it is sunny Singapore we're talking about here), the Ferrari FF lets out a deafening scream of relief once the engine gets started, like a caged-up fiend that's waiting to get out. Engage the Drive mode by way of pressing one of the paddle shifters and you're ready to head bang on the tarmac.
This richer and louder sound is courtesy of Ferrari's first V12 powerplant raging underneath the bonnet. What's also the first is that this massive powerplant is mated to the seven-speed dual-clutch F1 gearbox, churning a maximum of 660bhp and 683Nm of torque while lowering the total fuel consumption by 25%.
It is no wonder why, then, that the FF's pace on the roads is deceptive. Despite its heft increment over the 612 Scaglietti of 40kg, the FF remains to be an out-and-out rubber burner. Point at the empty space, squeeze the throttle and you're way above the speed limits, accompanied by an exhaust note that's every bit dramatic as its styling.
Like a proper GT, the FF is a front-engine layout and otherwise necessary, power is sent to the rear wheels as much as possible to propel the 1.9 tonnes supercar. But once the car detects wheel slip, it will send sufficient drive to either or both front wheels to maximise grip and accelerative performance. That's where the four-wheel drive comes into play. Although Ferrari appears to be late in implementing the 4WD compared to arch rival Lamborghini, it was never part of its philosophy to adopt one.
Thus, around the bends, the FF is extremely composed and drives much smaller than its size and feels way lighter than it is. The steering is well-weighted and stern-serious even on Comfort mode and the ride remains to be firm but never uncomfortable despite the large 20-inch Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres. It is also in this mode where you won't find yourself piloting a supercar, instead, like a "sizzling" family car where almost anyone and everyone can handle.
But once you flick it to Sport mode, the suspension firms up, steering becomes heavier and the throttle response is sharper. All of a sudden the mechanisms and progression of the car become wild and your mind is set to "Focus" mode - all done to get your adrenaline pumping. Floor the accelerator on the straights and the car lets out an unabashedly heart-wrenching exhaust symphony while blasting towards the horizon, completing the century dash in just 3.7 seconds - half a second faster than its predecessor. Make no mistakes - the FF is full of sensation and communication.
Conclusion
Although "practical" was never used to describe a Ferrari, the FF has proven the critiques wrong. No doubt the cars bearing the Prancing Horse badge aren't supposed to take kids to school or mums to market, the Ferrari FF continues to invoke the spirit of race driving and rubber burning propensity without compromising family outings - in genuine grand tourer guise, that is.
But once you flick it to Sport mode, the suspension firms up, steering becomes heavier and the throttle response is sharper. All of a sudden the mechanisms and progression of the car become wild and your mind is set to "Focus" mode - all done to get your adrenaline pumping. Floor the accelerator on the straights and the car lets out an unabashedly heart-wrenching exhaust symphony while blasting towards the horizon, completing the century dash in just 3.7 seconds - half a second faster than its predecessor. Make no mistakes - the FF is full of sensation and communication.
Conclusion
Although "practical" was never used to describe a Ferrari, the FF has proven the critiques wrong. No doubt the cars bearing the Prancing Horse badge aren't supposed to take kids to school or mums to market, the Ferrari FF continues to invoke the spirit of race driving and rubber burning propensity without compromising family outings - in genuine grand tourer guise, that is.
