Hublot, horological partner with Ferrari invites PuristSPro for a quick experience in the new Ferrari FF vehicle. 

The Ferrari FF, A Quick Drive

Driving a vehicle bearing the Prancing Horse logo is always a treat, and the Ferrari FF is no exception.  It’s shocking how light, this car feels through turns as one carves up the hills of Carmel Valley during the days that lead up to the Pebble Beach Concours.  Normally cars bearing the Prancing Horse logo are relatively impractical; two-seaters that can accompany only the driver and the girlfriend (or spouse), with a tiny trunk that can barely carry two duffel bags for an overnight trip.  One would never imagine taking a sporty, small, stiffly sprung, and noisy vehicle for any trip of formidable distance. 

Ferrari has been proud to have this “problem” – if one could call it that – by making beautiful sports cars that were primarily focused on superlative driving dynamics and Italian styling.  But never to shy away from a challenge, Ferrari wanted to make a superlative vehicle outside its normal comfort zone.  When technology allowed them to do just that, Ferrari designed a fantastic vehicle that was a true sports car with an amazing amount of practicality for a whole family to enjoy.  And not only will that fortunate family enjoy it in the idyllic Californian summers, but with its all wheel drive also airplane-delaying snowy Chicago winters! 

Presenting the Ferrari FF, a 2-door, four-seater, a practical year-round family sports car with an incredibly large trunk.  Prepare to forget everything you thought you knew about Ferrari. 

Aesthetics, aesthetics, aesthetics…

Like location, when buying real estate, aesthetics are an important part about Ferrari and probably something we care a lot about.  The car is designed by Pininfarina and the front of the car is beautifully proportioned.  The rear is somewhat more like an “estate” car and is a further example of the “Shooting Brake” trend that many automakers are directed at; Bugatti, Porsche Panamera, etc.  The interior is richly trimmed in top-quality French-stitched Italian leather and features comfortable accommodations for four.  Normal adults will find the back seat more than palatable, with a reasonable amount of headroom and legroom.  The only difficulty is ingress to the back seat is sometimes less than elegant as one has to fall blindly into the seat upon entry.  Does Ferrari plan on making a Quattroporte (four port/door) version of the FF?  Only time will tell.  A few years ago Ferrari said they would never make a hard-top convertible, look at the latest 458 Spider and even the German marquee Porsche said they would never have a diesel, today there’s a Diesel Cayenne. 

Pioneering Technology…

I’m referring to the radical all-new all-wheel-drive system that is utilized in this Ferrari.  Traditionally, all wheel drive systems have a separate drive shaft that splits off the main drive shaft to go to the front wheels.  This separate drive shaft is usually underneath the main drive shaft (necessitating a higher height and thus higher center of balance) or off to the side (causing the one side of the car to be heavier than the other).  Ferrari didn’t want neither of these problems to hinder the beautiful performance of the FF, so it actually did something completely unprecedented, Ferrari pioneered their own bespoke all-wheel-drive system.  Ferrari has actually put another transmission and differential on the front end of the engines crankshaft to drive the front wheels!

The forward transmission consists of three gears; two forward gears (a low and a high gear) and one reverse gear.  The main rear-drive transmission has seven gears; when the main transmission is in gears 1-4, the all wheel drive system is active, sending up to 20% of the power to the front gears.  In gear 1 and 2, the forward transmission is in low gear.  In gear 3 and 4, the forward transmission is in high gear.  Gears 5-7 are all rear wheel drive as power is no longer being sent to the front wheels. 

This is Ferrari’s first production all-wheel-drive vehicle and it’s a technical marvel. 

The driving feel…

Despite the all-wheel-drive system we have a wonderful classic Ferrari driving feel.  The car weighs approximately two thousand kilograms but handles very lightly like a ballet dancer on toes.  Imagine a fat ballet dancer outperforming all the thin ones.  The steering wheel is heavy, but still offers incredibly sharp turn-in that is among the best with only a hint of on-center vagueness.  The handling was faultless, some turns were taken at fairly high speeds yet the car felt it still had loads of grip in reserve.  The suspension was supple, but responsive, never jarring but always communicative.  Brakes were powerful, the carbon ceramic type, and had a fairly firm confident pedal feel.  But the most intoxicating part was the power; Ferrari put in a 6.3 liter V12 engine with 650+ horsepower at the disposal of your right foot, while driving (should I be saying “piloting” instead of driving) I could create that g-force induced head-in-headrest feeling that I never tire of.  Lastly, the transmission(s) is (are) phenomenal.  A dual-clutch 7-speed with superlative response offering gear shifts in total comfort and at a fast speed. 

It’s hard to put the driving feel in words, but all I can say is that it was a very special experience, one that needs to be experienced first-hand.  

And to further add to the driving feel, nearly every aspect of the interior and exterior car can be customized, within technical safety limits.  

Conclusion…

The cold wet/rainy weather season has started in most of the Northern Hemisphere.  Traditionally, many Ferrari owners would not be planning to operate their cars during the poor weather season; but this is a Ferrari that plays around all year. 

At the end of the experience, Ferrari was eager to get back their prized machine and for good reason.  It’s a machine to be proud of and one to be desired.  Even now, I’m still haunted by the symphonic sound of the V12 engine.  Our brain is programmed to like consistency as it makes us feel safe; the ticking of a watch is actually a soothing sense to hear as it even helps us to regulate ourselves.  Yet, despite the different than the consistent ticking of a watch, the inconsistent but beautifully dynamic exhaust note this car makes is something to love and cherish.  Thank you Ferrari and Hublot!