2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

Say Ferrari, and everyone who hears it thinks all out speed. But Ferrari has built its share of luxurious grand touring cars as well, and the latest of these lavish Ferraris is the 612 Scaglietti. It’s comfortable, but it’s also oh so very quick. After all, it is a Ferrari.
The 2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti isn’t just another Italian car, or even just another Ferrari. It’s a big Ferrari, significantly larger than its predecessor the 456.  But this massive Grand Touring coupe, named after famed coach builder Sergio Scaglietti, is notable for much more than just its size. There’s also the striking Pininfarina body, inspired by the 1950’s 375 MM. It’s the first time all-aluminum coachwork has been used on a Ferrari V-12.

Now, we could go on and on about the deep scalloped side panels, the tall fenders that blend into the projector beam lamp clusters, and the flowing tail with its subtle spoiler. But let’s leave it to the words of the man who really knows his car.

SERGIO PININFARINA: It is faster, it is lighter, it has more room inside, and it has more room for the baggage compartment. Everything is more, but even more aggressive. And this is important, because the front look and the look of the car is very elegant and very sporty, as a Ferrari should be.

The fluid lines wrap around an aluminum spaceframe chassis that helps keep weight down to a mere 4,056 pounds. But weight isn’t a problem when you’re packing a 5.7-liter all-aluminum quad-cam 48-valve V12 engine. Mounted behind the front axle, its 540 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque is true supercar power.

Mated to the big V12 is either a 6-speed manual gearbox, or the F1A electro-hydraulic 6-speed with paddle shifters. The F1A also offers an automatic mode, and is linked to a new electronic stability and traction system. This helps keep the wheels in line, as even on a 90 degree plus day the 612 hammers to 60 in 4.7 seconds, and through the quarter mile in 13 seconds flat at 113 miles-per-hour.

As expected, the sweet, smooth V12 spins up fast, delivering healthy punch from the word go. But compared to past Ferrari V12s, this one is almost quiet.

The electronic gearbox, like its predecessors, continues to shift harshly at high throttle loads. Gear changes are cleaner at small throttle openings, and the engine’s massive torque allows you to cruise through traffic with minimal shifting.

The lightweight chassis is complemented by a control arm suspension with adaptive damping. It delivers a remarkably supple ride. But what’s really remarkable is how beautifully balanced this 16-foot luxury cruiser is. With only 45% of the weight over the front wheels, it turns like a car half its size, dancing nimbly from corner to corner with no roll or instability. Only steering feel needs improving.

Braking is by huge vented discs with ABS. Stops from 60 averaged a short and solid 118 feet, with good feedback from the soft, long-travel pedal.

Moving from performance to indulgence, we find a stunning 4-seat cabin, swaddled in acres of fine leather. The dash is distinctive, but simple with little modern gadgetry to distract you from driving. The gauges are split between an analog tach and speedo, and an LCD display for engine functions and fuel, while the audio system is a simple single CD configuration, and the climate controls are hard-to-misuse dials. And for that proper Ferrari feel, a set of drilled aluminum pedals.

The power-operated front seats feature distinctive contrasting leather trim, and offer good comfort for long drives. But the rear buckets, while equally attractive, have no leg room to speak of, so this is a true 2+2.

The trunk is an unusual multi-level space that when fully utilized will hold a weekend’s worth of very expensive clothes, which is what you’ll wear when you can afford a car with a base price of $253,250. That’s with the 6-speed manual gearbox. Opt for our test car’s F1A transmission, and $265,255 is the price to enter this very exclusive club – a club where supercar performance and super-sedan luxury go hand in hand, and one which only rare and special cars like the 2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti are ever allowed to join.