The Auto Mechanics of Ferrari’s F12 TdF Will Blow You Away

Italian automaker Ferrari recently came up with a unique way of paying homage to the automotive Tour de France—the company unveiled a stunning new model, the F12 TdF. Since Ferrari dominated the Tour de France through the 1950s and 1960s, its new car seems fitting. This TdF (which, of course, stands for Tour de France) is a track-spec F12 coupe that’s essentially a faster, lighter, and more aerodynamic version of the infamous F12 Berlinetta.

Hoping to pursue an auto mechanic career? Check out the impressive specs of Ferrari’s latest addition, and learn how it stacks up compared to some of the automaker’s past models.

Auto Mechanics Agree: Ferrari’s F12 TdF Has Got Some Impressive Specs

Whenever Ferrari announces the release of a new vehicle, it’s safe to assume that the engine specs are going to be impressive. In fact, some of the Italian manufacturer’s past engine designs have even inspired many auto-lovers to become professional mechanics—there aren’t a lot of people who would pass on the opportunity to work on a Ferrari after all! And of course, Ferrari certainly did not disappoint its fans with the engine featured in its latest model.

The F12 TdF comes equipped with a naturally air-cooled V-12, which is based on the F12 Berlinetta’s iconic engine; however, Ferrari’s engineers have made several new tweaks. While Berlinetta’s engine was capable of producing 730 horsepower, this new engine puts out 769 hp and 520lbs-ft of torque.

The seven-speed dual clutch was given closer ratios, which means that the TdF will upshift 30 per cent faster and downshift 40 per cent faster than the Berlinetta. Ferrari also made some pretty impressive upgrades to the aerodynamics of the F12 TdF. The car is made with tons of carbon fibre and weighs 110kg less than the stock version of the Berlinetta, giving it an incredible 87 per cent more downforce. It’s able to go from 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds and from 0-200km/h in 7.9 seconds. The car also boasts a top speed of over 340 km/h.

In addition, the new TdF features Ferrari’s Virtual Short Wheelbase, which is the company’s new four-wheel steering system that allows for better cornering at high speed.

It will officially debut at the Ferarri World Finals in early November. The Italian automaker will only build 799 models, so we can definitely expect to see a hefty price tag attached to this rare car.

Auto Mechanics Test the Performance of the F12 TdF on the Fiorano Circuit

Professional auto mechanics may already know that Ferrari owns it’s very own private on-site racetrack, close to Maranello, Italy. The Fiorano Circuit is used for testing and development purposes. Lucky employees use these tracks to test drive Ferrari models at top speeds—no doubt a dream job for anyone learning how to become an auto mechanic!

Additionally (and unlike most other automakers) Ferrari provides its customers with the opportunity to  test drive their vehicles on the Fiorano Circuit—giving them what might be their only chance to push their new car to its speedy limits.

During testing, the new TdF lapped the Fiorano Circuit in 1 minute and 21 seconds—a solid 2 seconds faster than both Ferrari’s Berlinetta and 488 GTB. What’s perhaps most impressive is that the TdF went around the Fiorano in barely one second more than LaFerrari, which just happens to be the fastest road car to ever lap that circuit.

Check out this video, which demonstrates the aerodynamic design features of Ferrari’s F12 TdF: