Watch how the Ferrari F12tdf’s rear-wheel steering system works

Elevating an already potent V12-powered GT coupe to an different performance plateau, the 2016 Ferrari F12tdf Speciale is a limited-edition variant named after the fabled 1956 250GT Berlinetta, a auto that dominated the Tour de France endurance race for four consecutive years. Ferrari says the new F12tdf’s aerodynamic efficiency figure at 1.6 is double that of the F12berlinetta. Power now tops out at an incredible 574kW, up from 545kW in the regular F12.

Cornering speeds are also higher thanks to the significant increase in downforce, +87 per cent. A redesign of the bodywork, interior, engine, transmission and running gear, along with the abundant use of carbon-fibre inside and out, has slashed 110 kg off the car’s overall weight. The car’s natural tendency to oversteer as a result of the change in tyre sizes is compensated for by the rear-wheel steering system – known as the Virtual Short Wheelbase, which is integrated with the other vehicle dynamic control systems. The F12tdf is the second “track-ready” modern front-engined V-12 Ferrari, following the 661-hp Ferrari 599 GTO from 2011, and features a bucketful of additional weapons-grade modifications to ensure the F12tdf is more than just a fancy body kit. From 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph), the Ferrari F12tdf needs just 2.9 seconds and it can go up to a top speed of 340 km/h (211 mph). That’s a win-win situation which can be appreciated and exploited by anyone lucky enough to slip behind the wheel. Even the conventional floor mats give way to textured aluminum plates as part of the overall mass-minimizing efforts.