TRACKING down a Ferrari through town takes some skill. In my case it’s not the vehicle I drive, nor the speed I go, but rather the instinct to know just which corner to turn into, to discover that the magnificent red beast is still ahead of me, and there is a chance of catching it up.
Such was my thrill last week-end, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a never seen before Ferrari FF in town , that was gliding like a vision before my very eyes. A split second decision to abort my current destination and follow the Ferrari, was worth it, when a few minutes into the chase I found it parked quietly outside the Klein Windhoek post office.
The driver – a larger than life Italian was seated behind the steering wheel, texting, when I approached his window. Of course my pick up line works every time, and without hesitation he opened the door and gladly let me take photos of his exotic stallion.
Obviously he didn’t want to be in the picture, but he did say proudly in his thick Italian accent, that his FF is the only one in Namibia, and the second one in Southern Africa.
The revolutionary FF offers a completely new take on the sporting Grand Tourer theme. It is not only the first Ferrari with four-wheel drive, but, more significantly, a model that hails a major break with the past, effortlessly combining extreme sports car performance with the versatility and usability of a genuine GT and boasting an extremely innovative design
Ferrari pulled the sheets off its FF (“Ferrari Four”) at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011. Unlike its predecessor, the all-new FF broke significant ground in several areas. After more than six decades of Ferrari building rear-wheel-drive cars, the FF boasted the automaker’s first all-wheel-drive system, an interior that seats four and an engine that “skriks for nix”.
Every single area of the FF brims with innovation, not least its engine, the first GDI V12 to be coupled with the seven-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox. The V12 unleashes a massive 660 CV at 8,000 rpm, and maximum torque of 683 Nm at 6,000 rpm with 500 Nm already available at just 1,000 rpm. This ensures the performance figures of an extreme sports car, with the 0-100 km/h sprint covered in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 335 km/h.
Everything aboard the FF is tailored specifically to the needs and tastes of its driver with a choice of six exclusive colours and the finest Frau aniline leathers specially treated to enhance their natural softness. The FF’s exceptional specification enhances in-car enjoyment for all four occupants. Features include a new rear-seat infotainment system with two screens for watching TV and DVD and a 1,280 Watt, 16-channel stereo system with Quantumlogic Surround Sound.
With a price tag of around N$2.2-million, those of you with this kind of small change, might just consider filling your Xmas stocking with this beauty – I know I would – in a heartbeat.
By Donna Collins