Meet The Ferrari F12tdf, A 770 Horsepower Race Car For The Road

Tour de France may seem like an odd name for an Italian Ferrari. However, what we think of today as a bicycle race between men in tights was also a damn fine automobile race throughout much of the 1900s. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, Ferrari dominated with its 250 GT Berlinetta, and the new F12tdf is a 770 horsepower tribute to that glorious time.

The traditional F12berlinetta is known to be savage—a concoction of speed and performance only the fortunate few will experience. The F12tdf is 240 lbs. lighter than that car, boasts 40 more horsepower from its V12 engine, sports rear wheel steering, and, according to Ferrari, musters 87 percent more downforce (507 lbs. at 125 mph) thanks to larger strakes on the diffuser, a sculptured front splitter, and other various grip-improving winglets.

What all that means is the F12tdf can sprint to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, hit 125 mph in 7.9 seconds, and top out at 211 mph. The F1 DCT gearbox now shifts between 30 and 40 percent faster, depending on whether you’re shifting up or down. The brakes are from the LaFerrari. And all of that means the Ferrari F12TdF should be one of the fastest productions cars to ever leave the gates of Maranello.

But it won’t leave in great quantity. Only 799 will be built, at an unreleased price that will almost certainly melt eyes. How comfortable the F12tdf will be away from the racetrack remains to be seen, but at least it’ll deliver less chafing than a bicycle and pair of spandex shorts.