Sweet Dream: Ferrari F12XX

In 2010, Ferrari launched its most extreme front-engine car ever. So bonkers it was that it couldn’t even be legally driven on the public road, nor could it be raced in any sort of professional series.

That car was the Ferrari 599XX, a track-only special of the already ballistic 599 V12 super tourer with less weight and more wing. Ferrari stripped a total of 270kg from the standard car and, as if that wasn’t enough, it then upped the power from 455kW to a head-banging 537kW.

To keep the thing glued to the road, a host of splitters, wings, vents and dive planes were moulded onto the 599’s body and slick race tyres fitted. The result was a shape that delivered 12 per cent more downforce, but crucially 15 per cent less drag.

Performance was on another level – 0-100km/h in less than 3.0 seconds and a Nurburgring lap time of six minutes 58.16 seconds – a record at the time for a production-derived car.

Now that the 599’s successor, the F12, has been around for a few years, it’s time Ferrari broke out the spanners and gave it the XX treatment.

As it stands, the F12 is a five-star car. We can only imagine how far an unhinged F12XX could take things.

LIGHT WEIGHT
The F12XX will tip the scales at 1275kg before fluids, making it 250kg lighter than the standard F12. Weight savings include removing the stereo, rear seats, and sound deadening material. All panels and wheels are made from carbonfibre – a first for Ferrari.

THUMPING HEART
The F12XX gets the same 6.3-litre V12 fitted to the FXX K track car. That means a massive 623kW output at a dizzying 9200rpm. The big V12 gets new camshafts and a redesigned inlet manifold compared to the ‘standard’ 545kW F12 engine.

THE VENT
Scoops, vents and intakes help guide the air as efficiently as possible while improving downforce. The F12 boasts 123kg of downforce at 200km/h but at the same speed the XX generates over 300kg. At high speed, the rear wing automatically trims its angle to reduce drag.

SIDE PIPES
As the F12XX doesn’t have to comply with any emissions or race regulations, it can produce as much V12 noise as it wants. The exhaust system – made of lightweight titanium – is piped straight from the engine to a pair of outlets just behind the front wheels.

STICKERS
The F12XX rides on extra sticky Pirelli slick tyres which are also fatter than standard. They’ll take a little time to warm up, so fortunately the XX has Ferrari’s latest traction and stability control systems to stop you binning it on the out lap.