What's the news?
Part of Ferrari's Special Projects division's remit is to help exceedingly wealthy fans of the marque to create one-off vehicles to their specification. The latest is called the F12 TRS and it has been influenced by none other than the original 250 Testa Rossa. Here is the first official information.
Exterior
The Ferrari F12 base is the perfect front-engine-rear-drive layout for what was commissioned to be an 'extreme, two-seater, open-top sports barchetta'. The aggressively-styled long bonnet incorporates an air scoop as well as a clear panel that shows off the top of the V12 engine, very much a hat-tip to the 250 Testa Rossa.
The aerobridge design seen on the standard F12 receives a redesign that now runs down the entire side of the car and gives it a heavily sculptured look. A low windscreen, in conjunction with the side windows, forms a wraparound design that gives the car a truly unique appearance. Both driver and passenger headrests join the rear bodywork and slope rearwards into the rear spoiler, which neatly overhangs the rear end of the car.
Interior
Despite appearing to be a money-no-object commission, the interior of the F12 TRS has been stripped back and simplified even more than the production car's and focuses just on the driving essentials. The glovebox, air conditioning, audio system, floor mats and even the window switches have been excluded while lightweight materials such as carbon fibre and Alcantara dominate the interior. Adding further to the basic look, the car's door panels and central transmission tunnel are finished in Rosso Corsa multi-layer 'micalised' paint.
Mechanicals
The F12 TRS may have a bespoke design, but underneath that stunning bodywork lies the standard 740hp V12 engine from the regular F12. Reaching 100km/h from a standstill in 3.1 seconds is impressive enough, but doing so in an open top barchetta such as this must be nothing short of glorious. Peak torque of 690Nm arrives at an ear-splitting 9,000rpm. Ferrari hasn't revealed exactly what the top speed of the F12 TRS is, and as it is a one-off, we are unlikely to ever know, but it is probably high enough not to have reason to complain.
Anything else?
One of the perks of having your very own Ferrari designed and built is that once it is completed the owner, who thus far has remained unknown, also gets sole ownership of all of the special tooling used to create the car, meaning that no other examples can officially be made without their consent.
Dave Humphreys - 24 Jun 2014