F12 Spider? | FerrariChat
Buy

F12 Spider?

Discussion in 'F12/812' started by MisterMaranello, Jun 29, 2012.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. MisterMaranello

    MisterMaranello F1 Rookie

    Apr 5, 2011
    3,313
    Europe
    #1 MisterMaranello, Jun 29, 2012
    Just came to my mind today, what do you guys think the chances are of seeing an F12 Spider as a production model? It never happened with the 599... (SA doesn't count :p )
     
  2. of2worlds

    of2worlds F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 6, 2004
    17,513
    ON
    Full Name:
    CH
    #2 of2worlds, Jun 29, 2012
    I think there may again with the F12 be an open top version. Ferrari has a long history of building 'open' cars and LdM is a great student of 'history' and understanding opportunity.
    CH
     
  3. 360CSS

    360CSS Karting

    Nov 10, 2004
    72
    Rome-Constantinople
    Full Name:
    Caesar
    #3 360CSS, Jun 29, 2012
    550 --> 550 Barchetta Pininfarina
    575 --> 575 SuperAmerica
    599 --> SA Aperta


    Yes I think at the end of the run Ferrari will make a special limited edition convertible of the F12 like they have done for the previous V12's listed above.
     
  4. MisterMaranello

    MisterMaranello F1 Rookie

    Apr 5, 2011
    3,313
    Europe
    #4 MisterMaranello, Jun 29, 2012
    I for one think that's a tradition they should change. A lot of people would enjoy a "normal" and standard production Spider-version, not an over priced limited edition special reserved for selected clients.
     
  5. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    104,751
    Vegas baby
    #5 TheMayor, Jun 29, 2012
    I have this feeling you are right. As the price of these cars goes up and up (and the development costs also), they are going to try to squeeze more and more out of each model with a smaller and smaller market.

    Spiders are popular and also popular to upgrade to. I think they will have more spider F12's than the past.
     
  6. Ferrari 360 CS

    Ferrari 360 CS F1 Veteran

    Dec 4, 2004
    6,849
    Cape Town,SA
    Full Name:
    Jacques
    #6 Ferrari 360 CS, Jun 30, 2012
    Well has Ferrari ever made a "volume" V12 convertible....I cant seem think of one. The point being the V12 convertibles have always been the most expensive, exclusive of the V12 line. Should this change, maybe built a run of say 600 or so.
     
  7. MisterMaranello

    MisterMaranello F1 Rookie

    Apr 5, 2011
    3,313
    Europe
    #7 MisterMaranello, Jun 30, 2012
    I must admit, you do have a valid point. I just think it's such a shame what happened with the SA Aperta for instance, a sub-100 production number... I mean the 458 Spider changes the 458 experience completely, I just feel so gutted if us "mortals" who don't buy every new F and aren't on LdM goodie-too-shoes list loose out on such imortal (hehehe) experience that the V12 Spiders are...

    I'm just for some sort of boost in production numbers and maybe slotting the model a few notches down on the exclusivity list, so that more F-owners and enthusiasts can get one. (I do respect F's wish to retain their exclusivity and thus making it unavailable for first-time buyers etc.) I don't think F should get rid of it's traditions or heritage, so making an F12 Spider a standard modelrun may be a bit too far, but building under 100 is just silly, IMHO.

    Let's wait a few years and see what happens. ;)
     
  8. Umbertino6

    Umbertino6 Karting

    Feb 18, 2011
    163
    Belgique
    Full Name:
    Umberto
    #8 Umbertino6, Jun 30, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  9. MisterMaranello

    MisterMaranello F1 Rookie

    Apr 5, 2011
    3,313
    Europe
    #9 MisterMaranello, Jun 30, 2012
    Maybe it's just a 599 with the roof of for changing or something? (it could be..) Lot's of older Ferrari's in that photo, Enzo, F40 etc. it's probably a bodyshell-repair department or something, that's my 2 cents.
     
  10. Ferrari 360 CS

    Ferrari 360 CS F1 Veteran

    Dec 4, 2004
    6,849
    Cape Town,SA
    Full Name:
    Jacques
    #10 Ferrari 360 CS, Jun 30, 2012
    I agree, if not a volume model, make a few hundred, even if its only say 500 units. I would imagine the top down V12 experience is pretty special!
     
  11. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    104,751
    Vegas baby
    #11 TheMayor, Jun 30, 2012
    That's 500 more F12's they would have made than if they didn't make the convertible. The question is: what's the break even point to engineer and retool a car like this? My guess is that it's expensive. I think the temptation is to sell more than 500 if the market is there to support it.

    Most likely, it would be a hard top. If it is, they will make more than a 500 piece limit to justify the costs --- or not do it at all.
     
  12. MisterMaranello

    MisterMaranello F1 Rookie

    Apr 5, 2011
    3,313
    Europe
    #12 MisterMaranello, Jun 30, 2012
    Think about the SA Aperta... From the hard-top aspect I think they can take a lot from the 458 Spider in terms of aero. The brochure for that car explaining all the hard-top and drag finesse is an engineering manual in itself...
     
  13. Ferrari 360 CS

    Ferrari 360 CS F1 Veteran

    Dec 4, 2004
    6,849
    Cape Town,SA
    Full Name:
    Jacques
    #13 Ferrari 360 CS, Jul 1, 2012
    Must be honest I didnt take retooling into account! Still interesting to note they made 448 550 Barchetta's and just 80 of the 599 convertible. Based on that one can conclude that perhaps the re-engeering and tooling costs for the 550 were greater than they were for the 599, even considering the 599's elevated price.
     
  14. of2worlds

    of2worlds F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 6, 2004
    17,513
    ON
    Full Name:
    CH
    #14 of2worlds, Jul 1, 2012
    The Italia when introduced was criticized for being on the heavy side and sticking with aluminum as the construction material. However the vehicle was originally engineered that way to handle more horsepower and the later open top version. Same for the F12 it was engineered even more elaborately with 12 different kinds of aluminum for a very sturdy but light structure that will accept even more horsepower. That forward thinking design using aluminum will also facilitate the development of a suitable open top version. Ferrari is very proud of it's V12 models but they are not for everyone.
    CH
     
  15. pamparius

    pamparius Formula Junior

    May 16, 2007
    699
    germany
    #15 pamparius, Jul 1, 2012

Share This Page