Used 2014 Ferrari FF

To an enthusiast’s eye, the 2014 Ferrari FF performance coupe looks like a larger version of BMW’s old Z4 coupe. The FF’s wagon-like rear end isn’t the only thing out of place for Ferrari, although it’s a shape that quickly grows on you. Under the FF’s sleek skin resides a 6.3-liter V12 engine capable of developing 651 horsepower. For the first time in Ferrari history, all four wheels are used to route power to the road. Keeping the FF’s weight under the 4,000-pound mark preserves handling and performance, although the steep price tag has us wondering if a Porsche Panamera or Jaguar XKR-S GT might be a sounder investment.

Picture yourself and three friends riding in a sleek Italian sports car that can rocket to 62 mph in just 3.8 seconds and keep on powering forward until it reaches 208 mph. You’ve just imagined what it’s like to drive Ferrari’s 4-passenger, all-wheel-drive FF sports coupe of 2014. The 4RM all-wheel-drive system not only enhances the FF’s cornering ability on dry pavement, it makes this new Ferrari hatchback a very winter-friendly companion as well. To prove the point, Ferrari paired us with World Rally Champion Markku Alen who put the FF (and us) through its paces on a snow-covered rally course. While the FF ripped through the powder like a Labrador puppy experiencing its first snowfall, the performance tires couldn’t provide the appropriate grip for maximum traction, which in the end, actually made the ride all the more fun.

Just because there are four seats, it doesn’t mean all four passengers are treated equally in Ferrari’s FF coupe. The deeply sculpted rear seats are better suited to a small child than an adult. The front seats are excellent though, with a multi-position power seat allowing drivers to find the perfect fit. Exquisite leather covers the seats, dash, doors and everything else. The only out-of-step touch is the navigation system, which was hard to use and dated.

Hatchback shape or not, the 2014 Ferrari FF shooting brake is Ferrari at its finest. The wagon-like shape flows from the long hood to the hatch, giving this Ferrari elements of practicality and versatility that have usually been lacking in the brand’s cars. The attention to details is everywhere, from the artfully sculpted side vents to the way the car’s sheet metal wraps around the single circular taillights. It’s the kind of coachwork you expect from such an expensive car.

MULTI-TASKING MANETTINO STEERING WHEEL
Ferrari’s FF loves to be different, right down to the smallest details. Its multifunction steering wheel contains buttons for the ignition, turn signals and the Manettino 5-position suspension that includes settings for Comfort, Sport, Snow, Wet and ESC off.

NUMEROUS INTERIOR UPGRADE OPTIONS
If you have the money for a Ferrari, you’re going to want to fill it with every imaginable option. In the 2014 Ferrari FF, that includes a choice of leathers, colors, seats, brakes, carbon-fiber trim and numerous add-ons.

There’s only one powertrain for Ferrari’s 2014 FF: a 6.3-liter V12 engine, 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, 4RM all-wheel drive, and electromechanical center differential. Inside, all Ferrari FF’s get full leather interior, a power-adjustable tilt/telescopic steering wheel, voice-activated navigation, AM/FM/CD/MP3/DVD stereo with 30 GB hard-drive music storage, dual-zone automatic climate control, and automatic headlights with washers. Behind the standard 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels are a Magnaride adaptive suspension and Brembo ceramic brakes. Standard safety equipment includes electronic traction and stability control and front seat side-impact airbags.

To keep Ferrari FF drivers from seeing themselves coming and going, the FF of 2014 can be optioned up to near-custom levels. You can get swiveling headlights, an upgraded audio system pumping 1,280 watts of music power, an even better leather interior, matching leather luggage…the list goes on and on, and Ferrari will even take special requests for the right price. You can also get more performance-oriented options, like engine idle cutoff, sport exhaust pipes and 20-inch diamond-finish aluminum-alloy wheels.

The Ferrari FF for 2014 is powered by a handbuilt 6.3-liter V12 engine, routing power through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with manual shift control. Power flows to all four wheels via an electromechanical center differential that routes power to the wheels with the best traction. In a nod to better performance, Ferrari says its AWD unit is 50 percent lighter than a conventional system.

6.3-liter V12
651 horsepower @ 8,000 rpm
486 lb-ft of torque @ 8,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 11/17 mpg