There is no way to get used to the size of Ferrari’s 612 Scaglietti. While most Ferraris—indeed, most supercars—tend to be larger in life than imagined, the Scag is a monster. Longer than a Mercedes-Benz E-Class and wider than an S-Class, it is the size and shape of a ballistic missile, especially in dark gray.

The size is a direct consequence of the car’s dual functions of high-speed handling and four-person capacity. Inside are four bucket seats intended to carry in comfort four actual people with eight lower extremities. This is unlike most 2+2’s where the comfortable ratio of humans and legs tends to be an unevenly distributed one to one. And while—unlike the Espada’s very comfortable rear seats—I have never had the opportunity to actually sit in a 612, those who have describe the rear seats as up to the task.

The other factor in the 612’s immense length is the engine, which is mid-mounted. But unlike with the traditional mid-engined layout—where the engine is between the cabin and the rear axle—the Scag’s 5.7-liter V12 sits low behind the front axle, similar to the supercharged V8 in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. And like the SLR, the 612 has a nose—or substitute your favorite metaphor based on human anatomy—any self-respecting Frenchman would be proud of.

Mounting an engine midships is done to reduce weight in a car’s extremities, lowering its moment of inertia. This comes in handy when you take a corner fast, so I called Nino Karotta, the only person I know who has actually driven a 612 Scaglietti (if you’ll remember, Nino was the guy who showed us how to become a Formula One driver in one day).

The 612 he drove was in an environment rather alien to a leviathan GT—the Hungaroring, a racetrack in a dusty valley on the outskirts of Budapest, home to the Hungarian Grand Prix. He described the experience as similar to what happens when you take any very powerful but heavy car to a track. That while it’s very fast, capable of huge powerslides and much better composed than, say, a large V12 Benz, it is ultimately too soft and too heavy for proper track work. Unlike, he said, the Ferrari 599 GTB, which he drove on the same day and described as a sharp, violent track animal.

We had better find a more suitable environment for the 612 then. And remember: we’re looking for family use here. So let’s head to Regent’s Park, 487 acres of Central London flanked by white stucco houses where rich people live and exercise.

While Central London is perhaps not the perfect location to strecth a 550 HP grand tourer’s legs, nothing beats it when it comes to arriving home. The car is understated, elegant, majestic, no Italian waving of hands apparent in its flowing lines, inspired by a one-off Ferrari 375 MM its namesake Sergio Scaglietti created in 1954 for Italian neorealist film director Roberto Rossellini’s wife Ingrid Bergman.

An elderly couple then arrive in a Citroën C3—this is a very small French car—and maneuver into the space in front of the Ferrari.

They turn out to be the parents of the Ferrari’s owner, a dapper man who has by this time emerged from his house. My mate Máté and I are soon in the midst of a family cavalcade, admiring the lovely Ferrari.

Also in tow is a young girl, Orelia by name, who climbs down from her grandmother’s neck. This is it then: a real, live kid who actually rides in the back of a Ferrari! Our conversation as I remember it:

“Hi Orelia, my name is Peter.”

“Hi Peter.”

“So how is it riding in a Ferrari’s back seats?”

“It’s great. I sit there with my two sisters.”

Roominess? Check!

“And when you go for a ride, do you go real fast?”

Substituting for words, she offers a huge, jubilant nod. We wave our goodbyes. A few steps later, her father reaches down to pick a white strand of thread out of the Pininfarina logo on the left fender.

Gentlemen, a Jalopnik midlife plan is emerging here. Make a quarter million bucks, get a Scaglietti and a fine woman, sire children, then transport them in style and at speed.

And if you have dogs (or elephant guns), go get that Maserati Quattroporte wagon.

Photo Credit: Balázs Fenyő (Ferrari 599 GTB), Máté Petrány and the author (612 Scaglietti)

On a lovely autumn day in 2006, I folded myself out of the back seat of my friend Larry’s Lamborghini Espada and had a revelation: I have just found the perfect family car.

Orosz, get your head out of the mushrooms, you might be thinking, the Espada is a 40-year-old Italian rustbucket, but see, it all makes sense. The car is Marcello Gandini’s trickiest design—the svelte coupé profile obscures two flawless, roomy back seats, either of which will accommodate my 6'2" frame with ease. Fitting a child seat in there would be a walk in the park.

The Espada also makes a very pleasing noise, is not very expensive at around $40,000 for a driveable example and most importantly, it comes with a cubic mile of style. Based on my rudimentary knowledge of developmental neurophysiology, a child exposed to such a stylish means of transport in her formative years will develop impeccable taste. And a sense for the benefit of extreme speeds.

To test my theory, I went for a stroll in Knightsbridge, London’s perhaps poshest neighborhood. Specifically, the streets around the famous department store Harrods, where the local ultra-rich do their weekend shopping.

Ferrari 456

The first car I ran into that fit the bill was a midnight blue Ferrari 456. This is very similar to the Espada in that there is a V12 up front, two doors on the sides and four seats on the inside. Ferrari introduced it in 1992 as the replacement for that eyesore 400 and made around 3000 of them until the 612 Scaglietti took the stage as Ferrari’s resident leviathan.

It’s a beautiful, compact car, and in spite of the fact that the good people of Knightsbridge receive ultra-high doses of supercar every single day, it still drew looks. The inside is your typical all-leather Ferrari affair—but it showed no signs of occupation by minors. Little wonder: the rear seating area is way less voluminous than that of the Espada. You would need to have kids with very short limbs to feel comfortable back there.

The Knightsbridge crowd thought the same: a couple stopped by to consider it as perhaps their next family ride, but upon seeing the interior, they promptly walked off.

Ferrari 599 GTB

Of course unless you have twins or more than one child, you won’t need a four-seater right away, and if you live in Knightsbridge, your spouse probably has her own supercar. What you need is a grand tourer. And show me a grander tourer than the Ferrari 599 GTB.

It was parked in front of the World’s Easternmost Krispy Kreme Franchise: a favorite haunt for those who have gotten hooked on this wonderful Southern suspension of fat and sugar, yours truly amongst them.

And here, in the tantalizing cloud of frying donuts, my theory was proven. In the passenger seat of the Ferrari was installed a child seat! Pardon the lack of a polarizing filter:

Unlike the Espada, the 599 is definitely not a reasonable choice. You will be charged a quarter million dollars to own this rocketship with its archways of aerodynamics. But consider: putting your child through a good college and graduate school runs up a tab very much in that neighborhood—and there’s no guarantee that she’ll have a happy and productive time.

Alternatively, you can spend that money on a 599. Her hearing will develop in a vat of high-strung V12 engine noise. Her sense of balance will be trained by the sudden instances of acceleration and deceleration produced by the 611 horses up mid-front and the humongous carbon ceramic brakes in the corners. She will smell gasoline and premium leather. All in all, the perfect way to nudge her central nervous system in the right direction.

As I was considering all this, the smell of Krispy Kremes became overpowering. I followed my zombified brain inside and introduced four glazed donuts into my body. A few minutes later, giddy with the sudden overload of sugar, I stumbled outside to see the Ferrari already gone. Inside traveled a small child, her brain happily soaking up every component of that magic which Ferraris are made of, constructing all the right synapses for a balanced adulthood.

Next up, we’ll look at a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and a real, live kid who rides in the back.

Photo Credit: Balázs Fenyő (Lamborghini Espada) and the author

Despite the otherwise nasty downturn in global auto sales, Ferrari has seen a 20% increase in Hong Kong sales in the last year and this gray 612 represents the 1000th Hong Kong sale, so to celebrate, the car was delivered on a junk ship. We don't particularly know why, equating a shiny new Ferrari with junk doesn't seem like the message you'd want to send. It may have been a silly publicity stunt, but you cant argue with the visual. [iMotorMag]

Press Release:

XM Announces First Ferrari Model to Feature XM Radio and XM NavTraffic

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti will Feature Standard, Factory-Equipped XM Radio and XM NavTraffic with Three Years Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — XM (NASDAQ:XMSR) , the nation's leading provider of satellite radio, announced the first Ferrari model to come with factory-installed XM Satellite Radio and XM NavTraffic real-time information service. The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti will come equipped with XM Radio and XM NavTraffic as standard features that will be incorporated into the vehicle's advanced audio and navigation system. Ferrari will include three years of XM Radio and XM NavTraffic service with each vehicle.

"XM is now available from Ferrari, one of the most prestigious vehicle makers in the world," said Steve Cook, executive vice president, Automotive, XM Satellite Radio. "Now Ferrari drivers can enhance their driving experience by discovering music and listening to sports, talk and news on the more than 170 channels of XM Radio. XM NavTraffic also enables Ferrari drivers to route around a jam so they can continue to enjoy the road."

XM NavTraffic is available in 79 major U.S. markets, alerting drivers to real-time traffic information. The data is delivered to the driver's GPS navigation system via XM's satellite pipeline to provide information on current traffic conditions, such as traffic speeds, accident locations, and road closings. Where available, XM NavTraffic also provides information that allows users to view an overlay of color-coded traffic flow information, indicating the average speed of travel along the driver's planned route.

About XM

XM (NASDAQ:XMSR) is America's number one satellite radio company with more than 8.2 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2007 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.

XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with Ferrari, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota is available in 140 different vehicle models for 2007. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com/.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this press release include demand for XM Satellite Radio's service, the Company's dependence on technology and third party vendors, its potential need for additional financing, as well as other risks described in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.'s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 3-1-07. Copies of the filing are available upon request from XM Radio's Investor Relations Department.

Source: XM

Ferrari's big 60th is wrapping up, with the company's global relay race sliding into Modena this past weekend. But an anniversary be without an anniversary edition would just be another crap-ass birthday. And it's not like Ferrari needs another occasion to deck out its top-of-mast 612 Scaglietti with special two-tone paint and swank interior appointments. But the 612 Sessanta (60, get it?) also gets an electro-chromic panoramic roof panel with three transparency positions (like the Superamerica), carbon-ceramic brake package, and an electronics package from Bose that includes rear parking camera and TV tuner. Viscounts only, please. – Mike Spinelli

Press Release:

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti Sessanta: Product Specifications

612 Sessanta is produced on the body of the 612 Scaglietti introduced during the Geneva Motor-Show 2007, and thus comes with the full enhancement package used for the latter. It is available only with F1 gearbox and provides the following features.

Special contents:
Exterior colours The sixty cars shall be available alternatively in the following exterior colours: Two-colour special style:
· Grigio scuro (Colori Classici '50-'60) / Nero with grigio scuro side line
· Rubino Micalizzato / Nero Daytona with Rubino Micalizzato side line.

The following special colour features are added as well:
· Special colour of underbody black in technical black
· Colour treatment of the front headlight and rear bumper details in silver.

Exterior contents
· Electro-chromic panoramic roof panel with three transparency positions
· New monolithic and forged 19"/19" wheel rims
· Specific wheel cups
· Radiator grill with specific painted frame
· Chromium-plated rear grids with black chromed special exhaust pipes
· "612 Sessanta" emblem on front fender

Interior colours
Interiors are featured by a single-colour environment, with slightly contrasting stitching. Two choices are available. New Natural leather, "Terra Bruciata" coloured (exclusive colour on 612 Sessanta), including:
· Marrone carpets
· Interior details in Grigio Scuro (dash cross member, door panel details, tunnel plate)
· Black seat belts
· Terra Bruciata colour for steering wheel, dashboard, rear shell, and upper interior part

Those interiors are exclusively available with Grigio Scuro / Nero livery. New Natural leather Charcoal coloured, including:
· Grigio Scuro carpets
· Interior details in Rubino Micalizzato (dash cross member, door panel details, tunnel plate)
· Grigio seat belts
· Charcoal colour for steering wheel, dashboard, rear shell, and upper interior part

Those interiors are exclusively available with Rubino Micalizzato / Nero Daytona livery.

Interior content
· Steering wheel with three-position Manettino and Engine Start button
· Exclusive upholstery style for seats, door panels and rear sides
· Specific central tunnel upholstered and fully equipped, with 2 cup-holding compartments and rear handles
· Four pockets on door panels, two of them closed
· Specially-styled instrument cluster
· Unique plate celebrating the 60-year anniversary on F1 gearbox plate
· Leather upholstered and equipped boot

Further contents
· CCM braking system with black calipers
· Bose Media System
· Rear Parking Camera
· TV Tuner
· Cruise Control

Related:
Spy Photos: Still More on the Ferrari F430 Challenge Stradale [internal]

Seriously, if you were Giorgietto Giugiaro, wouldn't you drive your one-off Ferrari concept car across the Alps to Switzerland? And once you got there, wouldn't you just slam it into a parking garage, in sight of all the plebes' Ford Focus C-Maxes and Renault Twingos? The Winding Roadies caught Giugiaro's Ferrari GG50, which was a gift to himself on occasion of his family firm's 50th anniversary. It even has road mud. We'd imagine him saying something like, "The car, she is made to be driven, not kept like in a root cellar next to the dried cod, like grandmother." Maybe not exactly like that. – Mike Spinelli

Geneva Motor Show: One-Of-A-Kind Ferrari Casually Parked In Swiss Garage [Winding Road]

Related:
Ferrari to Show Giugiaro-Designed Concept in Tokyo [internal]

Let's say this crazy Dr. Brown setup is a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti fitted with the Maranello boys' new part-time 4x4 system. Were that the case — and it probably is — it would be an early test mule for the system, which is destined for an updated Scag. Winding Road's Reilly Brennan explains what all that science junk is for. Who knew you tested wheel slip with a stethoscope? – Mike Spinelli

Spied: 4 4 Ferrari 612! No Kidding, Folks [Winding Road]

Related:
Ferrari Developing Part-Time 4WD System [internal]

After we'd finished ogling the 599 in the Ferrari North America tent on Friday, we stepped outside for a dose of nicotine (it's the pause that refreshes, after all), and stumbled right into Peter Kalikow's Pininfarina-massaged 612 Scaglietti, dubbed the 612 Kappa. We shot the shit with some Ferraristi and gleaned that with the GTC exhaust, the ram-air effect caused by the functional hood scoop and the downforce provided by the massive ducts behind the front wheels, the revised Scag should be able to top 200mph. While it's been overshadowed by the radically altered Enzo-based James Glickenhaus P4/5, the Kalikow car betters the standard 612 in practically every way. This is the 2+2 Ferrari should've built.

Related:
Another Billionaire's Ferrari: Peter Kalikow's Scaglietti; More from Pebble Beach [Internal]

In honor of it being big in Japan for three decades, Ferrari and Maserati importer Cornes and Co. is offering 20 anniversary-edition Ferrari 612 Scaglietti models to well-connected Nipponites. The special Scags, which will cost nearly $300,000, come with the optional handling package, a special "Blu Cornes" lacquer finish, indicative badging, carbon-fiber gas cap, and two-tone leather interior. Anyone care to figure out how many Yen that is? We tuned out at "gas cap." [UPDATE: April fool, or something! The "dumbass" switch got flipped at some juncture, and we inadvertently substituted "Maserati" for "Ferrari" in this post. We apologize for the stupidity, but it sure did make for lots of confused commentary — on display for all to enjoy. As for us, we're checking into some sort of institute, posthaste.]

Related:
Let the Maserati Owners Have Some: The MC12 Corsa [internal]

The kidlets over in Maranello, after lending their badge to all manner of questionable tchotchkes (surfboards, cologne, etc.) have actually lent their blessings to the three high-profile coachbuilt cars to debut in the next few months, notable because it's a reversal of a 30-year policy. Peter Kalikow's Scag-based car, along with Yoshiyuki Hayashi's Zagato-bodied, 575-derived machine will both debut at Villa d'Este concours d'elegance in Como, while the much-debated James Glickenhaus P4 redux built by Pininfarina will bow at Pebble Beach.

Ferrari decides to allow logo on custom cars built for collectors [AutoWeek]

Related:
Another Billionaire Gets His Bespoke Ferrari On: Peter Kalikow's Scaglietti [Internal]

James Glickenhaus, the Ferrari collector who's commissioning Pininfarina to build him a $3 million bespoke update of the Ferrari P4 over an Enzo chassis, the 612 P4/5, says AutoWeek's sea-mammalian rendering (above) completely missed the mark. He sent us an e-mail this morning to that effect.

The AutoWeek Computer Photo is NOT what this car looks like. It is quite different. They have NOT seen the styling model and their "photo" is a complete guess that is far off.

Related:
AutoWeek Reveals New P4/5 Prototype [internal]

AutoWeek put up its feature piece and digital illustrations of the Pininfarina-designed one-off commissioned by a Ferrari collector, the 612 P4/5. Granted, it's only a mock-up of what the custom job will look like when it's unveiled in Pebble Beach later this year. Still, the original P4 was arguably the most sultry track Ferrari ever built, while this ungainly creature looks like someone grafted the front section of Orca on to the rear section of a 1987 Testarossa. If this is what $3 million buys these days, we'll stick with ex—cop cars.

New exotic Ferrari [AutoWeek]

Related:
New Ferrari P4 Story is AutoWeek Exclusive [internal]