THE FIRST THING that strikes me about the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is how different it looks up close. I've been half-expecting a bulbous, over-weight two-plus-two coupe. But this is a goddess with a slender figure accentuated by scalloped sides and an all-aluminium body stretched taut over a long wheelbase.
Named after the marque's designer, Sergio Scaglietti, the 612 is Ferrari's latest interpretation of the devastatingly beautiful 375MM, which was designed as a one-off for Ingrid Bergman in 1954. The silhouette of the 612 is a classic. Quadruple exhaust pipes silently smoke in the drizzle, and the engine ticks over with a smooth, low rumble. Ferrari's signature rear lights flank the boot-lid with its subtle, aerodynamic spoiler.
Flicking the bullet-shaped door handle and climbing into the cockpit, I find that every surface is covered in the softest leather. The aroma and decor are overwhelmingly expensive. Passengers can enjoy cutting-edge Bluetooth telecoms, but Ferrari hasn't departed from its quirky ergonomics, with the glovebox release button behind the handbrake. Compared with the 456, its 10-year-old predecessor, the 612 is much more of a four-seater. The roofline is so generous in the rear that I don't have to curl up to be comfortable. The extended wheelbase helps. There's ample shoulder room, despite the bulging side supports - for high speed cornering - and the Bose speakers offer surround sound. The only complaint would be that cats' eyes and potholes jar rear occupants' shoulders.
The brochure claims the 612 has 50 litres more luggage space than the 456, but the boot is still woefully small. Tailor-made baggage is available, but you'll most likely have to send your Louis Vuittons ahead. Despite the parking sensors, reversing is still an insurable event. Best to just pull up next to your Learjet on the runway and allow a valet to do the dirty work.
As with all modern Ferraris, the tachometer remains the centre of focus on the dash, sweeping around without inertia as I prod the drilled aluminium accelerator. The dashboard features a brand-new adaptive LCD panel that displays all the vital statistics in clear graphics, the tyre pressure monitoring system updating the state of the Pirelli P-Zero Rossos in real time.
All this information is called up via buttons on the steering wheel that also control the level of computer intervention as you learn the ropes. Sport mode gives tauter suspension, quicker gear changes and steps up the throttle response, sharpening the driver's input. The stability and traction control (CST) can be completely turned off with the CST button, and you're left entirely to your own devices - not recommended in the absence of gravel traps and run-off areas.