Spy Shots: First longer-wheelbase Ferrari 612 Scaglietti replacement spotted
by Jonathon Ramsey on Nov 1st 2009 at 12:14PM 
Ferrari 612 replacement test mule - Click above for high-res image gallery
Ferrari is reportedly currently working on the three V12 cars that will replace its comparable current offerings: the 612 Scaglietti, 599 GTB, and Enzo. The 612's follow-on will be the first one to arrive, likely in early 2012, and another mule has been spotted out and about. It still sports the hood scoop (bigger engine with more power, anyone?) and California-style stacked tailpipes, and it looks like it might have a longer wheelbase to boot.
Rumor has it that the new direct-injected V12 will be 40 percent less polluting and get 40 percent better gas mileage than the 5.7-liter V12 presently in use, even as it's expected to get a slight 7-horsepower bump to 540. The fuel economy increase would provide a very respectable 16 MPG – not bad for a car that ought to hustle to 60 MPH in about 4.5 seconds. Check out a host of new spy photos in our gallery below. In case you're curious, the sticker on the steering wheel boss which reads "Betrieb nur mit geschlossener Motorhaube" is an instruction telling drivers that the engine should only be started with the hood closed.
[Image: CarPix]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
esoreide2014 11:30AM (11/01/2009)
God! mules are fugly!
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jmc8387 12:24PM (11/01/2009)
I was under the impression that Ferrari was designing a completely new 612 replacement due to the slow sales of the current model. This new one looks 99% the same as the outgoing model....which is odd since the slow sales were due to it being a boring looking Ferrari.
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HotRodzNKustoms 12:49PM (11/01/2009)
Do you even know what a mule is? Mules generally use the body of the current car to test all the mechanical bits underneath. All body modifications are strictly in place to fit the mechanical bits in the old body. The body will be on the car much much later.
F50 12:26PM (11/01/2009)
Can't they make the 612 replacement look more like the 456? I liked the look of that car.
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Pdexter 12:27PM (11/01/2009)
It's a Porsche! ;)
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ToniCipriani 1:39PM (11/01/2009)
Yeah I wonder why that notice was in German...
Could be the rumoured 928 replacement.
RMN 1:57AM (11/02/2009)
I thought this too when i first saw this.
LoneWolf 12:32PM (11/01/2009)
The back end just looks boring and those tailpipes are ugly.
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HotRodzNKustoms 12:59PM (11/01/2009)
I think Autoblog needs to have a tutorial post about the difference between mules and prototypes.
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EJ25RUN 1:24PM (11/01/2009)
I agree. With the way these people think.....mules should have huge banners over them stating "I an the new Ferrari and i will look 100% like this!"
Knobs.
Shiftright 1:32PM (11/01/2009)
An even longer wheelbase? The 612 is already super long. Are they making a stretch limo for proms in Dubai?
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jonathan.chung1 4:28PM (11/01/2009)
Well put!
The 612 was (is) already a behemoth!
vespid82 1:34PM (11/01/2009)
Hopefully this time it WON'T look like Jar Jar Binks...
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-def/Ferrari-612-Scaglietti-Front-1024x768.jpg
http://www.donbcivil.net/pics/misc/jar_jar.jpg
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Tony 1:39PM (11/01/2009)
Stacked tail pipes FTL(...only if the production models are not a single piece design like the Lexus IS-F)
This whole design philosophy where the actual visible tailpipe is attached to the rear bumper instead of the actual exhaust port is getting ridiculous. Every new design has it from the Audi R8 to simple family cars like the Suzuki Kizashi. Played out(LED headlights are getting there too).
I hope the new Scaglietti doesn't look like a bigger Ferrari California...
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noworkday 2:27PM (11/01/2009)
rumor has? this is BS. motorauthority makes stuff up like AE.
Surely it will be more fuel efficient, but I dont buy those facts vt motorauthority.
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Flea 2:29PM (11/01/2009)
yeah, because power predictions have always been correct with new Ferraris.
The 458 beat the average hp bloggers were expecting by 50, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if the new 612 got seriously close to 600 hp.
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JZeke 2:49PM (11/01/2009)
A taller hood could be indicative of pedestrian-safety considerations as much as anything. A new engine might be bigger, sure - but will have to be packaged using a 2012-appropriate safety envelope.
Maybe it has underhood airbags in there (like the Jag coupes do now).
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r2rya 10:03PM (11/01/2009)
Is it me or is that a targa roof 458????
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TranceMaster 10:48PM (11/01/2009)
I thought this was going to be an article on how someone crashed their 612. kinda looks like it doesn't it?
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