In fact ‘expertly judged’ might just sum up
the 650S over the 12C. The now-standard carbon-ceramics are so much more linear
in their response (although for me the pedal travel is still too long), the
gearbox is faster, keener to instantly carry out requests, and the body control
has less of that odd float that could afflict the 12C all of a sudden.
GT3
gets 350mm carbon ceramic discs all round - this Porsche has unbelievable
stopping power
Niggles remain and they’re exposed by the
absolute precision of the GT3. The engine, while almost shockingly powerful,
does suffer from lag in slower corners and the throttle response just isn’t as
sharp as with a great normally aspirated engine. The innovative ProActive
Chassis Control, with its adjustable dampers and hydraulic roll stiffness
control, is at times simply awe-inspiring and then suddenly it will do
something unexpected, like float over a bump on the way into a corner and upset
the balance… Somehow it doesn’t feel wholly intuitive. And while the balance is
much more enjoyable than the 12C’s it’s still a car you tend to admire and be
amazed by rather than one you feel you’re fully connected with and dictating
to.
The
Speciale features a new design of caliper, plus discs with a higher silicone
content and pads that are 20% smaller than a 458’s. Ferrari claims that brake
temperatures on track are reduced by 100degC, increasing pad life four-fold
Bright red key, bright car with stripes and
carbon fibre bits everywhere, bare metal floors and a dash that might give you
a headache if you look at it for too long… The Speciale really is the
anti-McLaren. There’s a school of thought that says these two are so different
that they’re not really rivals at all. However, of the 12C owners I’ve met,
many have a Ferrari of some description, too. Indeed Kavi, our GT3-owning
friend, has a freshly delivered Speciale at home and a 12C tucked up next to
it… Opposites they might be but they are gunning for the same audience, just by
different means.
The
650S is equipped carbon-ceramic brakes standard, stiffening the springs 22
percent in front and 37 in back, and mounting forged 19-inch-front and
20-inch-rear wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Corsa rubber
I think I’ll avoid the colourful striptease
where I gradually unpeel the Speciale’s dynamics, hinting along the way at how
well or badly it compares to its rivals. It. Is. Unbelievable. Where the 650S
has just a little ‘squish’ in every control, the Speciale is so instantaneous
it seems to react even before you’ve issued a command. The response from
engine, brakes, steering and the grip and balance is nothing short of
astonishing. Clichéd or not, the Speciale is a vivid, captivating, all-consuming
assault on the senses… Not only that, there’s a deep-seated quality to
everything it does, and despite all the technology thrown at it – from the
magnetic dampers to the e-diff, the crazily complex stability and traction
control systems, and the dual-clutch gearbox – the driver is absolutely at the
core of every move it makes. Each element has been created and tuned to allow
you to express yourself as precisely as you wish and that amazing focus has
produced a breath-taking machine.
