Some of you may remember the days when you were either a Porsche man or a Ferrari man. I have long been on the side of Porsche. I felt more drawn to the understated form-follows-function axiom of German design as opposed to the dionysian sensuality of the Italian, Ferrari. Both cars have a way of parading their riches down the street but Ferrari always felt like they were pushing their money down peoples throats. Ferrari's bling was just too uncouth for me. Even so, my romance with Porsche has waned also. For many years now, I have thought that the once lean, teutonic Porsche's have looked like Miata's on steroids with larger medical bills. I have longed dreamed of the day when a European automotive manufacturer would once again make an elegant, understated, teutonic sportscar. I am suprised (more like shocked and awed) to say the the new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is that car. Yes, this Ferrari is still sex on wheels but my gosh, the lines and curves are much more restrained and purposeful. If the Berlinetta were a painting, it would be a Caravaggio that has finally made some wiggle room for Mondrian. Unfortunately, its beauty is still too much for this American puritan. The difference is I can no longer say, what's wrong with Ferrari? I must ask myself, what's wrong with me?

My god, simply a work of art. But unlike the Alfa 8C finally as good to drive as it looks.

Bella Bella macchina!

   The best 2 design aspects that I really love about this car are firstly those front side air intakes that open/close and those aerodynamic exhausts ports that sit atop and midway just after the front guards. Simply beautiful to look at and study. Maybe a mix-and-match of a couple of Ferrari cars bacame of it's looks but it works dramatically.