Can the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta match the GT credentials of the Aston Martin Vanquish and outperform the wild Lamborghni Aventador? We head to Italy to find out...
It should make for a fascinating battle. The Ferrari F12 is one of the punchiest cars to wear the Prancing Horse badge, its 6.3-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine producing 730bhp and 509lb ft, enough to hustle the 1630kg past 211mph via a 3.1sec 0-62 time. With a seven-speed DCT gearbox, rear-wheel drive and a host of electronic trickery - E-Diff, F1-Trac - it weighs in at £239,736.
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The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 trumps the F12 for drama, and they trade blows closely on paper. Its mid-mounted 6.5-litre V12 drives all four wheels with 690bhp and 509lb ft, allowing the F12 a small victory, but its sleeker shape and 1575kg kerbweight result in a swifter 2.8sec 0-62 time and 217mph top speed. It costs more, at £247,000.
The relative bargain of the group is the £189,995 Aston Martin Vanquish. It has the same front-engine, rear-drive layout as the Ferrari. But with a less potent 565bhp 5.9-litre V12 up front and with a heftier 1739kg to shift, it's more sluggish with a 4.1sec 0-62 time and 183mph top speed. It's a more subtle, friendly approach to the supercar recipe, though, which could win it favours against the more brutal Italians.
Henry Catchpole compares the three supercars in the video above. You can read the full test - and see the full selection of pictures - in the latest issue of evo, on sale now.
