2008 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti Exterior Review

• Overall
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability
• Specs

Exterior - What the Auto Press Says

The 612 Scaglietti's exterior, which is designed by Pininfarina, receives mixed reviews. Though most reviewers are quick to label it eye-catching and sleek, many concede that it still doesn't do justice for its predecessor, the Ferrari 456.

• "If there was an aspect to the 612 we couldn't get used to it was the car's exterior styling. This is a highly personal area, and as such we can't make any official declarations, but at the very least we feel the car is highly derivative. The front end has shades of Porsche, while the roofline suggests a lineage to the mid-'90s Nissan 300ZX. One editor summed up his opinion of the 612's styling this way: 'I know they're trying to create a full-fledged, four-person GT, but maybe Ferraris just aren't supposed to be this big.'" -- Edmunds

• "The Gran Turismo is already a very noble means of travel as standard equipment, however particularly optically it can still stand some flashier details." -- Auto Power Girl

• "To these eyes, at least, the 612's styling also continues to frustrate; the 'Scaglietti scallops' look especially contrived." -- Car and Driver

• "Certainly, it's a magnificent car, and one that drops jaws left, right and center, but there's just that certain something about it that doesn't sit too well. Taken part by part, curve by curve, crease by crease, each of these portions in itself looks to be formed with both passion and precision typical of Ferraris, but as a whole it doesn't satisfy." -- Automobile.com

• "Not that the design is likely to be univerally appreciated, Ferrari having departed from the restrained elegance that led to this car's predecessor, the 456 GT, once being described as the most beautiful car on the planet. The 612 has a far more severe frontal aspect, with swept-back headlamps and a very conspicuous radiator grille." -- Fifth Gear

• "Although striking, it lacks the feline elegance of the 456 it replaces. The front overhangs are minimal and the need to house the huge 5.7-litre V12 engine means that the cabin is set well back. If you're at all sensitive to what some people reckon of those who drive cars with long bonnets, the Scaglietti may not appeal." -- Yahoo Autos