Today's cars are adorned with badges announcing engine size or type, trim level, line, brand/sub-brand and other information. As a result, more owners are having these designations removed from their vehicle.
This practice of anonymity is more common in Europe. It is often done for reasons of humility. For instance, a wealthy executive has just spent €156,000 on an extravagant V12 Mercedes S600. He might not want to flaunt the premium he paid to get a top engine in his vehicle. Therefore he might wish to have his badge removed as to deceive some that he only bought the "entry-level" S Class for €80,000.
While some in the US debadge their car for the same reason above, many like to deceive people for the opposite reason. They want others to think they paid more for a higher variant. By not having any designations on their vehicle, the person viewing their car doesn't know that it is actually the "cheap" model they are seeing.
Most offensive though is the addition of false badges. Some owners will add to their car letters and numerals that denote a higher specification. Common additions include M, AMG, V8, V12, Turbo, Supercharged or even changing the model number around to fool people.
Also common is the desire to just have a cleaner look. To some, having badges can obstruct the lines of the car or be overly fussy.
In Europe, many automakers offer a no charge badge or model designation delete option. Very few manufacturers bring this option over to America. This highlights the difference in popularity between the two consumer populations.
Despite their best efforts, any respectable car enthusiast can tell if there is a false identification. Exterior clues such as exhaust tips, rims, aprons, grilles and other designators are easy giveaways. Enthusiasts can also identify the distinction between a package and a completely different variant. It can even be extremely satisfying to know you see right through their motives.
This past Wednesday Ferrari released their 599 successor, the F12 Berlinetta. The front engined V12 will be holding the flagship spot in Ferrari's lineup until their next halo car arrives.
The engine is an upgraded version of the 6.3 liter engine found in the FF. With 110 more horsepower, and over 300 pounds lighter then the 599 GTB, the F12 is a technical masterpiece. Like the 458 Italia, the F12 generates an extremely high hp/liter figure for a naturally aspirated engine. While the engine is high strung making its peak 730 hp at a screaming 8000rpm, it won't be a slouch in the lower rev range because it is a big V12.
On the styling front, the rear definitely has ties to the FF while the front end is more of a combination of the FF and 458. In the recent past, Ferarri models have looked very different from one another, but their latest three models being so similar indicate Ferrari is moving to a "Corporate Profile" front end, just like Audi. The window line more closely resembles the older 575 Maranello than the 599 GTB. On the other hand, the interior is a mesh of 458 and FF. As expected, Ferrari added their stalkless steering wheel to the car.
The Berlinetta also gets the latest suite of Ferrari performance technology. The excellent 7 speed dual-clutch transmission makes its way over to this model. Unfortunately, this also marks the end of the a true manual option for Ferrari's cars.
The engineers in Maranello seem to have once again worked their magic. No matter what the public thinks of the styling, this car is sure to be yet another success for Ferrari. Ferrari seems to be moving this car upmarket. Unlike the 612 Scaglietti and the 599 GTB Fiorano which were priced similarly, the F12 should be closer to $400K! Don't be surprised to see a long waiting list or units selling for over MSRP as all of the hot new Ferraris do after launch.
