Ferrari F12 Berlinetta takes home 2014 Robb Report Car of the Year [w/video]
Tue, 25 Mar 2014After being driven by a team of journalists and 100 or so members of the private Robb Report Club, the grand tourer beat out a total of 13 contenders that included the Audi R8 V10 Plus, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Jaguar F-Type V8 S, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe, Maserati Quattroporte GTS and Dodge SRT Viper GTS.
This is the 21st year that Robb Report has selected a Car of the Year. Scroll down below for the official announcement and video, and feel free to read more about the F12 Berlinetta and some of its worthwhile competitors over at Robb Report.
ROBB REPORT SELECTS THE FERRARI F12 BERLINETTA AS ITS 2014 CAR OF THE YEAR
The Stunning Italian Grand Touring Coupe Registers Landslide Victory, Outpacing 13 Competitors.
MALIBU, CA (March 25, 2014) – In an "unprecedented landslide decision" by Robb Report editors and a panel of guest judges made up of members of the exclusive Robb Report Club, the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta has been selected as the luxury lifestyle authority's 2014 Car of the Year.
Now in its 21st year, the award goes to an automobile whose technical excellence, styling, and performance captivate Robb Report's judging panel. This year's Car of the Year competition involved 100 judges and was held at the beautiful Meadowood resort in Napa Valley.
The full results from the competition will be revealed in Robb Report's April issue, which is scheduled to hit print and digital newsstands on March 25. More comprehensive information is accessible at http://robbreport.com/paid-issue/car-year-2014-sweeping-success.
Robb Report will also offer extensive Car of the Year digital enhancements in its tablet edition and on its website, RobbReport.com. These include slideshows and exclusive video of the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, the Audi R8 V10 Plus, and the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster shot during test-drives in California's stunning Napa Valley.
In earning Robb Report's 2014 Car of the Year honor, the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta outdistanced a field of 13 other sports and luxury competitors chosen by Robb Report's automotive editors for their design, engineering, performance, and overall quality. Listed in order of finish, these models were the Audi R8 V10 Plus, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, BMW M6 Gran Coupe, Bentley Flying Spur, Porsche Cayman S, Porsche Panamera Turbo, Jaguar F-Type V8 S, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe, Mercedes-Benz S550, Maserati Quattroporte GTS, Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography, and Dodge SRT Viper GTS.
Selections resulted from extensive test-driving by a panel of experts that included Robb Report editor in chief Brett Anderson, automotive consultant Robert Ross, and correspondents Paul Dean and Paul Meyers. These journalists were joined by approximately 100 members of the private Robb Report Club, which includes top executives and Robb Report readers.
"Never before have our judges displayed such unanimity in choosing a Car of the Year winner," said Mr. Ross. "Most agreed that the F12 has it all: power, luxury, surgical response, and a shape that is seductive yet subtle for the brand. However, the exhaust, from one of the company's most potent V-12s, clearly and loudly identifies the F12 as a Ferrari."
Echoing those sentiments, Mr. Dean recalled how the judging panel "experienced the performance of Ferrari's quickest road car (excepting the new LaFerrari hybrid), which is powered by a 731 hp V-12 that enables a zero-to-60-mph time of under 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 211 mph. And they felt how smoothly the car handled, whether it was engaged in second-gear dawdling or high-performance brawling. Together, these elements advance the F12 to endless purpose and automotive perfection."
Robb Report is accessible to digital users via the iPad, Kindle Fire, and Nook Tablet. It is also available through Zinio's online newsstand, Magzter, and Google Play.
About Robb Report
Now in its 38th year, Robb Report is the international authority on the luxury lifestyle. The brand, in its digital and print forms, reports on exceptional products and services for affluent connoisseurs. Coverage includes automobiles, motorcycles, yachts, aircraft, art, dining, jewelry, watches, fashion, travel, homes, wines, spirits, and cigars. For more information, visit the Robb Report website at www.robbreport.com.
By Jeremy Korzeniewski
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