The Automobiliac Proposes Vol. # 5: Ferrari FF

The newest addition to Ferrari's illustrious stable was announced today, along with the requisite press images. First, the good stuff!  They totally NAILED the proportions! The car has a low, sleek profile that befits a Ferrari Grand Tourer, and the surfacing is more restrained compared to the California, which is its closest styling relative.  I really like the shooting brake format (some have compared it to the famous Le Mans "Breadvan" but I think it looks more like a Z4 coupe.)  I also like that Ferrari is going with a 4WD concept for the first time. However, when you get the front of the car, you realize we're dealing with a "butterface" here (Does FF stand for Fugly Face?).  The traditional "egg crate" grill is overscaled, and the central air intake is way too large, recalling Peugeot concept cars of the last 10 years. There is no subtlety or grace to the grill and it comes off like a frog with a stupid grin and braces. The sculpting on the hood is nice, and although the designers referenced the headlight clusters of the 458 Italia, they only went halfway. The lights on the Italia are for more successful.

In my proposal, I did away with the toothy egg crate grill (not every Ferrari has to have one--see also F40) and changed the opening to be smaller and more aggressive, with a slight lip around the opening.  I also subtly modified the headlights, adding "tear ducts" more akin to the 458, and I think this tweak alone makes an enormous difference in balancing the composition.  I still think many other grill opening shapes could be successful, but I definitely like mine more than what they did.  You be the judge!