Active ducts in the lower grille open to cool the brakes during heavy cornering on the track. At high speeds, they remain closed to lower drag and enable that ­astounding top-speed figure.

The F12's long hood and short deck proportions conceal a neat engineering sleight of hand: The car has 54 percent of its weight positioned over the rear wheels, a major benefit when you've got 730 horsepower to put to the pavement.

Tinted-out rear quarter-windows are unusual and add a sinister element to the side profile, especially when the car is painted a darker color.

In lieu of a large rear spoiler, five outlets under the car channel the air away to reduce drag, sticking the car to the ground.

The F12's "manettino" switch (the red dial on the right of the wheel) has no "comfort" setting to soften handling, but it does have ­several variations on "Go like hell."

The "aero bridge" – that large, scooped-out passage along the side – allows the F12 to generate 76 percent more downforce than its sibling.

Twelve different kinds of alloy are used in the aluminum space-frame chassis to boost rigidity and save weight.

Beneath that long hood lies a monster: a 730-horsepower V-12 that gives the F12 a 211-mph top speed.