Matthew DeBord/Business Insider
Matthew DeBord/Business Insider
As a result, Ferraris, luxurious though they may be, are full of features that are drawn from the field of high-speed competition, especially Formula One.
A great example is the steering wheel. A Ferrari owner may be swaddled in exquisite leather, but his or her hands grip a steering wheel that's designed to encourage focus on what truly matters in a Ferrari - driving!
Take the "manettino." Translated from Italian, it means "little switch" or "little lever," and that looks like what it is. But it reality, it enables a the driver to control driving modes without the hands being forced to stray too far from the wheel.
The famous Ferrari manettino, set to "Sport" mode, on the wheel of a Ferrari FF that I tested.
Matthew DeBord/Business Insider
The "little switch" can easily be toggled without taking a hand off the wheel.
Matthew DeBord/Business Insider
Matthew DeBord/Business Insider
An F1 steering wheel is much more complicated, but the theory is similar: hands stay on the wheel.
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"Comfort" mode makes the Ferrari FF a bit more compliant, for freeway cruising or less-demanding driving.
Matthew DeBord/Business Insider
Matthew DeBord/Business Insider
The Ferrari FF is an all-wheel-drive car, so there are two bad-weather options: "Wet" and "Snow."
Matthew DeBord/Business Insider
Be careful about toggling all the way to the right - that's the "ESC Off" mode, which deactivates the electronic stability or traction control, removing the computer's ability to keep you out of trouble!
Matthew DeBord/Business Insider
Matthew DeBord/Business Insider
The car warns you if you've taken the plunge.
Matthew DeBord/Business Insider
But enough of the inside! Here's what the FF looks like on the outside! It can handles bad weather just fine! Thank you, little switch!
Matthew DeBord/Business Insider