Car reviews

Catch mention of the name Ferrari and it's difficult not to conjour up images of voluptuous mid-engineed supercars but in fact the firm also has a long tradition of producing practical GT cars like the 612 Scaglietti. Successor to the popular 456, the much faster 612 hasn't had the easiest of rides since its introduction in 2004, mostly due to its rather awkward styling. The huge wheelbase that endows the cabin with so much passenger space make the car look ungainly from most angles, something the too-small standard wheels don't help. Get past the aesthetic issues though, and there's much to like. Rivals are few. Most, like the Aston DB9 and Bentley Continental GT are two plus twos rather than four seaters with rear space suitable for children only. The mighty Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG probably comes closest in terms of space, price and performance although it lacks the kudos of the Italian coupé.