Electrification and downsizing will get us all one day. But for Ferrari, that day is not today. Because today, the Prancing Horse is celebrating the internal combustion engine; celebrating the V12, and celebrating its legacy – one that kick started in 1947 when the 125 S rolled out of the factory gates in Maranello with the very first homegrown Ferrari engine, the Colombo V12. Welcome, everyone, to the Ferrari 12Cilindri, and remember to savour it.
Seventy-seven years might have passed since the 125 S’s debut, but the Ferrari 12Cilindri’s powertrain still follows the very same simple recipe – mid-mounted, 12 cylinders, and naturally-aspirated goodness. But of course, technology has moved on since then, and the artisans at Ferrari are now able to squeeze out a lot more power than before – in this instance, 830 hp and 678 Nm of torque, with the 6.5-litre V12 screaming all the way up to 9,500 rpm.
That’s a significant 30 hp higher than what was on its predecessor, the 812 Superfast, and a redline that goes 1,000 rpm higher. Ferrari says it’s achieved that with a whole lot of modifications in both hardware components and software – some of which we’ve already seen on the 812 Competizione, which unsurprisingly shares the same 830 hp figure (but a slightly higher torque rating).
There’s lightweighting, which includes the 40% lighter con rods made from titanium, a rebalanced crankshaft, an F1-inspired valvetrain, and even unique aluminium alloys for the pistons. Then, there’s reducing friction with the Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) coating on the valvetrain’s sliding finger followers, a reworked plenum on the intakes, and software optimisations including something called the Aspirated Torque Shaping (ATS) system that uses electronic controls to scult the torque curve, all to extract the most power in all driving conditions. Ferrari says 80% of the torque is already available from just 2,500 rpm, resulting in instantaneous throttle response and a “feeling of never-ending power all the way to the red line”.
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All of these, working in symphony with the new V12 engine and retuned eight-speed DCT gearbox, means the Ferrari 12Cilindri can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds and 0-200 km/h in under 7.9 seconds – 2.95 seconds and 8.2 seconds on the Spider respectively – before hitting a VMax of over 340 km/h.
On track, there’s also the dizzying array of control software to help the driver extract all that added performance, including the ABS Evo system that debuted on the 296 GTB, and the 6D sensor that feeds information to control the Virtual Short Wheelbase (PCV) 3.0, four-wheel independent steering, and Side Slip Control (SSC) 8.0 systems. The “near-ideal” 47.8:52.2 weight distribution, its relatively light weight at 1,560 kg dry (1,620 kg on the spider), and stiffer chassis certainly helps, too.
Oh, and yup, you read that right. There’ll be a spider variant right at launch, too, for those who want to truly enjoy the sonorous V12 engine. And honestly, why not? It’s only 60 kilograms heavier than the normal two-seater berlinetta, anyway, and the roof only takes 14 seconds to open or close.
Like the engine, Ferrari’s designe boss Flavio Manzoni says the design of the 12Cilindri also pays tribute to some of the brand’s most iconic berlinettas in history – the black panel between the headlights, for example, seems to have taken heavy inspiration from the 365 GTB/4 or “Daytona”. The long bonnet, muscular haunches, and clean lines, all also screams nostalgia, harking back to the good old times of sleek and classy Ferraris… unlike the weird “angry” phase they went through with the 812.
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That said, Ferrari mentions that they’ve also incorporated some more “futuristic” design elements from things that aren’t necessarily commonly seen on cars. Think Star Wars – no, really, the blacked out panel on the rear is literally referred to as the “delta wing”.
Embedded into the sides of the “delta wing” area are the split “active flaps” that deploy in tandem; split because Ferrari says that they wanted to increase the rear boot space, while also retaining the clean exterior sculpting that would’ve been destroyed by a fixed rear wing. Still, performance always comes first for Ferrari: the split spoilers are already enough to generate up to 50 kg of downforce at 250 km/h.
The designers at the Ferrari Styling Centre have also completely modernised the entire cabin, borrowing heavily from its more recent siblings like the Roma and Purosangue. Here, the dual-cockpit layout is punctuated by a new central 10.25-inch touchscreen display for infotainment purposes.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity comes as standard, and can be paired to an optional 1,600W 15-speaker Burmester sound system in case you ever get tired of the singing V12 – not too bad for a Grand Tourer.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri will begin deliveries in left-hand-drive markets in the fourth quarter of 2024, starting at a price of EUR395,000.
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