The Ferrari 12Cilindri Is A V12-Powered Treat ‘For The Few’

We may be amid the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, but that’s not stopping performance luxury automakers from announcing and introducing roaring new V12 engines. First, Aston Martin was letting the world know that their iconic V12 would not be ‘Vanquished’ by current trends and is getting a revamp before it debuts in a new flagship vehicle for the automaker.

Now, Italian automotive icon Ferrari is launching a new two-seater with a naturally-aspirated V12 – The Ferrari 12Cilindri.  

Power

Debuting at an exclusive event in Miami, Florida, on May 3, Ferrari’s press release touts the 12Cilindri as a performance car for driving enthusiasts and connoisseurs looking for “exhilarating driving pleasure,” making it a “car for the few.” Sporting a naturally-aspirated V12 engine that produces 830-cv at 9,500 rpm, Ferrari states that the 12Cilindri pays homage to previous icons to dawn the Prancing Horse logo, such as the automaker’s Gran Turismo cars from the 1950s and 1960s.

According to Ferrari, the F140HD engine powering the 12Cilindri utilizes innovative software to modify the maximum torque level it can output at each gear. According to the Italian automaker, it’s the “very first time” that a naturally aspirated engine has done this. The “smooth, progressive pick-up” the 12Cilindri gains from this innovation with each transmission ratio increase makes it the kind of “truly unique” driving experience enthusiasts have come to expect from the Prancing Horse. 

Aerodynamics

According to their press release, Ferrari aimed to make the 12Cilindri an “elegant” yet “sober” vehicle without compromising aerodynamic performance—the refined two-seater sports a 25-mm nolder on the tail and active aero. The nolder allows the 12Cilindri to maintain its aero efficiency while drag is minimal. Its flaps allow Low Drag (LD) and High Downforce (HD) configurations. 

The LD position sees the flaps flush with the vehicle’s body, so air runs over them, creating an uninterrupted flow. According to Ferrari, the car utilizes the LD for speeds up to 60 km, while downforce does not affect its performance. However, depending on the 12Cilindri’s lateral and longitudinal acceleration, at speeds up to 300 km, downforce is critical to the spoiler’s movement and positioning. That’s when the HD configuration kicks in to ensure the vehicle maintains its aerodynamic balance. 

Chassis 

According to Ferrari, the 12Cilindri sports an all-aluminum chassis with a wheelbase, which they reduced by 20 mm (compared to the automaker’s 812 Superfast), that’s all-new. Ferrari adjusted the geometry of components, like the A and C pillars and shock towers, to reduce the 12Cilindri’s weight while improving its torsional rigidity. 

According to Ferrari, another innovation with the 12Cilindri’s design, also a first for a production car from the automaker, was using a secondary alloy with “100 percent recycled material” to make the gearbox subframes shock towers. It’s an innovation that allows for 146 kg less CO2 generation for each Ferrari vehicle. 

Exterior

One could say that the 12Cilindri looks like the 812 Superfast, and the space age had a baby. Our inner child says it looks like the ultimate Hot Wheels collector toy of our dreams. However, someone decides to say it — Ferrari has outdone itself. The 12Cilindri is a gorgeous vehicle. 

Ferrari describes its design language as a “departure” from their “previous mid-front-engined V12s.” The 12Cilindri uses a more “sophisticated” design language that still achieves “stylistic unity.” The unity Ferrari speaks of comes through in the car’s clean line geometry. That geometry is the overarching theme of the car’s exterior, which the automaker’s press release describes as a “monolithic aesthetic.”   

Interior  

The 12Cilindri’s interior has three distinct levels: the upper dash, the central area, and the footwells and seats. According to the automaker’s press release, these three design tiers highlight the vehicle’s stylish dual-cockpit effect. Elegant or sporty color and material combinations underscore this aesthetic while adding flourishes to the car’s seats and other features. 

Ferrari has previously used dual-cockpit architecture in their Purosangue, Roma, and Roma Spider models. The automaker describes this “almost-symmetrical” design structure as offering “astonishing” comfort while enhancing the driver’s engagement with the car. Another way to say that is Ferrari loves their geometry and what it can add to the experience of their vehicles.