The Italians have a way to making everything, and I mean, everything sound so sexy. You don’t need to hit Google Translate to guess that 12Cilindri translates to 12 Cylinders. It’s direct to the point and I love it. It also tells you the focal point of this entire car: the 6.5-liter V12 engine mounted upfront.
At a time when everyone else is going electrified or turbocharged, Ferrari is having none of that nonsense. This one is the purest as they come—normally-aspirated, 830 horsepower, 678 Nm of torque, and 9,500 rpm. Lovely. It’s mated to an 8-speed dual clutch helping it producing some stellar figures: 0-100 kph in 2.9 seconds, 0-200 kph in 7.9 seconds, and a top speed of 340 kph.
Compared to previous Ferrari’s V12 grand tourers, the 12Cilindri is all about clean lines and a functional approach to form. It uses volumes and intersecting panels to make the entire car look like an interconnected whole.
The front and rear ends are probably the most controversial bits. No longer does it have the elongated form and a mouth-shaped grille. Instead, there’s a wrap-around band with the DRLs jutting out like blades. The same blade feature is found at the back and this one traverses the entire rear section. It’s dramatic and unique to the 12Cilindri. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, you can’t spec that black band for any other color.
The 12Cilindri relies heavily on aerodynamics solutions for cooling and downforce. Like its modern ground effects F1 cars, air is channeled underneath and out the back to push the car down as the speeds go up. Oh, and instead of adopting a rear spoiler, designers have used two active flaps that are integrated with the rear screen. This allows the 12Cilindri to switch between Low Drag or High Downforce. The bonus is that it makes the entire design look cleaner with a strong minimalist vibe.
Inside, the philosophy is typical Ferrari. The dual cockpit layout is on full display here and it’s almost symmetrical in form. The driving controls, as always, are all located on the steering wheel.
New to the 12Cilindri, however, is its Human Machine Interface that’s comprised of three displays—a 15.6-inch display for the driver, a 10.25-inch display in the middle, and an 8.8-inch display for the passenger. Functions like climate control and infotainment are all controlled from the center screen, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The V12 engine is related to the one found in the Ferrari 812 Competizione and for that, they happen to incorporate many track-to-road developments.
But as the purest expression of Maranello’s spirit, engineers made sure it makes one hell of a symphony. Like a fine-tuned musical instrument, every part of the exhaust system is meticulously tuned for a cleaner, richer sound.
Now, despite its 9,500-rpm redline, Ferrari tuned the 12Cilindri for civility. It sounds kind of ironic, I know, but it’s very important. With that, 80 percent of the torque comes in at just 2,500 rpm.
Moreover, sophisticated engine control software—Aspirated Torque Shaping (ATS)—helps sculpt the torque curve, especially in the critical third and fourth gear.
The 12Clindri also boasts tech all in the name of performance and handling. It starts with a shortened wheelbase compared to its predecessor and a near-perfect weight distribution with 48.4 percent at the front and 51.6 percent at the back.
From there, it brings the best bits of Ferrari’s modern range of high-performance sportscars.
For example, the brake-by-wire and 6D chassis sensor from the 296 are here as well as the four-wheel steering system in the Purosangue.
Also, specific attention was also made to make sure the chassis have improved rigidity at a lower weight.
All in all, these technologies prove their point and are very useful whether you’re on the road or track. Driven sensibly, the 12Cilindri is tame. You will forget that you have 830 horsepower at your disposal.
Switch drive modes and you will feel the 12Cilindri assess the level of tire-to-road grip as you start steering. It makes the entire experience almost telepathic. It certainly makes short work of the twisty, mountainous roads around North Luxembourg.
Be wary though. Don’t treat it with respect and it will bite back. Dip into the throttle and it’s guaranteed that you’ll have the tail slipping and sliding about. It can get hairy to the uninitiated, but get used to it, and it’s fine.
Even through a short handling course on the Goodyear Test Track, the 12Cilindri proves that it’s a capable car. It’s extremely obedient. And, despite its highly digitalized nature, it sticks to the fundamental fun-to-drive ingredients. The steering, body responses, braking—they all feel as they should and that’s a key part of what makes this car extremely good.
Few cars can exhilarate the way a Ferrari can, and among the line-up, its V12-powered grand tourers hold a special place. Intended for true connoisseurs, the 12Cilindri is the clearest vision yet of what Ferrari has stood for in the motoring world since 1947. It’s truly a car for the few.
