Ferrari 12Cilindri, come va il motore più bello di tutti!

With a naturally aspirated, goosebump-inducing V-12, the Ferrari 12Cilindri does Ferrari's iconic powertrain justice.

Photo by: Ferrari

By: Giuliano Daniele

Translated by: Jeff Perez

Oct 2, 2024 at 9:59am ET

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The heir to the Ferrari 812 Superfast has the honor—and the responsibility—of bearing the name of Enzo Ferrari's most beloved engine: The V-12. In fact, this car is called the Ferrari 12Cilindri in part because it's the culmination of a four-year investment into a new V-12, one made to meet strict anti-pollution regulations. And there's no electrification, praise be; Maranello's V-12 remains naturally aspirated, which gives it a mythical sound.

Not only does the 12Cilindri pay homage to classic Ferraris with its engine, but the front end was inspired by a famous model from Ferrari's past: The Daytona, the unofficial name of the Ferrari 365 GTB/4. More broadly, the 12Cilindri's styling draws on the industrial design philosophy of the 1970s, with references to science fiction, spaceships, and airplanes.

Quick Specs	2025 Ferrari 12Cilindri
Engine	6.5-Liter V-12
Output	819 Horsepower / 500 Pound-Feet
0-60 MPH	2.9 Seconds
Top Speed	211 Miles Per Hour
Base Price	$465,000 (est.)

Starting with dimensions. The 12Cilindri is 186.2 inches long, 50.8 inches tall, 85.4 inches wide (with mirrors), and has a 106.3-inch wheelbase. Ferrari designers use the term "constructivist" to describe the 12Cilindri's styling: Size was emphasized and shapes were drawn—not by reflections of light or quick line jerks—but using very controlled geometries.

A characteristic element is the rear window, which is framed by a uniquely shaped portion of metal (painted the same color as the bodywork) that resembles the wings of an airplane, an element that—in combination with the black roof—further emphasizes the rearward positioning of the passenger compartment.

Ferrari

The other visual calling card is 12Cilindri's nose, which blends its lines at the end of a long, "flat" hood with headlight clusters meant to resemble eyes. On this new Ferrari, the grille hides all the important lighting elements underneath.

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This "clean" design approach also helped define the 12Cilindri's aerodynamics. The seven front air intakes are completely camouflaged, and the two movable side flaps at the tail are nearly invisible when closed. They automatically activate at 37 miles per hour with a maximum incline of 10 degrees, depending on the longitudinal and lateral accelerations of the car. The underbody, meanwhile, creates vertical load through vortex generators.

That aeronautical flavor is felt in the cabin with its airplane and spaceship cockpit-inspired design. Particularly in the anatomical shape of the seats, and how the glass roof hints at the unique rear design.

The dashboard also reprises the symmetrical nature of the Ferrari Roma and Ferrari Purosangue. The passenger has a dedicated 8.8-inch touchscreen at their disposal. The center touchscreen is 10.3 inches and controls things like seat functions, climate control, and the audio system—a 15-speaker setup developed in collaboration with Burmester. You also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The digital instrument cluster is 15.6 inches, meanwhile, is 15.6 inches.

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Ferrari has further improved the steering wheel with enhanced touch responses and haptic feedback surfaces. The idea was to minimize hand movements, especially for things like turn signals or headlights. And in keeping with tradition, there are endless possibilities for customizing the interior.

Giving the supercar its name, the 12-cylinder engine is thrilling from the moment you start it up. The 6.5-liter unit makes 819 horsepower at just under 9,250 rpm and has a maximum torque figure of 500 pound-feet at 7,250 rpm. A new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox replaces the old seven-speed of the Ferrari 812 Superfast, and the closer gearing allows the driver to keep the car near the limiter more often.

But arguably the most interesting element of this powertrain is the torque curve. Modeled to match the perception of acceleration by the human body, it gives the driver the most satisfaction—not necessarily the best numbers. This approach is fascinating because it stimulates our senses and accounts for how our bodies interact with the car.

Ferrari

And of course, there's the 12-cylinder's goosebump-inducing sound. In the intake ducts, Maranello engineers changed the position of the resonators. Those resonators generate pressure waves—especially in the mid-range frequencies—that have a clearer and fuller timbre inside the cabin. As for the exhaust, the ducts are the same length and each bank has six-in-one manifolds, with new geometries for the center sections that enhance the wail of the V-12.

That sums up Ferrari's commitment to evolving its most symbolic engine, allowing the 12-cylinder to meet Euro 6E emissions standards (via a ceramic catalytic converter and particulate filter) while remaining naturally aspirated, and thus, not having to use a heavy hybrid module.

In the connection between driver and car, there's another element that the 12Cilindri has improved over other Ferraris: The electric brake-by-wire control is more linear and easier to modulate than the Ferrari Purosangue. Then there is a new rear-wheel-steering system that makes the two sides of the rear axle asymmetrical to better support the tire in generating lateral grip. It also makes the tire inside the car more responsive during a change of direction, when the roles between the two tires are reversed.

Ferrari

The operations for the electronic controls for braking, traction, stability, the self-locking differential, and the gearbox have changed. They are managed through different positions of the "Manettino" dial on the steering wheel (as on other Ferraris with driving modes called Wet, Sport, Race, CT OFF). Unlike the Purosangue, the Ferrari 12Cilindri still has traditional anti-roll bars. And there's a new sensor in the steering column in which the ECUs can optimize tire grip using electronic controls.

The 12Cilindri comes with Michelin Pilot Sport S5 tires or Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tires. Goodyear is finally back on the menu with a customized version of its Eagle F1 SuperSport tires that took over a year and a half to develop with four validation sessions on the track.

All of this impressive technology results in one truly stunning supercar from Ferrari—one that does the iconic V-12 proud. The Ferrari 12Cilindri starts at around $465,000 in the US for the coupe and $470,000 for the convertible.