- Various modifications have been made to the firm’s flagship 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12 to increase power.
- Overhauled exterior and interior designs give the 12Cilindri a more refined design than its predecessor.
- The Italian marque is yet to announce pricing details for the Coupe and Spider models in the U.S.
Ferrari’s latest and greatest front-engined grand tourer has arrived, aptly named after its heart: the naturally-aspirated V12 engine. Dubbed the 12Cilindri (Italian for “12 cylinders”), it replaces the 812 Superfast in the brand’s lineup. Both Coupe and Spider versions have been unveiled at an exclusive event held in Miami Beach.
As you could have probably guessed from its name, the 12Cilindri is powered by the Italian marque’s flagship 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12. The capacity of this engine hasn’t been increased for the new model but modifications have been made to it, allowing it to rev to 9,500 rpm and churn out 819 hp and 500 lb-ft (678 Nm) of torque.
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A key upgrade made to the V12 is the adoption of titanium con rods that reduce rotating mass by 40% compared to steel con rods. Ferrari is also using a new aluminum alloy for the pistons and has installed a rebalanced and lightweight crankshaft. Formula 1-derived steel valvetrain sliding finger followers have also been fitted with a Diamond-Like-Carbon coating, reducing the coefficient of friction and improving the engine’s mechanical efficiency.
The changes don’t stop there. The manifold and plenum are more compact, the torque curve has been optimized at all engine speeds, and new software has been installed to adjust the maximum torque available depending on the gear selected. Coupled to the 6.5-liter unit is an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Ferrari says the 12Cilindri Coupe can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.9 seconds, 200 km/h (124 mph) in 7.9 seconds, and top out at 340 km/h (211 mph). The Spider is slightly slower, requiring 2.95 seconds to hit 100 km/h and 8.2 seconds to reach 200 km/h. The Coupe weighs 1,560 kg (3,439 lbs) dry while the Spider is 1,620 kg (3,571 lbs) dry.
Ferrari 12Cilindri
The 12Cilindri looks quite different from other current Ferrari models. From the front, it reminds us of the iconic 365 GTB/4 Daytona with sharp headlights, DRLs, and a gloss black element between the lights. Ferrari says the new car has a more “sophisticated” design language than the 812Superfast with a focus on clean lines and muscular proportions. There’s plenty of aero trickery going on, too.
For example, there’s active aero elements at the rear that operate between 60 km/h (37 mph) and 300 km/h (186 mph) to increase downforce. Ferrari has also designed the underbody to maximize efficient vertical load generation and installed louvers behind the front wheels to reduce overpressure inside the engine bay. Three pairs of vortex generators are also found beneath the front end, just like in the 812 Competizione.
Like other Ferrari models, the 12Cilindri’s interior is dominated by large screens. Found in the center of the dashboard is a 10.25-inch infotainment display while behind the steering wheel is a massive 15.6-inch driver display. An 8.8-inch display has also been installed for the passenger to enjoy. Ferrari has also retained the same controversial capacitive steering wheel buttons as the 296 but these buttons now feature indentations. Buyers who’d rather listen to music than enjoy the V12 symphony can option their car with a 15-speaker Burmester audio system.
Brake-by-wire is fitted as standard to the 12Cilindri. Ferrari has used a similar system on the SF90 Stradale and 296. Slide Slip Control 8.0 (SSC 8.0) is also featured, the latest iteration of the complex software stack that allows the driver to tweak how much slip angle they would like through a corner. Ferrari says this system has been optimized and can now estimate tire-road grip when steering, allowing it to quickly learn real-time grip levels.
A four-wheel independent steering system has also been installed, like that of the 812 Competizione. Ferrari will sell the new car with Michelin Pilot Sport S5 or Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tires, both of which have been developed specifically for it and measure 275/35 ZR21 front and 315/35 ZR21 at the rear. The 12Cilindri’s wheelbase is also 20 mm shorter than the 812’s and the car has a 48.4% front and 51.6% weight distribution.
While prices haven’t been announced for the U.S., we know the 12Cilindri Coupe will start at €395,000 (~$424,000) in Italy while the Spider has been priced from €435,000 (~$467,000).
Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider
