The Ferrari 12 Cilindri is a front-engine V-12 GT vehicle. Its distinctive clamshell hood, which squats over its engine like a mocking cofango, stands out in amongst vans and SUVs of early morning commutes.
And once on the road, its behavior becomes astoundingly fast – with its manettino switch set to Race mode and V-12 singing beautifully in its sweet spot, this vehicle becomes an invincibly fast one.
Engine
The 12Clinidri’s wedge-shaped flanks generate downforce through an aerodynamically efficient combination of fixed wings and movable flaps, including three pairs of vortex generators on its front floor that help with airflow energisation, while Pagani Huayra-style rear wing flaps rise from their flush position at 37mph and respond to acceleration, braking, cornering forces to produce 50kg extra downforce.
As the 12Cilindri takes off corners with enormous levels of grip and an exciting engine note, its engineers at Ferrari have modified its torque curve so as to reduce peaks from 2000-5000rpm and flatten out power delivery so drivers feel a constant crescendo of power.
Ferrari has also equipped it with spectacular acceleration, boasting an astounding 0-60 time of just 2.9 seconds and top speed close to 211 mph. A new version of their seven-speed dual clutch DCT transmission helps keep things feeling silky-smooth; shift times have been reduced by 30 per cent when compared with 812 Superfast models.
Design
The 12Cilindri (pronounced dodi-chi chee LINE-dree) is the first V12 Ferrari not to employ any form of electrification, making a bold statement about its aim to thrill drivers without compromise. Crafted entirely out of aluminium, its chassis boasts 15% greater rigidity compared to that of its 812 Superfast predecessor and delivers unparalleled handling on track.
The Ferrari’s clamshell bonnet is designed to reflect its tradition of understated elegance with no scoops or chins to detract from its smooth surface swooping continuously across it and housing vents to cool the engine bay, as well as seven openings to provide airflow into the cabin.
Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari’s head of exterior design, instead opted for an unconventional aero design approach for his front-engine GT: an overlaid band resembling wings that features DRLs that cut like blades – giving it a bold stallion-inspired appearance that stands out in any crowd. His grand tourer stands true to Ferrari tradition.
Technology
The 12Cilindri ditches the F1-derived features such as chins, spoilers and winglets in favor of an innovative combination of movable flaps at each rear quarter that only rise in certain situations – seven front openings plus vortex generators on its floorpan for vortex generation – plus vortex generators in its floorpan as well as an elaborate network of ducts and louvers – to complete its exterior appearance.
As for that oversized graphic rear window, its sci-fi vibes recall Stanley Kubrick spaceships or astronaut visors. Flavio Manzoni and the Ferrari Styling Centre designers aimed not to create something nostalgic but modernist purity with this bold change to Ferrari’s previous midfront engine V12s.
Once the revs come soaring in, however, you won’t waste much time dawdling – 40 per cent lighter rods and marginally skinnier pistons propel the 812 Superfast’s rev limiter up to an astonishing 9,500rpm redline, making for an irresistibly thrilling driving experience that can tear through two-lane roads with the sure-footedness of classic GTs like the 365 GTB/4 Daytona or mid-engine 296 GTBs.
Performance
Though impressive in its appearance and size, the 12Cilindri is actually an extremely agile machine due to being two-seater and having been designed around a central digital screen rather than twin binnacles like previous Ferrari models.
The 15.6-inch display behind the wheel provides driving and vehicle dynamics information, while an 8.8-inch screen ahead of passenger provides entertainment or information to them. This elegant solution has been refined with input from Ferrari’s head of interior design Fabio Massari to add elegance and refinement to its cabin interior design.
De Simone estimates the car’s lap times at Fiorano to be about 1.5sec slower than a 296 GTB due to the tires; additionally, their cornering forces are reduced due to these constraints.