Ferrari 12Cilindri has a serpentine shape and a powerful V-12 of 819 hp

On May 3, 2024By Vaseline

Ferrari has unveiled a new two-seater with a V-12 engine, the 12Cilindri.
The car will be released later this year and the price is expected to be around $400,000.
An open-air 12Cilindri Spider will follow at the end of 2024.

Ferrari’s new front-engine flagship, due this summer, is perfectly proportioned and refreshingly different, yet 100 percent true to the brand and radiates Italianita through every pore of the lavishly decorated interior. The striking two-seater was designed in-house by maestro Flavio Manzoni and his team, and it is such a clear tribute to the legendary 365GTB/4 that it should be badged as Daytona – which won’t happen, as Ferrari already has that coveted car has wasted. name on the limited-edition mid-engined Daytona SP3.

But the essential element of the new car is the engine. The name of the car, “12Cilindri”, says it all. Perhaps the last of its kind, the custom naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 is an evolution of the landmark F140HD unit fitted to the Icona series, the outgoing 812GTS and the Purosangue. The compact dry-sump V-12 redlines at 9,500 rpm, delivering 819 horsepower at 9,250 rpm and 500 pound-feet of peak torque at 7,250 rpm.

Perhaps even more impressive than these numbers is the Goosebumps soundtrack we sampled during the pre-launch in Maranello, Ferrari’s home base and still the brand’s sole production facility.

“A state-of-the-art muscle car”

The beautifully finished engine is covered in traditional red crinkle paint and is fed by a huge carbon fiber intake device. It has been tuned for even faster responses and improved driving characteristics. Features include variable-geometry intake runners, reduced-friction, low-mass valves and rotating assemblies, and a new software strategy called Aspirated Torque Shaping (ATS), which electronically massages the turning action in third and fourth gears for increased ground clearance. end of push for the middle area. As a result, 80 percent of the maximum grunt is available from a modest 2500 rpm.

To distribute power more evenly over the wide rev range, the 812 Competizione’s seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox has been replaced by a faster-shifting eight-speed gearbox with a closer ratio. With a claimed minimum dry weight of 3,439 pounds for the coupe model, the neo-Daytona would be 161 pounds heavier than its predecessor, but with a quoted 2.9 seconds to 60 mph, it’s still a tenth of a second quicker. . The 0 to 200 km/h acceleration time is ‘less than 7.9 seconds’.

“We started working on this car four years ago when everyone was talking about electrification and nothing else,” says chief marketing and commercial director Enrico Galliera. Although Ferrari will launch a fully electrified vehicle next year, he explained, “the 12Cilindri is exactly the opposite: it doesn’t even have a hybrid system. Instead, the product planners’ main inspiration was the rich heritage, outstanding performance, and great presence of the Ferrari GTs of the 60s and 70s, which defined the DNA of our brand. Think of the 12Cilindri as a state-of-the-art muscle car with style and manners.”

To further improve handling, the R&D department has shortened the wheelbase by 0.8 inches compared to the 812 Superfast. Torsional stiffness has been increased by 15 percent and there is rear-wheel steering as standard to improve both maneuverability and stability. Magnetorheological dampers are another well-known feature, as is the 48:52 front-to-rear weight distribution.

Technology on board

While there are no fancy chassis-related innovations like the Purosangue’s active Multimatic dampers, or switchable anti-roll bars, Ferrari has upgraded the network of electronic aids that help control the car to the limit and improve handling. For example, the eighth version of Side Slip Control virtually closes the gap between grip estimation, recognition and action. The upgraded brake-by-wire ABS Evo system features 15.7-inch front and 14.2-inch rear carbon-ceramic rotors, as well as a braking distance of 100 feet from 60 mph. The Virtual Short Wheelbase 3.0 system works even faster, for improved agility during turn-in and stability at high speeds. Wheel size goes up one inch to 21, with custom Michelin Pilot Sport S5 or Goodyear F1 Eagle SuperSport summer tires, size 275/35ZR-21 at the front and 315/35ZR-21 at the rear. The fuel tank has an unchanged capacity of 24.3 liters, but the trunk volume has dropped from 11 cubic feet to 10.

The new active aero setup is claimed to combine minimal drag with maximum downforce depending on the driving situation. The main attraction is the rear air management system. The top spoiler, which consists of a fixed center section and a pair of simultaneously acting dynamic side wings, is supported by a large full-width diffuser. A network of ducts and louvers, some of which open and close selectively, direct cooling air to the brakes, radiators, oil coolers and engine compartment. Assisted by two sets of complex vortex generators integrated into the underbody and a pair of steering rack breathers, the front spoiler and rear air deflectors create full ground effect above 100 mph, peaking at 110 pounds of rear downforce at 155 mph. . . Press and at a speed of 300 km/h the black box locks all aero variables in low drag mode, allowing the 12Cilindri to charge on to its top speed of “over 340 km/h”.

No fake retro

The design is sleek, modern and emphatically contemporary, consciously avoiding false retro accents. Some of the most striking styling themes include the contrasting ‘delta screen’ rear window, the sporty wraparound glass with visor effect and the black panel connecting the headlights for that anecdotal Daytona wow effect. Other highlights: a huge, front-hinged, one-piece hood; a razor-shaped rear end with a pair of unexpectedly rectangular taillights; low-resistance wheels, milled from four solid blocks of aluminum; and double-edged, full-length lateral character lines that extend all the way from the front indicators to the lushly flared rear wings.

“The 12Cilindri is a compelling mix of classic GT elements and the new cool,” says a proud Flavio Manzoni. “The round taillights have disappeared, as have the upright headlights and the familiar grille. Instead, we introduced new codes, such as two sets of contrasting horizontal leaf elements – one at the front, softly rounded and flush fitting, the counterpart at the back. concave and sharp-edged. Together they emphasize the car’s unmistakable stance, which is seamless and elegant, or bold and muscular, depending on the viewing angle.”

The 812 replacement features the cocoon-effect double cockpit layout first seen in the Roma and Purosangue. The headroom and legroom have remained unchanged and are therefore not worth writing home about. Just about the only remaining analog parts found in the totally revised high-tech multi-screen cockpit are the manettino driving mode switch attached to the handlebars and the H pattern cancellation gear lever borrowed from the SF90. Even the start-stop button is now of the sensitive digital type. Driver and passenger get their own displays connected by a large central 10.3-inch touchscreen that is accessible to both occupants.

Ferrari

The berlinetta coupe features a large tinted glass roof, which adds a touch of airiness to the cabin. Customers longing for a breeze of real ozone should check out the spin, which looks considerably less busy and snappy than the previous effort. Stored under a sturdy panel, the canvas top opens or closes in 14 seconds.

In Europe, the coupe retails for around $417,000, excluding options. The spider adds a claimed mass of 132 pounds and a 10 percent premium to the count, bringing the price to approximately $465,000. A valuable addition to the vanity game is the Atelier treatment, which offers a wider choice fuoriserie trim and paint options than you can get with the standard configurator. Those with even more extravagant tastes and bank accounts to match can still consult the Tailor Made department to discuss a truly personal one.

The 12Cilindri will be released later this year and the open-air model should appear in dealers in the fourth quarter.

Although I was born the only son of an ornithologist and a postal worker, it was clear from the start that bird watching and stamp collecting were not my thing. If I had known that God wanted me to grow to 6 feet tall, I would also have ruled out anything related to cars, which is responsible for a few hernias, a torn ACL, and that stupid stooped position behind the send. While he worked as a keeper at Aberdeen Zoo, smuggled cheap cigarettes from Yugoslavia into Germany and an embarrassing interlude with an amateur drama group also failed to bring satisfaction, driving and writing about cars became a much better option. And it still is today, many years later, as I approach my 70th birthday, I love every aspect of my job, except long-haul travel on crappy airlines, and I hope it shows.