Ferrari has unveiled its latest V-12-engined two-seater, the 12Cilindri. This striking car pays homage to the iconic 365GTB/4, and it could very well be the last of its kind.
The 12Cilindri boasts a sinuous shape, designed in-house by maestro Flavio Manzoni and his team. It’s refreshingly different yet true to the Ferrari brand, oozing Italianità from every pore of its lavishly appointed interior.
The design is an obvious tribute to the legendary 365GTB/4 (commonly known as the Daytona), although it won’t carry that name due to Ferrari’s previous use of it for the limited-edition mid-engined Daytona SP3.
The essential element of the 12Cilindri is its engine. As the name suggests, it features a tweaked normally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12.
This V-12 engine is an evolution of the milestone F140HD unit found in the Icona series, the outgoing 812GTS, and the Purosangue.
Redlining at a thrilling 9500 rpm, the compact dry-sump V-12 delivers an impressive 819 horsepower at 9250 rpm and a maximum torque of 500 pound-feetat 7250 rpm.
But perhaps even more captivating than the numbers is the goose-pimple-inducing soundtrack that accompanies this powerhouse.
Covered in traditional red crinkle paint and fed by a massive carbon-fiber intake apparatus, the beautifully finished engine has been tuned for even quicker responses and improved drivability.
Features include trick variable-geometry intake ducts, reduced-friction low-mass valvetrain and rotating assemblies, and a new software strategy called Aspirated Torque Shaping (ATS).
The ATS electronically massages the twist action in third and fourth gear, providing more bottom-end to midrange urge. As a result, 80% of the maximum grunt is available from a modest 2500 rpm.
The 12Cilindri ditches the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission of the 812 Competizione in favor of a closer-ratio, faster-shifting eight-speed unit.
Despite being 161 pounds heavier than its predecessor, the 12Cilindri still accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in a blistering 2.9 seconds and achieves a zero-to-124-mph time of “under 7.9 seconds”.
The 12Cilindri Coupe will start at €395,000(~$424,000) in Italy, while the Spider variant is priced from €435,000(~$467,000).
Sales are expected to begin later this year, so supercar enthusiasts can soon experience the thrill of this state-of-the-art muscle car.
