The new Ferrari 12Cilindri boasts aspects of the Prancing Horse’s DNA as well as hints of a design evolution for the Italian marque.
There has been a single leitmotif that has been thrilling Prancing Horse enthusiasts since 1947: the naturally-aspirated, mid-front-mounted V12, the very first Ferrari engine to roar its way through the factory gates in Maranello. Representing a natural evolution, the new Ferrari 12Cilindri takes its inspiration from the legendary Grand Tourers of the 1950s and ‘60s, embodying the front-mounted Ferrari V12 two-seater mission with its effortless combination of elegance, versatility, and performance.
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The new car’s silhouette exudes sportiness and class with simple yet harmonious lines that feature an integrated active aerodynamic device to guarantee peerless performance, a front-hinged bonnet, and two twin tailpipes that have become a signature of Ferrari’s 12-cylinder cars.
In fact, with the Ferrari 12Cilindri, Flavio Manzoni and the Ferrari Styling Centre design team set out to radically transform the stylistic codes of Ferrari’s previous mid-front-engined V12s. The car in fact marks a clear departure from the sculptural language that characterised the 812 Competizione. Clean lines dominate the car’s geometry, with the sculpted bonnet incorporating front wings, ultra-clean flanks sweeping back along the entire car from a dihedral section, and a muscular rear wing that’s imposing, yet also perfectly controlled geometrically.
The front of the new model might have lost certain signature elements, such as the elongated form of the headlights and the traditional grille shape, but does so in favour of geometries and intersections innate to the car’s design, including headlights that are integrated into a single wraparound band from which the DRLs emerge like blades.
A similar approach has been taken with the rear architecture: once again, rigour is the order of the day with the shape obtained by the subtraction of volume. Consistent with the front of the car, the taillights are set into a blade that traverses the entire, concave rear section. Instead of adopting a rear spoiler, the designers have used two active flaps integrated with the rear screen, creating a signature seamless delta theme.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri’s F140HD engine is the latest development of the iconic V12 that laid the foundations for the Maranello legend, and, coupled with the eight-speed DCT transmission, unleashes 830 cv and with maximum revs rising to a heady 9500 rpm, resulting in instantaneous pick-up for maximum accelerator response and a feeling of never-ending power all the way to the red line.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri’s cockpit promises superb comfort for both driver and passenger, even on long journeys: its feeling of airiness and space is heightened still further by a glass roof, prestigious materials and a central display in addition to one for the driver and a third ahead of the passenger.
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The design of the Ferrari 12Cilindri’s interior, which takes its inspiration from the Prancing Horse’s dual-cockpit architecture, sees it split into three different levels: the first, dominated by the upper part of the dash, continues around to blend into the door panel trim. Next is the central area while the third includes the footwells and seats. Each level is clearly defined, heightening the dual-cockpit effect through the colour and material combinations, which are used to create either an elegant or sporty look for the seats and other features.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri also introduces a new Human Machine Interface (HMI) comprising three displays from which all of the main functions can be controlled, while the capacitive steering wheel features indented buttons for ease of use. The Ferrari 12Cilindri comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-based mobile connectivity systems as standard, both easily controlled from the new central display, while a wireless charging mat on the central tunnel (as standard) makes phone charging simple too.
Available as an optional on the Ferrari 12Cilindri is the crystal-clear high-end audio system developed in collaboration with Burmester, comprising 15 loudspeakers, Ring Tweeter technology, and a dual coil subwoofer.
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