The 1950’s to 60’s is arguably the gilded age of Ferrari’s Gran Turismo cars. This was the height of powerful road-going cars that were a balance of performance and luxurious comfort. GT’s exemplified a glamorous class of vehicles that blended speed, comfort and luxury. Yes of course GT cars have never left the scene but there hasn’t been one that captured our imagination the way Ferrari’s 12Cilindri has.
First of all, the name says it all. In today’s era of down-sized complex turbos, greater hybridization and yes, designs bound by stricter automotive standards, a naturally aspirated, 6.5 liter 12 cylinder engine is the ultimate sorry, were not sorry. But this isn’t unwarranted excess, it’s celebration of everything we love about the internal combustion engine. Enzo himself said “I build engines and attach wheels on them”…and what an engine Ferrari have built. Sharing the same platform as the 812’s powerplant this F140 V12 has been tuned to put out 830 HP (cv), rev all the way to 9500 rpm and have majority of its torque available at 2500 rpm. Sounds like a recipe for raucous fun? We don’t disagree, but what’s power without grace? Its twelve cylinder beating heart is obviously the star of the show, but the 12Cilindri is so much more than just that.
The Design
If the eponymous front-mounted engine is the headliner, it certainly is lost without the beautifully designed vessel that houses it. Here Flavio Manzoni and his design team have worked their magic. Creating something that mixes the nostalgia of the golden age of GTs, and a futuristic aesthetic that is pure poetry. Beyond the classic long-nosed silhouette that only comes from a front mid-engine design, afficionados will be quick to spot retro references from iconic prancing horse elements like that wide gloss-black band on the nose that is pure 365 Daytona, or the modern DRLs that mimic chrome bumper trim from other classic designs. But it’s not all for looks, the sleek lines and muscular haunches aren’t just a design exercise. Splitters and diffusers are there to slice through the wind while active-aero flaps, flush to the rear at a standstill and low speeds, deploy to create more down force on high speed runs. The overall feel is muscular and monolithic. It’s neo-retro with a futuristic flavor but above all, elegant.
The neo-retro futuristic theme is carried over into the interior. Spare, modern with a definite move towards minimalism that works well with the exterior design language. It’s everything you would expect from a Gran Turismo car. Plenty of space despite its sports-oriented appointments with no luxury spared when it comes to materials and touchpoint treatments. From the luscious leather, alcantara and carbon fiber trim, everything feels as it should in a car of this level.
In April 2025, The ADI (Associazone per il Designo Idustriale) named awarded the 12Cilindri the Best Car Design Award. A prestigious award that recognizes a models significant influence to automotive design. Flavio Manzoni and his team received the award for their work on this Gran Turismo design that successfully blends classic cues and references from other renown V12 designs with modern aerodynamic requirements. The jury called it an “Out of the Box Icon”, and we couldn’t agree more.
Driving it
The great irony of GT cars is they’re meant for the comfortable extended road travel, but I guarantee that 830 horsepower gets you to your destination pretty quickly. While extended cross-country tours across the continent on scenic and sinous mountain roads would be the ideal setting for a car like this, it does boil down to the driving experience regardless of length or location. While we usually associate Ferrari with raw, visceral, track-bred cars, and while it does have the pedigree, the 12Cilindri is more sophisticated in the way it presents it’s V12 power and mastery of the road. Surprisingly comfortable for a car of its rapid capabilities, it’s always poised, always composed.
The 12Cilindri maintains much of its composure due to sophisticated driver aids that Ferrari have engineered into this super-tourer. Side slip control 8.0, Virtual short wheelbase 3.0, Aspirated Torque Shaping…the list goes on and an article this brief cannot do justice describing just how advanced Maranello has made this successor to the 812 Superfast. In broad strokes is much of the focus has been to lean more towards useability. Or perhaps versatility might be the better term. Here you have a GT car in terms of heft, luxury and comfort and have the option to drive it in a much more composed manner but let’s not forget that’s a full-blooded naturally aspirated V12 under that front-hinged bonnet. All it takes to change the character and intent of the car is to decide where you want to point the manettino switch on the beautifully designed steering wheel.
It’s a lively but elegant cruiser that has no need to trumpet it’s 830 horsepower (cv). It’s a strong and well-muscled fighter but in an elegant suit. But with ever stricter standards and a changing approach towards car development in the industry in general, rumors have been rife that this could be the swan song of Ferrari’s magnificent V12’s, which makes it all the more dearer to fans of the prancing horse. Ferrari will always excite and ignite our passions, but every design and every model does it in its own unique way. Ferrari describe the 12Cilindri as “for the few” and hints at a Ferrarista looking for a more cultured presentation of the Ferrari experience.
Inquiries can be made at Velocita Motors Inc. More details can be found on their socials @ferrari_velocitamotors and online at https://manila.ferraridealers.com
Press photos courtesy of Ferrari S.p.A.