Is this ‘the most complete Ferrari Gran Turismo ever’?

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Building a naturally aspirated 12-cylinder engine is a bold move in an age focused on cutting carbon emissions. So when Ferrari made the decision to create a car that “goes against today’s trends”, in the words of design boss Flavio Manzoni, and to deliberately name it after its engine, it might have seemed perverse. But the new 12Cilindri wasn’t conceived as a prototype for the car of the future. The marque’s intention was to create “the most complete Ferrari Gran Turismo of all time”, an unapologetic ode to the engine on which it has built its reputation for road cars since 1947.

The 12Cilindri won’t be Ferrari’s last petrol blast, but the marque’s electric transition is already well under way with the first all-electric Prancing Horse due in 2025. “The 12-cylinder will always be the original Ferrari car,” says Enzo Ferrari, wearing his signature black sunglasses, in an old interview shown at the car’s recent launch in Luxembourg. “Everything else is a derivation of the original model.” 

The 12-cylinder will always be the original Ferrari car. Everything else is a derivation

Had he still been alive, there’s a strong chance “Il Commendatore” would have been delighted with the way the 12Cilindri has turned out. With a long, flat bonnet, a cab shifted towards the rear of the car and voluptuous wings, it includes all the classical styling cues of thoroughbred Italian Gran Turismos developed under his tenure, such as the 250 GT and 275 GTB, but with a modernist twist. Finding inspiration in radical concept cars such as the wedge-shaped 1970 Ferrari Modulo, Manzoni’s team of stylists have produced something novel, but with a nod to Ferrari’s past, like the front end that references the 365 GTB4, more affectionately known as the Daytona. While the design divides opinion, it’s certainly striking and it sets the 12Cilindri apart from the current swath of supercars on offer.

It’s by no means the fastest car in Ferrari’s stable – that crown has passed to the hybrid-engined SF90; instead it focuses on doing what a grand tourer was designed to do – cover distance swiftly but also in style and comfort.

Ferrari has ensured the 12Cilindri is adept at both daily driving and smoking around a track when required. It’s remarkably refined around town and on long motorway slogs but it lights up given the chance on a twisty stretch of B-road. Helping to calm things down and give better range when cruising, Ferrari has added an additional eighth gear to the Dodici Cilindri’s transmission, as well as a “soft button”, which makes the ride more comfortable.

It’s big for a two-seater, but handles its size well. With independent rear-wheel steering making the car more agile, and with a six-way dynamic chassis sensor that helps the car regulate each wheel independently, it can make its way around a track at remarkable speed but also handle different road surfaces confidently. And it’s blisteringly quick – 0-60 takes just 2.9s and it can exceed 211mph – but it’s not intimidating to drive.

Inside, there’s the usual spread of leather, metal and Alcântara materials. For those looking to up the ante in the cabin, “Daytona” carbon-fibre racing seats, with quilted seat pads that reference the original Ferrari 365 GTB’s interior, are available for about £9,500; but for the most part, it’s a practical and pleasant place to pass the time, save for the touch-button controls for functions such as mirror adjustments and menu navigation that are tricky to operate while driving. 

One notable amendment to the tech is a 10.25in central touchscreen (separate from those touch buttons) that deals with everything from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to the info-tainment, climate controls and massage seats. If ever there was a sign Ferrari has gone full “grand tourer” on the 12Cilindri, it’s the option for a back rub while you’re buzzing around the track. The centre screen is flanked by a large digital dashboard for the driver and a narrow, 8.8in display for the passenger, displaying information such as g-force and speed. 

With the order book open for both the coupé, which starts from £336,500, and the convertible “spider”, from £366,500, delivery should start in early 2025.