Wild 2025 Ferrari 12Cilindri unleashed

The 2025 Ferrari 12Cilindri has been unveiled at a glittering event ahead of the Miami GP, where the Italian performance car brand revealed both a wild V12-powered coupe and Spider inspired by some of its most famous GTs of the past.

After more than four years of design and engineering development, Ferrari said it faced calls to drop its legendary naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre V12 for the 812 Superfast replacement because of ever-tightening emission regulations and fears many European cities were about to outlaw combustion cars.

Instead, Ferrari doubled down on its V12 efforts, ignored electrification and focused on lightening the engine’s internals with new titanium conrods and aluminium pistons, plus a featherweight crankshaft, new high-pressure direct-injection system, a fresh intake and a revised exhaust.

All of that enables the engine to spin to a stratospheric 9500rpm, and to produce a punchy 611kW of power and 678Nm of torque.

To help it meet the latest emissions legislation, there’s also a new ceramic catalyst and next-generation particulate filter.

Celebrating what could be the last hurrah for Ferrari’s F140 V12, which was first introduced in 2002 under the rear boot lid of the Enzo hypercar, the mid/front-mounted V12 dominates the character and design of the 12Cilindri, hence the ‘12-cylinder’ badge.

Sharing the 812 Superfast's classic long-bonnet, rear-drive proportions, the 12Cilindri’s design pays homage to the 1968 Ferrari 365 GTB/4, more commonly known as the Daytona.

That explains the new Ferrari’s front facia, but there's also inspiration from other supercars of the 1970s, with the coupe’s glass canopy and delta-wing-shaped glass both being nods to the 1970 Pininfarina-designed Ferrari Modulo concept.

The sleek new look, which is much less aggressive in the metal than the old 812 Superfast, also includes a pair of DRL blades around the headlights – just one example of the 12Cilindri’s advanced level of air-bending, which include active aerodynamics for the first time.

Beneath the skin, this consists of neat vortex generators that channel air efficiently backwards to the large rear diffuser, but most will be wowed by the new V12 Ferrari’s pair of rear aero-blades.

Under 60km/h they remain stowed, but at speeds above that they raise to boost downforce, pivoting upwards by as much as 10 degrees at up to 300km/h, when they lower to enable the 12Cilindri to exceed 340km/h.

Other neat aero aids include extra underbody louvres that vent hot air from the engine, plus a further two openings that create areas of low pressure within the front wheel-arches to reduce lift.

Separate generously-sized ducts within the front bumper also send cooling jets of air to the huge carbon-ceramic front discs, apparently suggesting the 12Cilindri has been bred for the track.

But Ferrari says that not so. Instead, the Maranello car-maker says its latest addition has been created for pure enjoyment, with one exec remarking that it will be the “most fun” Ferrari money can buy.

Despite sharing its footprint with the old 812 Superfast, engineers insist they started from scratch with the 12Cilindri, both coupe and Spider versions of which are based on an all-aluminium spaceframe chassis that’s claimed to be 15 per cent stiffer than before.

Changes include a wheelbase that has been deliberately shrunken by around 20mm to enhance agility, and also improving its ability to change directions rapidly is a new rear-wheel steering system.

When it comes to suspension, Ferrari admits there are plenty of carry-over components from the 812 but says everything has been upgraded to enhance handling.

New for the big V12 GT is ABS Evo and brake-by-wire technology from the 296 GTB, as well as a powerful 6w-CDS sensor that improves the ability of the car’s electronics to enhance balance and maximise traction.

If you want to indulge in some sideways fun there’s also the latest (eighth-generation) Side Slip Control (SSC 8.0), which should allow the 12Cilindri to be driven at the limit (and beyond) or subjected to lurid drifts on track.

Like the 812, the front-engined, rear-drive 12Cilindri comes with a near-optimum 48.3/51.7 percent front/rear weight distribution.

Speaking of weight, despite liberal use of aluminium, exotic alloys and carbon-fibre, the mass of the 12Cilindri has actually increased by 30kg (over the 812 Superfast) on account of the extra tech on board, which should see it tip the scales at around 1660kg – still light for a big V12 coupe.

Despite the extra mass, the new Ferrari is as quick as very rapid 812. Combined with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that shifts up to 30 per cent quicker than before, the 12Cilindri is claimed to launch from 0-100km/h in just 2.9 seconds and to 200km/h in only 7.8sec.

Inside, the 12Cilindri gets a development of the same dual-cockpit design first seen in the Ferrari Roma, with a neat symmetrical design employed for both the driver and passenger sides of the cabin.

Ahead of the driver is a huge 15.6-inch digital instrument cluster, alongside a large 10.25-inch infotainment touch-screen incorporating both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus wireless phone charger on the central tunnel.

Like other Ferraris, even the passenger gets their own 8.8-inch screen, which can display secondary telemetry information.

For those who think they might tire of a V12 soundtrack, there’s a new optional 15-speaker, 1600W sound system developed by Burmester.

Indeed, you can expect a near-endless level of personalisation options for the 12Cilindri, few buyers of which are expected to purchase the standard model.

Doing its bit for the environment, the 12Cilindri uses 100 per cent recycled material for the shock tower and gearbox subframe, plus extensive use of recycled polyester for the Alcantara trim, contributing to a claimed 146kg saving in its carbon footprint.

The Ferrari 12Cilindri is set to arrive in European showrooms before the end of 2024 and carsales understands the first right-hand drive deliveries will start in mid-2025 – six to nine months after left-hook examples, so the Spider won’t arrive Down Under until late next year or even early 2026.

Local pricing is yet to be announced, but we expect the 12Cilindri to be priced from around $660,000, positioning it near the top of the Ferrari range between the 812 Superfast coupe and GTS convertible.

That’s big money, but many are already tipping this could be the very last chance to buy a modern, road-legal V12-powered Ferrari.

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