New Ferrari 12Cilindri Track Test: Spider vs Coupe with Tiff Needell

What Is the Ferrari 12Cilindri?

The Ferrari 12Cilindri is the successor to the 812 Superfast and the latest in a lineage of front-engined V12 grand tourers that includes the F12 Berlinetta and 599 GTB Fiorano. The name refers directly to its twelve-cylinder engine, a deliberate statement of identity at a time when much of the performance car industry is moving towards turbocharging and electrification.

The 12Cilindri is available in two body styles: the Coupé and the Spider convertible. Both are built on the same architecture, sharing the V12 powertrain, eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, four-wheel steering and active aerodynamics. The Spider is 60kg heavier and £30,000 more than the Coupé, with Ferrari using lightweight structural reinforcement to help keep the centre of gravity low. Both were tested by Vicki and Tiff at Llandow Circuit and on road.

What makes the Ferrari 12Cilindri special:

• 830hp from a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12, 30hp more than the 812 Superfast, with a 9,500rpm redline
• Near-ideal 48.4:51.6 front-to-rear weight distribution and a wheelbase 20mm shorter than the 812 Superfast
• Aspirated Torque Shaping in third and fourth gear creates a feeling of constant crescendo
• Active rear aerodynamic flaps generating up to 50kg of downforce at 155mph
• Independent four-wheel steering improves yaw control and responsiveness through direction changes
• 8-speed DCT with shift times 30% faster than previous V12 Berlinettas
• Design by Flavio Manzoni and the Ferrari Styling Centre, with the bonnet integrated with the wings and no cut lines

What Does the Ferrari 12Cilindri Look Like?

The 12Cilindri is slightly longer and taller than the 812 Superfast it replaces. Its defining design element is a bonnet that incorporates the front wings with no visible cut lines between them, a detail that requires significant manufacturing precision and reads as effortless from the outside. A 25mm lip on the bootlid, known as a nolder, manages rear airflow. Active aerodynamic flaps at the rear can switch between Low Drag and High Downforce configurations between around 37mph and 186mph depending on the car's lateral and longitudinal acceleration. When open, they can provide up to 50kg of additional downforce at 155mph.

The cabin features Ferrari's dual-zone dashboard design, previously seen in the Roma and Purosangue, with a semi-symmetrical layout giving the passenger their own display screen and controls. The central touchscreen incorporates Ferrari's latest HMI with Apple CarPlay and wireless charging. Steering wheel controls use haptic feedback via thumb controls. The screen blends into the dashboard when switched off. Seats use Alcantara containing 68% recycled polyester. A generous tinted glass roof is standard.

How Does the Ferrari 12Cilindri Drive on Track?

Performance and Power Delivery

The 6.5-litre V12 produces 830hp at 9,250rpm and 678Nm of torque at 7,250rpm, with the engine revving to 9,500rpm. Ferrari says 80% of peak torque is available from 2,500rpm, while Aspirated Torque Shaping in third and fourth gears electronically manages the torque curve to create a feeling of constant building intensity rather than a sudden surge. Vicki describes the engine as something genuinely unique in the current market: naturally aspirated, immediate and alive in a way that turbocharged alternatives cannot replicate. Tiff notes it as one of the finest engines he has driven in decades of testing.

Handling and Character

The 12Cilindri feels less brutal and more refined than its predecessors the 812 Superfast and F12 Berlinetta. Steering and chassis responses are alert without feeling intimidating. Despite the front-engined layout, the car exhibits a balanced character that both Vicki and Tiff describe as mid-engined in feel, a quality that comes from the weight distribution approaching 50/50 front to rear and the shorter 20mm wheelbase compared to the 812 Superfast.

The 12Cilindri uses independent four-wheel steering, with the rear wheels able to steer opposite the fronts at lower speeds to improve manoeuvrability and move independently at higher speeds to sharpen cornering response. Side Slip Control version 8.0 uses a six-way chassis sensor system that actively measures and predicts the car's movements and the slip angle of each wheel. The manettino selector includes a Bumpy Road mode for additional suspension cushioning. MagneRide semi-active dampers reduce body roll on track while improving ride comfort on motorways.

Spider vs Coupé on Track

The Spider weighs 60kg more than the Coupé, with Ferrari using lightweight structural reinforcement to help keep the centre of gravity low. On track the difference is perceptible but not compromising; the Spider remains a serious track tool. Its roof lowers in 14 seconds at speeds up to 28mph, and wind noise management allows normal conversation above 124mph.

Is the Ferrari 12Cilindri Practical?

For a front-engined V12 supercar, the 12Cilindri offers reasonable real-world usability. The Coupé provides 270 litres of boot space, more than the latest Aston Martin Vanquish at 248 litres. The Spider offers 200 litres with its folding roof mechanism. Both variants include wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, a passenger display screen and a glass roof that floods the cabin with natural light. The dual-zone dashboard gives both driver and passenger control over key functions.

What Wheels and Tyres Does the Ferrari 12Cilindri Have?

The 12Cilindri uses 21-inch wheels across the range, with different designs and finishes available. The Coupé tested by Vicki and Tiff was fitted with 21-inch forged aluminium wheels and a staggered tyre fitment.

The tested 12Cilindri is fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 K1 tyres. According to Michelin, the Ferrari-specific Pilot Sport S 5 is designed for high-performance road and track use, balancing dry grip, wet performance and consistency at high speeds.

A winter option is also available using the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 on 21-inch wheels, with narrower 255/35 R21 front and 305/35 R21 rear tyres.

OE tyre options:

• Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 K1, R21
• Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport, R21

Additional Ferrari Genuine tyre options:

• Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, R21, winter

How Does the Ferrari 12Cilindri Compare to Rivals?

The 12Cilindri occupies a unique position among naturally aspirated V12 grand tourers. The Aston Martin Vanquish offers a distinct British interpretation of the same formula, emphasising grand touring elegance. The Lamborghini Revuelto from £450,000 takes a hybrid V12 approach, prioritising drama and theatre over refinement. Vicki and Tiff observe that each car represents a distinct philosophy: the Ferrari prioritises refinement with performance, the Aston Martin focuses on grand touring elegance and the Lamborghini pursues presence and drama.

Is the Ferrari 12Cilindri Worth Buying?

The Ferrari 12Cilindri makes its case not on value but on character. At £336,500 for the Coupé it is one of the last production cars to offer a naturally aspirated V12 at this level of development, and the most refined Ferrari V12 grand tourer yet. Buyers who want the purest expression of this formula and accept the compromise on everyday accessibility that comes with 830hp in a rear-wheel drive chassis will find nothing comparable. Buyers who want more usability and a lower entry point should look at the Ferrari Roma. Buyers who want hybrid performance technology should consider the Ferrari SF90.

The case for the Ferrari 12Cilindri:

• 830hp naturally aspirated V12 at 9,250rpm, a powertrain experience unavailable in any current production rival
• Vicki and Tiff find it more refined and playful than the 812 Superfast
• Available as Coupé or Spider with minimal dynamic compromise between variants
• 270-litre Coupé boot space exceeding the Aston Martin Vanquish
• Dual-zone dashboard, Apple CarPlay, wireless charging and glass roof for real-world usability
• Spider roof lowers in 14 seconds at speeds up to 28mph

Before you buy:

• The tested Coupé cost £517,000 as configured
• 830hp rear-wheel drive demands full driver commitment and appropriate conditions
• Boot space, while strong for a supercar, limits long-distance luggage capacity