Last week saw the
exclusive unveiling of the new Ferrari 12Cilindri at the Fiorano circuit in
Maranello.
Ferrari points out
that this 12Cilindri has been inspired by its Gran Turismo cars of the 1950s
and 1960s. Few, if they know anything about the Italian marque's heritage, are
unaware that this V12 coupé is above all a modern reinterpretation of the legendary
Ferrari Daytona 365GTB/4, a model that stood out above all for its long shark
nose with which Ferrari ensured that the huge V12 was positioned behind the
front axle. The dark-coloured trim that some versions of the Daytona carried
has been replicated here to join its dark-coloured rectangular headlights, now
accompanied by slim daytime running lights that start a line extending to the
side. The result on this 12Cilindri is a truly svelte car, with a long nose and
a set-back cockpit and a truly futuristic rear end whose rear window is hidden
in a huge dark piece that reaches from corner to corner of the car. However,
the aerodynamics, and more specifically the active aerodynamics, have also
received a lot of work.
Ferrari has
incorporated various parts for this, most notably the triangular wings on each
side of the rear, which are the ones that mimic the rear window, and which can
be placed in two different positions depending on the configuration: Low Drag
(LD) and High Downforce (HD), the latter of which raises these fins at speeds
above 60 km/h and below 300 km/h to help improve downforce. Similarly, the
underbody area of the car has also been worked on to manage airflow, at the
front with three pairs of vortex generators, which also help to keep the brakes
cool and reduce overpressure in the engine area.
The big heart of
this Ferrari 12Cilindri is of course its impressive naturally aspirated V12
engine, which in this new F140HD version takes performance even further with
830bhp of power and a rev range that reaches up to 9,500rpm. Moreover, even
though it is naturally aspirated, most of its torque - 80% - is already
available at 2,500 rpm, and is managed by an eight-speed DCT dual-clutch
transmission.
A special event for
a Ferrari commemorating Ferrari's most iconic engine.