Ferrari 12-cylinder, how the Maranello Gran Turismo goes on road and track

Tradition rhymes with innovation. At least at Ferrari, where with the new 12Cilindri they have succeeded in combining the legendary V12 engine, which has now reached 830 bhp, without any kind of electrification, let alone turbochargers, with an unprecedented style with clear references to the past. To find out how it goes we went to Luxembourg, where we had the chance to test it on the track inside the Goodyear development centre. The reason is linked to the renewed collaboration, after 30 years, between the American tyre manufacturer and the Modenese manufacturer. 

With the Ferrari 12Cilindri, however, there is no better term to describe it, because in this case the team headed by Flavio Manzoni has outdone itself by creating a Grand Tourer with strong references to the past (starting with the front end) but without any nostalgic effect or, on the contrary, deliberately marked lines. In addition to the unprecedented styling, the Ferrari 12Cilindri takes a leap forward in aerodynamics. One example? The two mobile wings at the rear which, managed by software and silicon intelligence, keep the car glued to the road when needed without dirtying its line with questionable fixed wings. These mobile appendages allow two configurations: Low Drag (LD) and High Downforce (HD). In LD mode, the movable element aligns with the body to reduce drag, while in HD mode, maximum vertical load is generated to ensure optimum aerodynamic balance;

Climbing aboard the Ferrari 12Cilindri you get the clear impression that the cockpit is designed to be a faithful companion. Because the 12Cilindri wasn't created to set the fastest time on the track (it's not for nothing that the people at Maranello didn't reveal the time it set at Fiorano) despite having all the qualities to do so, but its main mission is to be a true Gran Turismo. Which translates into becoming the perfect weekend getaway car, thanks to a large boot (for the type of car) and a cabin designed to get you off with a sore back even after transfers of several hundred kilometres. In detail, the interior is characterised by the dual cockpit shape. There are three trims available: the 15.6" instrumentation that provides driving information and vehicle dynamics and is matched by the steering wheel with capacitive controls (already seen in the latest generation Ferraris) and a physical manettino. In the centre of the dashboard is an infotainment system with a 10.25" touch display that offers compatibility with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, while the passenger has an 8.8" screen;

But now it's time to find out how the Ferrari 12Cilindri fares on road and track, in a first contact characterised by heavy thunderstorms throughout the road trip. Before we find out if "universal deluge" and 830 horsepower can get along, a brief summary of what we have under the bonnet. The Ferrari 12Cilindri is powered by an evolution of the classic Ferrari-made V12 and boasts a 65° angle between the cylinder banks. Designated F140HD, it has a displacement of 6,496 cc and delivers 830 hp at 9,250 rpm with a maximum torque of 678 Nm at 7,250 rpm and a specific power output of 128 hp/litre. Thanks to a power-to-weight ratio of 1.88 kg/hp, the 12-cylinder sprints from 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, reaches 200 km/h in 7.9 seconds and has a top speed of 340 km/h. All this combined with a chassis characterised by a 20 mm shorter wheelbase than the 812 Superfast. It all adds up to a GT that can be either Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde, thanks to the settings from the manettino where the Wet setting turns into the 2.0 version of the dashboard 'go slow, there's someone at home who loves you' gospel. Because thanks to the electronics and settings decided by the Maranello engineers, the 12Cilindri remains fun but above all safe even when the windscreen wipers are struggling to remove the water from the windscreen.

To see the 9,500 rpm (the maximum limit before the limiter enters), we enter the Goodyear development centre, where thanks to the long straight we are able to exploit the 12-cylinder Emilian to the full. And here we have yet another confirmation of how a naturally aspirated V12 engine remains the highest form of motoring. On the mixed track we appreciate the shortened wheelbase and the independent four-wheel steering system (4WS), already introduced on the special 812 Competizione series, which adjusts the movement of each wheel independently to improve yaw management and increase cornering readiness.