12-cylinder central-front engine. Two-seater sedan with dry seats. The Ferrari myth was born with these parameters, engraved in history by the most famous Berlinettes and the golden decades of the Cavallino company. What happens if the same formula is proposed again 70 years after Ferrari landed overseas? While we are racking our brains between full electric, hybrid and various futurologies on the fate of the four wheels, only the strength of a myth can allow Ferrari, and only Ferrari, to re-propose 830 horsepower produced by an endothermic engine aspirated under a long bonnet placed in front of who drives, up to 9500 rpm which translates into an impressive acceleration 0-100 in 2.9 seconds and 0-200 in less than 7.9 and then going up to a maximum speed of over 340 per hour. In short, whoever is lucky enough to find themselves behind the wheel of this highly refined mechanical creature will have the unattainable privilege of driving a legend. A 12-cylinder legend. What is his name? “12Cilindri” indeed. And that’s enough.
The presentation
The launch of the new car took place in Miami Beach on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the presence of the Cavallino in the United States, where a thousand loyal customers were invited who more than anyone will appreciate the choice to return to its origins, to 1947 when it crossed the gates Drake’s first car from Maranello. The engineers worked first of all to reduce the weight and inertia of the components: the connecting rods are made of titanium, a material that guarantees a mass saving of 40% compared to steel; a much lighter aluminum alloy was used for the pistons; the crankshaft has been lightened by 3%. The aerodynamics of the 4.73 meter long car have been revolutionised, featuring two “wings” at the rear of the sides which move according to acceleration to balance the vertical load.
The news
Among the dozens of innovations introduced on the 12Cilindri, noteworthy is the introduction of the brake-by-wire braking system. We also find the independent four-wheel steering system already introduced on the 812 Competizione special series, which regulates the movement of each of the wheels independently of the others to improve the management of oscillation when cornering and reactivity when changing direction. For the first time on a Ferrari road car, a secondary alloy obtained 100% from recycled material was used to create part of the chassis and hollow castings, which allowed a saving of 146 kg of Co2 for every single chassis produced. «The United States is our first market across the entire range; therefore, they will also be the same for this car”, the Ferrari marketing director said during the press preview, Enrico Galliera. The 12Cilindri project started four years ago, at the height of the discussion on the electrification of engines. The Cavallino – which will present its first full electric car in 2025 – has made a counter-trend choice by continuing to invest in the V12 engine. «We would be arrogant if we were the ones who had to decide which technologies will prevail in the future – said Galliera -. We want the customer to be able to choose and the market to be able to say what the future is and what direction a company must take.” Ferrari expects a limited growth in production volumes to preserve the exclusivity of this model too. Cost 395 thousand euros, 435 thousand for the spider. The first deliveries are estimated as early as the fourth quarter of this year.
