The V12 lives on! 2025 Ferrari 12Cilindri supercar unveiled

Ferrari has unveiled what may be its last front-engined, road-legal V12 supercar without turbochargers or hybrid technology: the 2025 Ferrari 12Cilindri.

The 12Cilindri – Italian for '12 cylinders', and pronounced 'doh-dechi chillindri' – draws heavy inspiration from the legendary Ferrari 365 GTB/4 and GTS/4 of the late 1960s and early 1970s, better known as the 'Daytona'.

It is powered by an upgraded version of Ferrari's 6.5-litre V12 engine, which now revs to 9500rpm – and develops 630kW, more than any previous V12 from the Italian car maker.

There are no turbochargers, nor any assistance from electric motors – likely to be one of the last new road-legal Ferrari supercars, V12 or otherwise, to do so.

By the time the 12Cilindri exits production towards the end of the decade – based on the life cycles of previous Ferrari V12 cars – only about 20 per cent of road-legal Ferraris sold are planned to lack hybrid or electric power.

Deliveries in left-hand-drive markets are due to commence in late 2024 for the coupe, and early 2025 for the Spider – with prices from €395,000 ($AU650,000) and €435,000 ($AU715,000) drive-away in Italy.

Right-hand-drive deliveries are expected to commence about six to nine months later – plus shipping time to Australia – suggesting local arrivals in the second half of 2025 for the coupe, and late 2025 or early 2026 for the Spider.

Prices are estimated to fall in the low-$800,000 range for the coupe, and closer to $900,000 for the Spider – both plus on-road costs – once Luxury Car Tax is included, though exact prices have not been locked in.

The 12Cilindri is powered by an updated version of Ferrari's 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12, derived from the Competizione version of the outgoing 812 range.

It is rated at 630kW (830 metric horsepower) – delivered at the 9500rpm redline – while 80 per cent of the undisclosed peak torque output is available at less than 2500rpm, Ferrari says.

To achieve its high redline and power output, the 'F140HD' engine uses titanium conrods, an aluminium alloy for the pistons said to be 3 per cent lighter, sliding finger followers for the valvetrain, and shorter exhaust manifold tracts.

It is claimed to be the first naturally-aspirated engine that can "modify the maximum torque available as a function of the gear selected", and is claimed to "sculpt the torque curve in third and fourth gears ... [to] improve perception of the torque without impinging on acceleration".

The engine is matched with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission – claimed to shift 30 per cent quicker than its seven-speed predecessor – powering the rear wheels.

Ferrari claims the 12Cilindri produces 12 per cent more torque at the wheels than "previous V12 applications", thanks to "larger tyres on 21-inch rims" and 5 per cent shorter gear ratios.

The new V12 supercar's chassis is claimed to be all-new, with a 20mm shorter wheelbase than the 812 Superfast's 2720mm, a 15 per cent increase in torsional rigidity at no weight penalty, and larger metal castings that reduce the number of components needed to build the car.

In a first for a production Ferrari, a secondary alloy claimed to use 100 per cent recycled material has been used, seen in the shock towers of the gearbox subframe – and claimed to reduce the CO2 output of producing each car by 146kg.

The 12Cilindri adopts the chassis technology seen in other recent Ferraris, including a brake-by-wire system, 'Evo' anti-lock braking software, and 'Virtual Short Wheelbase 3.0'.

The latest '8.0' version of Ferrari's Side Slip Control traction and stability-control software is included, with a claimed 10 per cent improvement in "estimation accuracy and learning speed" of the grip on the road surface.

Four-wheel independent steering from the 812 Competizione carries over to the 12Cilindri – capable of varying the angle of each wheel independently, rather than both wheels on each axle.

Standard are 21-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 275/35ZR21 front and 315/35ZR21 rear tyres – either Michelin Pilot Sport S5s or Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersports – with both claimed to reduce rolling resistance by 10 per cent compared to previous Ferrari front-engined V12 supercars.

Ferrari says the 12Cilindri is inspired by "grand tourers" of the 1950s and 1960s – and is a "clear departure" from the 812 – but the most obvious inspiration is likely to be the 365 GTB/4 and GTS/4, commonly referred to as the Daytona.

There are fewer sharp lines and creases than the outgoing 812, with slimmer LED headlights split by a prominent black accent, and an LED four-line interpretation of the company's familiar quad tail-lights.

The coupe's signature design cue is its roof – with V-shaped sheet metal, between glass panels for the central roof and rear window – while the Spider has a pair of 'buttresses' behind the headrests.

An active rear spoiler raises at speeds above 60km/h, but lowers above 300km/h "when downforce is not very relevant to the performance of the car," Ferrari says.

Four pairs of vortex generators under the car, and channels in the underbody help route air through the rear diffuser, while there are seven openings in the front bumper to cool the engine, its oil, and the brakes.

The cabin of the 12Cilindri is said to be split into three levels – the upper dashboard, main dashboard area, and seats/footwells – available in different materials and colours, including Alcantara containing 65 per cent recycled polyester.

The automatic gear selector is shaped like a traditional H-pattern manual shifter, while the storage space behind the seats in the coupe is used to stow the retractable hard-top roof in the Spider.

Unlike the Ferrari 296 range, there is a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen in the centre of the cabin – which runs Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, air-conditioning functions, and navigation – while a 15.6-inch instrument display sits ahead of the driver.

Another 8.8-inch display is placed ahead of the driver, showing speed, music, performance metrics, and other menus.

Wireless phone charging is standard. A 15-speaker, 1600-watt Burmester sound system is available as an option.

First deliveries of the 2025 Ferrari 12Cilindri coupe are due to commence in left-hand-drive markets by the end of this year, ahead of the Spider in early 2025.