The Driver’s Seat: Henry Catchpole on the New Ferrari 12Cilindri

The new $435,000 Ferrari 12Cilindri has been named to celebrate the naturally aspirated V-12. After all, a dozen cylinders arranged in a V is both at the heart of this car and of Ferrari the company. However, the celebration seems to be as much about the simple fact of its continued existence in 2024 as it is the power it puts out.

The F140HD engine makes 819 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. It will also now rev to 9500 rpm thanks to lighter internals, including titanium con rods. That’s 600 rpm and 30 hp up on the old 812 Superfast, though its figures are almost identical to the special-edition Competizione. In fact, it has slightly less torque than both. Why has it not made a huge leap on? Well, emissions regulations are making it harder and harder for this engine to breathe, and there is a general feeling that we should perhaps just be thankful that it is still being produced. After all, I’m not sure anyone has ever described an 812 as needing more power . . .

Of perhaps more concern is that legislation has also meant that the engine can’t sound quite as raucous as before. That’s not to say it doesn’t give your ears something pretty wonderful to listen to, particularly at higher revs and on more aggressive gearshifts, but there is less volume and edge to the soundtrack in general. Talking of the gearshifts, one of the bigger changes mechanically is the switch to the new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox (seen previously in the 296 GTB and others), which not only has 5 percent shorter ratios in the lower gears, but also offers 30 percent faster shift times.

The styling of the 12Cilindri has been quite the talking point since it was unveiled, and, seeing it in the wild amongst other traffic on the roads of Luxembourg, it looked even more striking. The launch cars were all painted in Giallo Montecarlo, which certainly contrasted strongly with the black sections of the bodywork, like the 365 GTB/4 (Daytona)-inspired nose. Interestingly, Ferrari is aligning the 12Cilindri more with the Roma in terms of its range of cars, leaning slightly away from outright performance and more toward style.

You can feel that when you drive it as well. The performance is still absolutely there, with 0-62 mph arriving in 2.9 seconds, but the slightly quieter, more refined atmosphere in the cabin just lends a bit more of a GT feel than before. In the corners there is still the trademark sharpness in the steering, but again it feels just a smidge less flighty than the 812 Superfast, particularly when you don’t have the manettino dialed to Race or above.

In terms of its competitors, well, you can see Henry Catchpole’s review of the Lamborghini Revuelto elsewhere on the Hagerty channel, and he should be driving the new Aston Martin Vanquish very soon . . .