The V12 is back! What year is it again? Ferrari has resurrected the beautiful V12 with the brand new 12Cilindri. As amusing as that name is, it is actually pronounced as ‘Dodici Cilindri’ in Italian.. The highly anticipated successor to the 812 Superfast - flagship Ferrari V12s have had a history of being named quite literally as what they are - has been unveiled at the 70th anniversary of Ferrari in the American market, conveniently coinciding with the F1 Miami GP as well. 

Ferrari 12Cilindri - Engine

Let’s start with the main reason everybody is excited about the new flagship from Maranello: the multiple award winning 6.5 litre Naturally Aspirated V12. People feared the 812 Competitzione would be the last hurrah for the V12, and rightly so, times are quickly changing. However, Ferrari has decided to keep the engine around for a few more years if you happen to have around £340,000 in the bank, and we are all here for it.

Speaking of the 812 Comp, power remains largely the same to the Comp, with 819 bhp and 500 lb ft (678 nm) of torque. That is not all though, the engine also revs up to an astronomical 9500rpm! There have been a few mechanical changes however, with the V12 now having lighter titanium conrods and forged pistons. All of this helps to propel the 12Cilindri from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.9 seconds and relentlessly push it towards its 217+ mph top speed. 

These may not sound as revolutionary improvements when compared to the previous 812, however Ferrari may have realised that they do not need another 1000 bhp supercar in their roster, and would rather celebrate the rich history of the marque in doing what they do best: making engines. All the power is sent to the rear axle through a brand new 8-speed twin-clutch gearbox with 30% faster shift speeds. (I’m not sure how that’s possible either.)