Ferrari gives you more reasons to keep loving this brand and its engines: this is the new 12Cilindri Spider with its V12 engine

In a world where conventional cars and sports cars no longer deliver the same sensations, and no longer differ much from one another, almost every bet is going on SUVs, and engines are losing their sound, character and size in favour of bland electric motors, Ferrari comes along and breaks the rules of today’s industry by presenting the new 12Cilindri Spider.

Whether you like the styling or not, we will talk about that a little later. Let me first begin, without further preamble, with the spectacular naturally aspirated V12 engine, with no electrification or nonsense of that kind, which gives the 12Cilindri Spider its character and delights us with its magnificent sound. The engine in question is designated F140HD and, as I said, it is a traditional naturally aspirated V12, in the purest style of Ferrari, taking as its reference the one fitted to the 812 Competizione and evolving it, since the 12Cilindri is the model that replaces the 812 Superfast.

This engine now produces 830 CV of power, sent to the rear axle through a DCT dual-clutch gearbox with eight speeds, while maximum revs have risen to 9,500 rpm. The brand’s engineers achieved this by modifying several components, including titanium connecting rods, pistons made from a new alloy, a new crankshaft balancing, valve actuation by a finger follower derived from Formula 1 and made from diamond-like carbon-coated steel, shorter intake manifolds, and a software strategy that modifies the maximum available torque depending on the gear engaged, among other changes.

As befits a good V12, there is also a exhaust system worthy of the great melody that emanates from its interior, all thanks to exhaust ducts of equal length, the “6-into-1” manifold on each bank and the innovative design of the central extensions. Another important aspect of this kind of vehicle is how it grips the road, and for this it uses Michelin Pilot Sport S5 or Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, both of which have been specially and exclusively developed in sizes 275/35 at the front and 315/35 at the rear for Ferrari.

The only criticism I would make of the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider is its design, too refined for how spectacular and radical a V12 from the Italian marque usually is, and totally removed from the image of its predecessor. At the front sits a completely smooth bonnet from which the wheel arches emerge, with no joins, providing a clean surface interrupted only by two air outlets, and losing characteristic lines that were present on the 812. This look carries over to the rear in a continuous manner, and even the traditional spoiler is replaced by two active elements integrated into the rear window.

But this far more elegant and restrained design is not at odds with aerodynamics, which is genuinely important in a vehicle of this kind with two main protagonists: the nolder of 25 mm on the rear deck and the active aerodynamics at the rear. The former ensures the car’s aerodynamic efficiency when drag is at its minimum, while the latter, with its moving appendages, allows the 12Cilindri to adopt the Low Drag or low-resistance position and the High Downforce or high-load position.

The interior of the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider takes its inspiration from the two-cabin architecture that in recent years has appeared in other Ferrari models such as the Roma and the Purosangue. The design is divided into a first volume dominated by the upper part of the dashboard, which blends into the door panel trim; the second, central volume is dominated by the 15.6-inch screen for the driver, the 10.25-inch capacitive touchscreen for the infotainment system and, finally, the 8.8-inch screen with which the passenger will feel almost as if at the wheel. All of this is complemented by upholstery made of Alcantara and other sustainable materials used extensively.