Ferrari 12Cilindri retains the naturally aspirated V12

Indeed not since the LaFerrari have we seen quite such unimaginative naming from Maranello, though in their defence, that engine is the centrepiece and this car could be its final home. For real, this time.

But first, the looks. All over the car overt curvature and aero frippery has made way for minimalism, integration and cohesion, as the voluptuous body topography of the 812 is replaced with less fussy, flatter, smoother paneling and plenty of straight edges. There’s even top-of-body active aero for the first time on Ferrari V12 GT, with flaps at the rear that raise at speed but stay flush and smooth for coolness at a standstill.

From the front though, it really is very 1970s, which is again odd given Ferrari very much insists this car wholly looks to the future. Up to the windscreen, it is so obviously a modernisation of the near 60-year-old Daytona, with its big forehead, panel between the lights and near-identical bonnet vents, while the inlets at the front look like a barrelled-out version of those seen on the Purosangue.

Moving down the car, there's a bit of 456 and more Daytona in that Coupe window line. Up top we have a zig-zag flow of body colour between black and glass. On the Spider is perhaps where the closest relation to an 812 variant lives on, with GTS-esque buttresses present and correct. At the rear, slim lighting and a tapered rump have a Roma flavour, as does the diffuser arrangement, though those cuboidal exhausts are new. The kamm tail is much more pronounced on the 12Cilindri too.

The overall look and feel will dictated by specification. The Spider, revealed in green with a tan interior, looks delightful. The coupe in that white, however, is a difficult one to swallow.

Inside the 2025 Ferrari 12Cilindri

On the inside, it should come as no surprise that there’s a lot of 296 and Purosangue, with the twin-pod dash of the latter very much present. It is different though, with more attitude and more geometric shapes – just look at those vents – which sort of calls back to the cabin of the 458. The dash and wheel we’ve more or less seen before on the 296 GTB. There is a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, though there’s no in-built sat-nav, so Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be your friends.

In terms of the dimensions, it’s actually got a shorter wheelbase than the 812 by 20mm. This follows a pleasing trend of Ferrari gently backtracking on sheer size. The F12 for instance, was a bit smaller on the road than the 599 it replaced. That should help agility, in tandem with the standard-fit rear-steering. There’s brake-by-wire too and a 296-style ABS Evo system.

Weight is up, if only slightly, by 35kg compared to the outgoing 812, though stiffness is up by up by 15 per cent. The Spider gives up just a single per cent of stiffness compared to the coupe and in return, you got a pop top that drops in 14 seconds at up to 28mph.

Ferrari 12Cilindri: 6.5-litre 9,500rpm 830PS V12

Now let’s talk about that engine – as revealed when lifting that glorious clam hood – because it’s arguably been on borrowed time for a while. Well, Ferrari has borrowed some more, dragging it kicking and screaming into Euro 6E compliance while bumping power and torque subtly to 830PS (610kW) and 677Nm (500lb ft). That makes the 12Cilindri Maranello’s most powerful ICE-only production car to date.

It’s not, however, so much of a jump that these cars have delivered in the past. Headroom must be limited for the 6.5-litre, 9,500rpm F140HD lump, while keeping clean. The biggest hardware change is the conrods which are some 40 per cent lighter, while the pistons and cams have dropped subtly. Is it brave to keep this screamer on stream in today’s world? If past lifespans are matched, this thing will live on until 2032.

The transmission is the eight-speed dual-clutch first seen on the SF90. In the 12Cilindri, it’s 30 per cent quicker to shift than the 812 and sports shorter ratios for a more intense experience through the gears. 0-62mph is covered in just 2.9 seconds, on the way to a top speed of over 211mph.

Ferrari 12Cilindri: Price and release date

Pricing and availability are often thorny subjects when it comes to Prancing Horses. Expect this car to pick up where the 812 left off in terms of volume, but as for pricing? No less than £340,000 is expected to get you a slot for a coupe, or £375,000 for the Spider and both will obviously inflate with options and customisation. Today’s Super GT’s cost as much as yesterday’s hypercars, it seems (not accounting for inflation). Deliveries are set to begin next year, right in time for a certain new hire to arrive for his drive in the F1 team...