Following its world debut in May this year, the Ferrari 12Cilindri (or Dodici Cilindri in full Italian) has now been launched in Malaysia. According to the brand’s official importer and distributor, Ital Auto Malaysia, the 12 Cilindri has starting price of RM4.7 million inclusive of import duties and minimum options, but excluding registration and insurance.
For the big sum of money, you’re getting a two-seat berlinetta (coupe), but you can also have it as a convertible in the form of the 12 Cilindri Spider. This will have a higher starting price of RM5.1 million and it is 60 kg heavier than the coupe, although you get to enjoy a dramatic folding metal roof that retracts in just 14 seconds at speeds of up to 100 km/h for an open-top driving experience.
If it wasn’t obvious, the 12 Cilindri was named as such to celebrate the long line of Ferrari’s front-engine V12 models that include icons such as the 125 S, 250 GTO, 365 GTB/4 (also known as the Daytona), 550 Maranello and 599, just to name a few.
Powering the 12Cilindri is the F140HD, which is a 6.5 litre naturally-aspirated unit that was further developed from the F140HB used in the 812 Competizione. In addition to a modified software, the F140HD also gets internal revisions to reduce the weight and inertia of its components. These include titanium connecting rods, new aluminium alloy pistons as well as a rebalanced crankshaft, all of which frees the engine to rev all the way up to 9,500 rpm.
The list of improvements continues with the addition of lighter sliding finger followers made of steel with a diamond-like carbon coating for the valvetrain, which Ferrari says helps reduce mass and allows for more high-performance valve profiles.
The intake manifold and plenum layout has also been made more compact to shorten the length of the tracts and optimise the cam profiles so more power is unleashed at high revs. Meanwhile, the torque curve is adjusted at all engine speeds by a system of variable geometry inlet tracts.
With all the work put in, the 65-degree V12 engine delivers 830 PS (819 hp or 610 kW) at 9,250 rpm and 678 Nm of torque at 7,250 rpm. Drive goes exclusively to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that has been fettled with to deliver 30% faster shifts, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of just 2.95 seconds. The sprint from 0-200 km/h is dispatched in just 8.2 seconds and the 12Cilindri has a top speed in excess of 340 km/h.
To make the experience even more exciting, Ferrari added Aspirated Torque Shaping (ATS) for the first time on a naturally-aspirated model. This is said improve the perception of the torque with specific torque curves for the third and fourth gears, while new gear ratios keep acceleration levels high.
Ensuring the blistering performance is kept consistent, Ferrari engineers also equipped the 12Cilindri with more efficient oil pump and vapour catch systems to reduce losses and optimise functionality in all operating conditions. In order to meet the latest Euro 6E emissions regulations, there’s also a new exhaust system featuring a ceramic catalytic converter and a particulate filter.
There’s handling to go with the grunt too, as the 12Cilindri gets a full complement of systems to help tame all the grunt. As a start, there’s Side Slip Control (SSC) 8.0, which is joined by brake-by-wire and ABS Evo adapted from the 296 GTB. The 812 Competizione’s rear-wheel steering system is also present here, albeit with improve yaw management and responsiveness.
It’s also worth noting the 12Cilindri has a 20 mm shorter wheelbase compared to the 812 Competizione, and its chassis boasts 15% more torsional rigidity. The newer model is also the first Ferrari production car to have shock towers made from a secondary alloy with 100% recycled material.
Buyers have a choice of either Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 or Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, both of which were designed specifically for the car and come in staggered sizes – 275/35 at the front and 315/35 at the rear – paired with 21-inch alloy wheels.
In terms of styling, the 12Cilindri adopts a more sophisticated look that is noticeably different from its immediate predecessor, the 812 Superfast, that had a more sculptural design. A standout cue that pays homage to the past is the black band across the face, which integrates the headlamps and is a clear reference to the Daytona’s Plexiglas snout.
Other notable areas are the black cockpit incorporating a glass roof, which is interrupted by an expansive “delta wing motif” on the body that flows into the prominent rear haunches. More glass is seen on the lipped rear boot lid, which is joined by split light bar lamps and active flaps on either side, the latter being part of a comprehensive aerodynamic package.
Those flaps rise simultaneously by 10 degrees at 60 km/h to generate 50 kg of downforce, but they are lowered once the car passes the 300 km/h mark to reduce drag. They work in conjunction with air intakes in the front (some of which help with cooling) as well as bonnet vents, an underbody with three pairs of vortex generators, rear-wheel shields and a large rear diffuser that has its own set of vortex generators and integrates quad exhaust exits.
Moving inside, the 12Cilindri follows the Purosangue by adopting a dual-cockpit design but differs from the four-door, four-seat Ferrari by having an unusual-for-Ferrari 10.25-inch central infotainment touchscreen. There’s also a 15.6-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver, while the passenger gets their own 8.8-inch touchscreen.
In keeping with other recent Ferrari models, the gear selector is designed to mimic the H-pattern of gated manual shifters of the past. This is fitted to the centre console that gets a wireless charging pad as standard, while other niceties include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, along with a 1,600W, 15-speaker Burmester sound system. For those concerned, the boot capacity is 270 litres.
As with other Ferrari models, the 12Cilindri comes standard with a seven-year maintenance programme – this is also available across the entire model range. All Ferrari owners in Malaysia can perform regular maintenance at intervals of either 20,000 km or once a year with no mileage restrictions at Ital Auto’s aftersales centre in Glenmarie.
The post Ferrari 12Cilindri launched in Malaysia – coupe from RM4.7 mil, Spider RM5.1 mil; 6.5L NA V12 with 830 PS appeared first on Paul Tan’s Automotive News.
