Good Vibrations

No one has to guess what's under the hood of the Ferrari 12Cilindri.

- Joe Lorio

"We wanted a name that represents the essence of the car itself," says Jacopo Marcon, product marketing manager. "So it's 12Cilindri, as simple as that."

While V-12s grow rarer by the day, Ferrari's new grand tourer celebrates that magnificent engine configuration, one so central to the brand. As a replacement for the 812, the 12Cilindri is the classic Ferrari arrangement: V-12 engine up front, seating for two, rear-wheel drive. But even more than its predecessors, the new GT's styling leans into the brand's rich history yet seems more modern than retro.

The front end is an unmistakable nod to the 365GTB/4 Daytona-but Ferrari says it is also inspired by sci-fi in that it's designed to impart a "faceless" appearance by masking the headlights. An equally arresting visual is the C-pillar graphic that extends over the roof to give the appearance of a forward-jutting grab handle. The black roof section ahead of it is dark-tinted glass. An exaggerated cab-rearward design makes for a classically long hood, with the body form interrupted by swollen fender arches under which 21inch wheels are wrapped in 275/35ZR-21 front and 315/35ZR-21 rear footwear. Unlike on Ferrari's sports cars, aerodynamic elements are not on full display. Rather than a large rear spoiler, for instance, flaps above the taillights deploy during spirited driving to add downforce at speeds between 37 and 186 mph. Keep the steering wheel pointed straight, and they lie dormant.