Ferrari's new £336,500 12Cilindri grand tourer reviewed

From the second you spy its gorgeous looks from afar to the moment you experience its scintillating on road performance, one thing is clear about the superb new Ferrari 12Cilindri grand tourer – it's a cruiser not a bruiser.

That was also my instant reaction when I saw a row of them lined up in the early morning sun in a golden shade called Giallo Montecarlo - and knowing that within minutes I would be driving one of them.

But while I much enjoyed its sporty but sophisticated long-distance driving appeal on the road, my experience of it unleashed on a racing test-track showed there was a real fire-breathing dragon beneath the very civilised exterior.

'You had me at 12Cilindri': Ray Massey takes to the wheel of Ferrari's latest grand touring model

This elegant long-limbed two-seater coupe proved a real head-turner, as I drove it on circuitous Continental route that took me from the heart of Luxembourg, through the forests of the Ardennes and into both Germany and Belgium before heading back.

The new front-engined Berlinetta-style 12Cilindri takes its name – in the original Italian - as a celebration of the great heritage of Ferrari naturally-aspirated 12-cylinder V12 engines, a modern iteration of which is at its heart.

What does it cost?

It starts at £336,500 – after which the sky is the limit given the huge array of added 'extras' and enhancements from paint colours to carbon-fibre trim.

And with the option also of an open-top spider version (costing from £366,500 or a £30,000 uplift), Ferrari describes the pair as 'two souls in the same car.'

As a bonus for British buyers, UK cars are provided with a four-year warranty (versus three-years in the rest of the world), while all cars also come with seven-years genuine maintenance which covers all routine servicing for the first seven years, transferable to future owners.

It might have a starting price of £336,500 but most will cost much more given the huge array of added 'extras' and enhancements from paint colours to carbon-fibre trim that threaten to accelerate even faster than the car itself.

'Performance on the road is a combination of power, released in a civilised way for cruising with purpose, and poise,' says Ray

The stunning new V12 supercar also combines futuristic 'sci-fi' styling with a nod back to its classic grand tourers of the 1950s and '60s

How does it drive?

Not only does the rear-wheel drive 12Cilindri look fantastic, with a smart and sophisticated air, it also drives with a lightness of speed, despite its blisteringly fast acceleration from an 830hp 6.5-litre V12 engine linked to an eight-speed dual clutch transmission that propels it from rest to 62mph in just 2.9 seconds.

The sprint to 124mph (attempted only on track) takes just 7.9 seconds and top speed, should you be so bold, is 211mph.

Performance on the road is a combination of power, released in a civilised way for cruising with purpose, and poise. But there's also a fine Ferrari howl from engine and exhaust combination to accompany you.

Out on the track I could really let rip – within reason. But not as much as the professional Ferrari driver with whom I road shotgun for a few hot-laps.

Boy, was that an experience. It gave me a far truer insight of what this car is capable – which is far beyond my meagre skills. It was Tokyo drifter made real.

Ray not only took the new Ferrari out on the road - he also had the opportunity to test it to its limit on track

How does it look?

The stunning new V12 supercar also combines futuristic 'sci-fi' styling with a nod back to its classic grand tourers of the 1950s and '60s, particularly the race-bred but versatile 365 GTB/4 and GTS/4 'Daytona' Ferraris sold from 1968 to 1973.

Ferrari design chief Flavio Manzoni was also inspired by 'sci-fi' and 'space age' forms, including movie director Stanley Kubrick's 1968 cinema epic '2001: A Space Odyssey', and the late Gerry Anderson's science-fiction TV series such as 'Space 1999'.

The styling not only makes the car look good, it also creates clever aerodynamic twists which help keep the car on the ground at speed and control its movements, such as two integrated rear flaps and an aerodynamically sculpted underbody.

On a practical level, there's a decent-sized 270 litres boot for luggage for those long drives across the Continent.

The interior, even with these off-green seats, is a combination of racing tech and supreme luxury

Interior

The 12Cilindri's two-seater cockpit-like interior is snug but roomy. The cabin is split into two separate pod-like zones – one for the driver and the other for the passenger.

There's a narrow shelf on the back beyond the sporty seats in which to chuck your jacket or small bags.

The driver's main 15.6-inch illuminated digital dashboard display looks hi-tech and space age.

All main functions can be controlled from the second screen, a central 10.25-inch touchscreen.

And the third, the passenger's 8.8-inch screen, means they feel like 'a genuine co-driver'.

The driver's main 15.6-inch illuminated digital dashboard display looks hi-tech and space age. All main functions can be controlled from the second screen, a central 10.25-inch touchscreen. And the third, the passenger's 8.8-inch screen, means they feel like 'a genuine co-driver'

The steering wheel has buttons for commands.

Audio fans can enjoy, as an option, a 1600W high-end system with 15 loudspeakers and 360-degree surround sound developed in collaboration with Burmester.

A particularly nice touch is the drive-select set up which emulates the old iconic and slightly industrial Ferrari manual shift gear-box...

In-built navigation? Get lost

One downside is that there is no built-in navigation – you have to rely on Google maps or another app on your smartphone for your directions.

Ferrari reasons that buyers of this car will have the latest hi-tech phones costing as much as a new hatchback.

But Apple Car play and Android Auto are standard.

Also, there's no head-up display. So you have to keep looking across to see the central map for directions.

Huge effort between Ferrari and their partners Goodyear has gone into the creating the bespoke Eagle F1 Supersport tyres designed to keep the 12Cilindri planted to the road

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The only bit that touches the road

Huge effort between Ferrari and their partners Goodyear has gone into the creating the bespoke Eagle F1 Supersport tyres riding on vast 21-inch wheels – often an overlooked but absolutely vital part of the engineering story as they are the only parts of the vehicle should that retain contact with the road.

So I also visited the remarkable hi-tech Goodyear proving ground in Luxembourg which houses a full-sized track simulator – a fully-wired up car cabin on computer-controlled hydraulic supports..

Here, thanks to inputted data and clever software, drivers can 'test' and refine early prototype tyres – without actually making them.

This has reduced the number of tyres tested in a programme from more than 2,000 to around 600.

There is still the question as to whether the 12Cilindri will be the swansong last V12 for Ferrari ahead of its electric revolution

Cars & Motoring Verdict

The latest new Ferrari 12Cilindri is a gorgeous proposition. It blends speed and performance with sophisticated looks. It hails you, it does not shout. It clearly appeals to women as much as men.

It exudes manners (up to a point) not machismo.

And for the petrolheads out there, it really is a fitting tribute to the peak of Ferrari's naturally aspirated V12 engine programme – though I suspect this will not be the uppermost thought in most buyers' minds.

They'll take one glance at it's drop-dead gorgeous look and it'll be a case, to paraphrase a key line from the classic movie 'When Harry Met Sally': 'You had me at 12Cilinidri'

There is still the question as to whether the 12Cilindri will be the swansong last V12 for Ferrari ahead of its electric revolution?

Ferrari bosses are keeping us guessing. I hope not. I suspect not. But if it were, it's not a bad note to end on.