HERE’S Lewis Hamilton’s new company car.
Ferrari 12Cilindri. Dang.
When Lewis clocked in at Ferrari on Monday morning, I’d like to think he was straight on the blower for one of these.
Naked V12. Wrapped in a polarising designer suit. Right up his street.
Now the Italians pronounce 12Cilindri as Dodici Cilindri. Doe-dee-chee. Or don’t-ditch-it.
Thankfully, I didn’t. But I did give it a damned good thrashing at Goodyear’s private test track.
The bonnet bulges like Santa’s sack because it houses a blockbuster 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 that thumps out 830 horses and revs to 9,500rpm.
Eighty per cent of torque is available from 2,500rpm. You can imagine the noise.
You can imagine the speed.
You can imagine the smell of everything getting hot.
Ten out of ten. No notes. Actually, scratch that, dodici out of 10. No notes. The late great Enzo Ferrari once said: “When you buy a Ferrari, you pay for the engine and I will give the rest of the car free.”
He’d like 12Cilindri.
It’s the only car in the world that looks as good with its bonnet open as it does closed.
Take a moment to drink in its beauty.
As you would expect from Ferrari, there’s all sorts of trick aero and F1 wizardry going on here to keep things shiny side up.
Yet the silhouette of this two-seat berlinetta is simple and sophisticated. Basically, 12Cilindri succeeds the 812 Superfast. But it’s better.
The aluminium spaceframe chassis is stiffer. The wheelbase is a smidge shorter. Gear shifts are quicker.
The brakes are like anchors. It needs them.
You could pay extra for a Burmester sound system. But that would be silly. That howling V12 is the only music you need.
It has four-wheel steering and something very Ferrari called Slide Slip Control 8.0 which measures grip levels, even on snotty roads in normal use — and not just on the limit.
Now you’re probably thinking race-bred driving thrills equals chiropractor on speed dial.
Actually, no. The cockpit is surprisingly comfy with massaging and ventilated seats to soothe your bones.
The big glass roof adds to the feeling of space.
Three digital screens carry loads of technology including a letterbox-shaped co-driver’s display.
But there’s more fun to be had behind the tiller. We like the chunky gearshift paddles. We like the glow-up rev lights on the steering wheel. We like the red F1-style switch to adjust the suspension and attack mode settings.
You could pay extra for a Burmester sound system. But that would be silly. That howling V12 is the only music you need.
To conclude, then. The £336k Ferrari 12Cilindri is Ferrari at its brilliant best.
When you want to play, it is totally up for it.
When you stop for a rest, it is Instagram gold.
Lewis will love it.
