Miami Beach (USA), 03 May 2024 – Very few associations
can exhilarate and delight like the union between a naturally-aspirated V12
Ferrari engine and open-top motoring: the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider, unveiled
today at an exclusive event hosted at Miami Beach, fuses these two very special
sensations in a two-seater berlinetta spider powered by Ferrari’s iconic
twelve-cylinder engine. This iteration of the V12 delivers 830 cv and keeps
revving right up to 9500 rpm, offering the driver and passenger an even more
exclusive open-air driving experience.
The concept giving shape to the Ferrari 12Cilindri
Spider draws inspiration from open-topped Ferrari Gran Turismo models of the
1950s and ‘60s, which combined the unmatched performance of a road-going racing
car with the unique opportunity to revel in the sound of the 12-cylinder engine
with the roof down, and extraordinary long-distance driving comfort. The design
of the car makes a break from the recent canons of the Ferrari two-seater
berlinetta spider genre, eschewing muscularity and sensuality in favour of a
more futuristic language founded on formal purity with only the barest hint of
a typically automotive visual lexicon.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider is intended for both
connoisseurs of the marque with a clear vision of what Ferrari has stood for in
the motoring world since 1947, and newer Ferraristi who dream of a car that
lets them combine unmatched driving thrills with comfort and Italian design –
and the possibility of enjoying the wind in their hair. This truly is a car for
the few.
POWERTRAIN
The F140HD engine equipping the Ferrari 12Cilindri
Spider is the new version of the iconic naturally-aspirated Ferrari V12, the
purest expression of Ferrari’s soul: its peerless performance, powerful
soundtrack and exclusivity make it the worthy heir to the legendary berlinetta
sports cars that wrote some of the most glittering chapters in the marque’s
history. The engine can unleash up to 830 cv while its max revs have been
increased to 9500 rpm thanks to the adoption of innovative solutions.
The engine features modified components and software,
some of which were already adopted on the open-top special series 812
Competizione A, ensuring it tops its category in terms of performance. To allow
the V12 to rev so high, the engineers worked to reduce the weight and inertia
of the engine’s components, adopting titanium con rods, which guarantee a
saving of 40% in rotating mass compared to steel with the same mechanical
resistance. A different aluminium alloy was used for the pistons, making them lighter
than on previous applications. Further weight reduction was gained by the
adoption of a rebalanced crankshaft which is 3% lighter.
The valvetrain with sliding finger followers is
derived from Ferrari’s unparalleled experience in Formula 1 and was developed
specifically for the V12 with the aim of reducing mass and availing of more
high-performance valve lift profiles. The sliding finger follower, which is
steel with a Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) coating, transmits the action of the cam
to the valve using a hydraulic tappet as the pivot for its movement. The use of
DLC reduces the coefficient of friction at critical points, significantly improving
the mechanical efficiency of the engine.
Most of the modifications focused on optimising torque
delivery in all operating conditions. The result is an engine with
exhilaratingly smooth, seamless response, that delivers peak power at the red
line.
The layout of the manifold and plenum is now more
compact: shortening the length of the tracts and optimising the cam profiles
allows power to be unleashed at high revs. The torque curve is optimised at all
engine speeds by a system of variable geometry inlet tracts which enables the
length of the intake tract to be continuously varied in relation to the firing
intervals of the engine to maximise the dynamic charge in the cylinder.
For the very first time on a naturally-aspirated
engine, an innovative software strategy was developed that can modify the
maximum torque available as a function of the gear selected. This gives the
driver the feeling of smooth, progressive pick-up as the transmission ratio
increases, another vital factor in making the driving exhilaration delivered by
the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider truly unique.
A crescendo of never-ending acceleration and power
delivery has been a signature of all Ferrari V12s. Now innovative Aspirated
Torque Shaping (ATS) has allowed Maranello engineers to sculpt the torque curve
in third and fourth gears using sophisticated electronic control that improves
perception of the torque without impinging on acceleration, all to the benefit
of driving pleasure. The introduction of new gear ratios furthermore keeps
acceleration levels high and allowed the engineers to define a new torque curve
shape for an aspirated engine.
Optimising the engine’s mechanical efficiency and that
of the lubrication circuit is critical to reducing emissions and consumption.
The calibration of the variable displacement oil pump allows the oil to
circulate throughout the entire engine and then be recovered along with the
vapours from the sump. A solenoid valve, controlled by the engine ECU, is used
to control the pump’s displacement in terms of engine revs and pressure,
delivering only the amount of oil required and thereby simultaneously saving a significant
amount of energy. The new configuration of the oil tank and pump’s hydraulic
circuit reduces losses to a minimum and optimises functionality in all
operating conditions.
The gasoline direct injection system (GDI at 350 bar)
comprises two petrol pumps and four rails with pressure sensors that provide
feedback to the pressure control system. The electronic injectors can also
control up to three injections per engine cycle. The ignition system is managed
by an ION control unit which has a single and a multi-spark function. This unit
also serves a knock monitoring and control function, using a sophisticated
strategy for recognising the quality (octane rating) of the fuel in the tank to
maximise the thermodynamic efficiency of the engine.
The new exhaust system, developed to allow the car to
comply with the latest emissions requirements (EU6E, China 6b and Bin 50),
introduces a ceramic catalytic converter coupled with a particulate filter.
This is the most advanced emissions-reduction technology available and involved
lengthy calibration of the software strategies.
Sound is pivotal to marrying the comfort, luxury and
exhilarating driving emotions typical of a Ferrari V12: to this end, every
element of the intake and exhaust lines were optimised. Equal-length exhaust
tracts, the 6-in-1 manifold for every cylinder bank and the innovative design
of the central sections has resulted in Ferrari’s typical V12 howl that
comprises all of the noble combustion orders. The perfect integration and
calibration of high and low frequencies coming from the intake and exhaust systems
respectively also influence the engine’s timbre. The shape of the ducts and the
internal fluid dynamics of the silencer baffles have been designed to reduce
backpressure to a minimum thereby improving power delivery. The geometry of the
forms and curves of the exhaust system was also perfected to guarantee the very
purest notes of the signature Ferrari sound all the way to the limiter.
To guarantee that the soundtrack in the cabin is also
perfectly balanced, the intake tract was modified. Altering the position of the
resonators also changed the pressure waves resulting in a richer range,
particularly in terms of the middle frequencies. The result is a cleaner,
fuller sound in all driving conditions, and especially in sportier situations.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider sports the 8-speed DCT
(Dual Clutch Transmission) that received such a unanimously rapturous welcome
on other cars in the range, starting with the SF90 Stradale. Thanks in part to
larger tyres on 21” rims, this solution delivers 5% shorter gear ratios in the
lower gears and a 12% increase in torque at the wheels compared to previous V12
applications, all to the benefit of longitudinal performance under acceleration
and gear shifting times (30% faster than the previous two-seat V12
applications).
Performance under acceleration through the gears has
been significantly improved and the introduction of the 8th gear improves range
in motorway driving. The eight-speed DCT thus both improves efficiency and is
more engaging in all gears.
DESIGN
EXTERIOR
With the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider, Flavio Manzoni and the Ferrari Styling Centre design team set out to radically transform the stylistic codes of Ferrari’s previous mid-front-engined V12s. The car in fact marks a clear departure from the sculptural language that characterised the 812 Competizione A, for example, instead favouring a more sophisticated language that still retains the necessary formal design rigour to achieve a sense of stylistic unity.
Clean lines dominate the car’s geometry, underscoring
the volumes that make up a seamlessly interconnected whole. The ultra-clean
flanks sweep back along the entire car from a dihedral section. Although
retaining a signature Ferrari sensuality, the wings have been sculpted with
extreme geometric precision: all the lines are the result of intersections
between the volumes and a more functional approach to form has been taken that
eschews nostalgia. The muscular rear wing is imposing, yet also perfectly controlled
geometrically. On the front wing, that muscular tension extends slightly,
coming to rest along the flank and further accentuating the car’s monolithic
aesthetic.
The sculpted bonnet is extremely sleek and
incorporates the front wings. Removing the cut lines from the wings gives a
smooth, uninterrupted surface to the muscularity of the design, lending the
entire bonnet a sense of ultra-clean fluidity, interrupted only by two vents to
cool the engine bay. One of the objectives of the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider was
to explore design languages only tangentially related to the car world. The
front has lost certain signature elements, such as the elongated form of the headlights
and the traditional grille shape, in favour of geometries and intersections
innate to the car’s design. The headlights are integrated into a single
wraparound band from which the DRLs emerge like blades.
This car differs from the Ferrari 12Cilindri in the
boldly expressive character created by the two buttresses at the rear, behind
which an element with a black-screen effect is set. The crease lines evident on
the buttresses clearly echo the motif of the flank, accentuating the
expressiveness of the design of these elements. Set into the flank is a
‘quarterlight’ in back-painted polycarbonate.
A similar approach has been taken with the rear
architecture: once again, rigour is the order of the day with the shape
obtained by the subtraction of volume. Consistent with the front of the car the
taillights are set into a blade that traverses the entire, concave rear section
and also provides what is possibly the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider’s real
signature theme, demonstrating once again how cleverly the Ferrari Styling
Centre’s designers are able to meld technical and functional demands with
beauty.
Instead of adopting a rear spoiler, the designers have
used two active flaps integrated with the rear screen, creating a signature
delta theme. The overall perception is of a seamless whole, creating the idea
of a very high-tech form. The development of this concept allowed the designers
to treat the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider’s cabin in a new way, tracing the frame
of the surface in body colour to echo the rear screen theme and integrate
organically with the rest of the cabin which itself is characterised by a black
screen effect.
The tail section ends in a very clean, monolithic
volume in body colour as well. The lower section of the tail - in black or in
carbon fibre - features the prominent diffuser keels. The body of the car
appears to be suspended over this element, creating a floating effect. This
zone also hosts the sensors and two twin tailpipes. The four tailpipes
themselves also feature an all-new shape, with a metal surround to reduce the
perception of their size and create a more compact look.
INTERIOR
The design of the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider’s interior sees it split into three different levels: the first, dominated by the upper part of the dash, continues around to blend into the door panel trim. Next is the central area while the third includes the footwells and seats. Each level is clearly defined, heightening the dual-cockpit effect through the colour and material combinations. These are used to create either an elegant or sporty look for the seats and other features. Ferrari’s signature luxury and performance are flanked on the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider by a focus on environmental sustainability: extensive use has been made of sustainable materials such as Alcantara© containing 65% recycled polyester.
The interior style takes its inspiration from the
Prancing Horse’s dual-cockpit architecture. In recent years, that layout was
used for the Ferrari Roma and Roma Spider as well as the Ferrari Purosangue.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider’s cabin has an almost symmetrical structure
comprising two modules for driver and passenger and offering an astonishing
standard of comfort and involvement in the driving experience.
The dashboard extends horizontally, a fact underscored
by a clear separation between the trimmed volumes in the upper section and the
technical functions in the lower section. The upper section features two
distinct binnacles dedicated to the driver and passenger instrumentation and to
the climate control vents. A deftly elegant colour and material change draws
the eye to the two volumes separated by the body of the dash, which seem almost
to float, further enhancing the feeling of lightness in this area.
The panels of the central tunnel extend outward from
the dashboard geometries as if they were almost an extension of the latter. The
trimmed area features a large sculptural gash emphasised by contrasting
materials. The armrest is in the trimmed area of the tunnel and extends into
the medallion area, revealing contrasting metallic edging that creates an
elegant intersection between the volumes. The side section of the tunnel itself
has been scooped out, again recreating that floating feeling. The structure of
the tunnel is trimmed with exclusive upholstery, and features a Y-shaped metal
element into which the iconic shift gate is set.
Unlike the Ferrari 12Cilindri, there is no rear bench
as the rear zone of the cabin of the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider is used to stow
the retractable hard top. However, the solution chosen for the roof system
still leaves plenty of space in the cabin, and the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider is
a versatile car suitable even for long journeys.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider introduces a new Human
Machine Interface (HMI) comprising three displays that raise the Ferrari V12
berlinetta onboard experience to new heights. All of the main functions can be
controlled from the central 10.25” touchscreen capacitive display within reach
of both driver and passenger. This is flanked by a 15.6” driver display showing
all of the driving and vehicle dynamics information. Lastly, the passenger is
always completely involved in the driving experience thanks to an 8.8” display
that ensures they feel like a genuine co-driver.
The car sports the capacitive steering wheel seen on
all of the latest models in the range featuring the indented buttons for ease
of use. This means that command activations are more precise, instant and
intuitive even in sporty driving conditions. The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider
comes with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto®-based mobile connectivity systems
as standard, both easily controlled from the new central display. A wireless
charging mat on the central tunnel (as standard) makes phone charging simple too.
Available as an optional on the Ferrari 12Cilindri
Spider is the high-end audio system developed in collaboration with Burmester®,
comprising 15 loudspeakers and unleashing a massive 1600 W for a genuinely
unprecedented in-car experience at any volume and any speed. The high
frequencies are crystal clear and sparkling, thanks to Ring Tweeter technology
which minimises distortion. The powerful dual coil subwoofer guarantees a
wonderfully full, rich sound which, thanks to Ultraflat Headliners, is all part
of a 360-degree listening experience.
AERODYNAMICS
The main objective of the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider’s
aerodynamics was to produce a sober, elegant car without compromising on
performance. The 25-mm nolder on the boot lid and the active aero are the two
signature elements of the tail section. The former guarantees the recompression
required to maintain the car’s aero efficiency when drag is minimal while the
flaps permit two different configurations, Low Drag (LD) and High Downforce
(HD) respectively.
In the LD position, the flaps are flush with the
bodywork so that the air runs over it uninterrupted, making them invisible to
the flow. This configuration is retained until a speed of 60 km when downforce
is not very relevant to the performance of the car, something that is also the
case over 300 km/h. In between these two speeds, however, downforce plays a
central role and the spoilers’ movement depends on the car’s longitudinal and
lateral acceleration. In high downforce configuration, the Ferrari 12Cilindri
Spider generates maximum downforce and guarantees that the car is
aerodynamically balanced.
An internal aerodynamic passage has been created in
the trim ahead of the buttresses. Its purpose is to enable the flow of air
towards the rear of the car, facilitating recompression behind the adjustable
rear screen and reducing the amount of air recirculating in the cockpit. The
vertical profile on the outside of the aerodynamic passage has the task of
correctly directing the air towards the rear, to the benefit of efficiency and
flow stabilisation.
The underbody is designed to maximise efficient
vertical load generation, also by managing the airflow out of the central
radiators. The planform and profile of the louvres in the central opening of
the underbody minimise the impact of the hot air which is not highly energised.
Two louvres have been created in the low-pressure area behind the front wheels
which, by reducing overpressure inside the engine compartment, increase the
efficiency of the radiating masses, lowering drag and increasing downforce generation.
As was the case with the 812 Competizione A, downforce
on the front underbody is generated by three pairs of vortex generators
optimised in the wind tunnel. The front underbody also contributes to brake
cooling by delivering a flow of lower-temperature air from the front splitter.
The central underbody has been designed to correctly
channel the air flows, retaining the available energy all the way to the rear
diffuser. To that end, the transmission tunnel opening was reduced to balance
the amount of air that would flow inside it. A raised section ahead of the rear
wheel shields the tyres and deflects the flow towards the rear.
The rear underbody sports a pair of vortex generators
which are used to produce efficient downforce and channel the flows towards the
extractor. In line with Ferrari’s philosophy of transferring innovations from
the racing world to the road-going sports cars, the engineers designed an air
inlet near the outer edge of the rear fence to provide ventilation for the
silencer’s electronics.
COOLING LAYOUT
The heat dissipation requirements of the engine and ancillaries demanded a redesign of the car’s entire cooling system which resulted in front underbody evacuation being optimised, with no fewer than seven openings in the front bumper. In particular, the space between the longitudinal elements of the chassis houses the engine coolant radiator and air-con circuit condenser, which are fed by the central opening, while the oil radiator has been split into two separate elements, lying ahead of the front wheels. The side air intakes are divided in two: the outer part is designed to cool the engine oil radiator while the inner one cools the brakes.
A generous brake cooling duct is fed by two openings,
one between the radiator intakes and the other on the lower part of the front
splitter. The entire system is integral to the oil radiator intake to optimise
the routing of the front brake intakes. The side intakes are framed by an
L-shaped element designed to maximise the amount of air entering the opening
whilst simultaneously correctly channelling the flow along the car’s flanks.
The air in the engine bay exits through two vents on
the bonnet which reduce overpressure, improving cooling efficiency. Thanks to
the latter, there are fewer openings on the underbody, thereby maximising
efficient downforce generation. On the wing behind the front wheels there is
also a vent for the air from the wheelarch which minimises overpressure on the
underbody caused by the cooling duct for the brakes and front diffusers.
VEHICLE DYNAMICS
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider boasts the very state of
the art in front-engined berlinetta dynamic controls. The introduction of
brake-by-wire allowed the latest innovations from the range to be adopted,
including ABS Evo that debuted on the 296 GTB and the 6D sensor that guarantees
optimal precision to the Virtual Short Wheelbase (PCV) 3.0 and Side Slip
Control (SSC) 8.0 systems, together with reduced braking distances and a more
accurate repeatability of braking. The Aspirated Torque Shaping, an entirely new
control logic, also emphasises even further the smoothly linear power delivery
from the legendary naturally-aspirated engine, thanks to electronic control.
The SSC 8.0, a new evolution of the famous Ferrari
control unit, allows the systems to talk to each other using a shared language
that calculates the optimal operating mode for each one in order to maximise
the car’s overall performance. The SSC 8.0 integrates the Ferrari 12Cilindri
Spider’s controllers and creates natural synergy with the new ABS Evo.
The SSC 8.0 is Ferrari’s proprietary system and has
been optimised to further improve estimation accuracy and learning speed (+10%
compared to previous applications), as well as control on very low grip
surfaces. Grip estimation is flanked by the contribution of the grip
recognition logic: by using the information from the EPS CPU and the side-slip
angle estimated by the SSC 8.0, the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider can estimate the
tyre-road grip level even when steering. Thanks to this approach, the grip can
also be estimated in normal use conditions and not just on the limit, making it
faster for the system to learn real grip levels.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider features the four-wheel
independent steering (4WS) that debuted on the special series 812 Competizione,
which manages the movement of every wheel independently to improve yaw
management in cornering and responsiveness during rapid direction changes. The
rear-wheel steering has innovative mechanical characteristics that
significantly improve precision of control of the position of each single
actuator, giving faster axle response time and consequently improved
responsiveness through corners. Optimum handling is also ensured thanks to a
near-ideal weight distribution – 47.8% front and 52.2% rear – and the car’s
responsiveness also benefits from the 20-mm reduction in the wheelbase compared
to the 812 GTS.
TYRES
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider can be fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport S5 or Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, both of which were developed in a new size for the Maranello company: 275/35ZR21 at the front and 315/35ZR21 at the rear. Development benefited from physical and virtual sessions, the latter carried out through simulator testing to reduce the number of physical prototypes and, consequently, development times and cycles.
Performance has been optimised thanks to the adoption
of the latest technologies in terms of compounds, tread design concepts and
casing characteristics. Extensive testing has led to improved performance, dry
grip levels and balance, stability on the limit and in the wet, as well as
improved comfort and noise characteristics both internally and externally,
including a 10% reduction in rolling resistance compared to the previous
Ferrari front-engined V12 berlinetta applications.
CHASSIS
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider’s all-aluminium chassis, featuring a 20-mm reduction in wheelbase compared to the 812 GTS, is completely new: specific attention was focused on the geometry of cast components such as the shock towers and A and C pillars, to improve torsional rigidity whilst simultaneously reducing weight.
The result was an increase of 15% in torsional
rigidity compared to the past, which ensures more predictable dynamic
behaviour, with consequent benefits for suspension precision. Thanks to more
extensive use of castings, the number of extruded components requiring assembly
has been significantly reduced, making the assembly process more efficient.
Lightness was a key requisite throughout the entire development of the chassis
and body-in-white of the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider, which weighs just 60 kg more
than the Ferrari 12Cilindri – a remarkably small weight increase made possible
by the innovative solutions developed specifically for this car.
The body includes aluminium reinforcement connections
between the roll bar behind the occupants and the B-pillar. This solution
offered a significant saving in weight which, in turn, allowed for a lower
centre of gravity. Featuring a dual curvature above the heads of the driver and
passenger for greater headroom, improving both comfort and versatility, the
retractable hard top (RHT) takes just 14 seconds to open or close, and can be
operated at speeds up to 45 km/h. The kinematic system moves with elegant harmony,
while its simplicity, combined with the use of aluminium, makes this a much
lighter option than other solutions. Completing the roof zone is a rear screen
which can be electrically height-adjusted. This feature offers occupants
extraordinary levels of comfort in the cabin when driving with the roof down,
and even allows a normal conversation to be held at speeds up to and beyond 200
km/h.
For the first time on a Ferrari production car, a
secondary alloy with 100% recycled material has been used to make the shock
towers of the gearbox subframe: its introduction allows a reduction in carbon
dioxide emissions of 146 kg of CO2 for every car produced. Thanks to an
extensive development phase, it was possible to guarantee that the mechanical
characteristics are the same as non-recycled alloy, exploiting the slight
differences in chemical composition. For the validation of this new alloy,
extensive testing was undertaken to assess the static and dynamic behaviour of
the components and ensure excellent results in fatigue and crash tests.
7 YEAR MAINTENANCE
Ferrari’s unparalleled quality standards and
increasing focus on client service underpin the extended seven-year maintenance
programme offered with the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider. Available across the
entire Ferrari range, the programme covers all regular maintenance for the
first seven years of the car’s life. This scheduled maintenance programme for
Ferraris is an exclusive service that allows clients the certainty that their
car is being kept at peak performance and safety over the years. This very special
service is also available to owners of pre-owned Ferraris.
Regular maintenance (at intervals of either 20,000 km
or once a year with no mileage restrictions), original spares and meticulous
checks by staff trained directly at the Ferrari Training Centre in Maranello
using the most modern diagnostic tools are just some of the advantages of the
Genuine Maintenance Programme. The service is available on all markets
worldwide and from all Dealerships on the Official Dealership Network.
The Genuine Maintenance programme further extends the
wide range of after-sales services offered by Ferrari to meet the needs of
clients wishing to preserve the performance and excellence that are the
signatures of all cars built in Maranello.