As forced induction and electrification continue democratize horsepower throughout the automotive industry, luxury automakers have faced a growing challenge: how do you make an exotic machine feel special at a point in time when even mainstream vehicles offer jaw-dropping performance? Ferrari, to its notable credit, has answered this question in part by staying at the forefront of the latest technologies, as evidenced by cutting-edge entries like the SF90 and F80 – both of which utilize performance-tuned hybrid systems in conjunction with turbocharged engines and sophisticated all-wheel-drive setups. While those two mid-engine monsters offer truly stunning capability, there’s also a growing contingent of performance enthusiasts who yearn for the simpler days of long, curvaceous hoods, rear-wheel drive propulsion, and the banshee wail of a high-winding 12-cylinder engine at full chat. And that’s precisely where the 12Cilindri Spider stakes its claim. As the successor to the 812 Superfast, the 12Cilindri leverages clever active aerodynamics, advanced traction and stability control systems, and a trick four-wheel-steering system that manages the movement of each wheel independently to enhance cornering response, but it’s ultimately an homage to Ferrari’s storied V12 heritage. Aside from the no-nonsense name (which literally translates to “12 Cylinders”), the 12Cilindri’s exterior styling clearly takes some inspiration from the 365 GTB Daytona of the late 1960s. And rather than saddling its latest GT flagship with the complexities of bulky batteries, electric motors, turbochargers, and AWD, Ferrari has instead chosen to focus on the fundamentals that have made GT cars like the Daytona such enduring icons: elegant design, a finely honed chassis, and a truly spectacular naturally aspirated powerplant. It’s a 6.5-liter dry-sump V12 that produces 819 horsepower and revs to a searing 9,500 rpm. Ferrari only cites a deliberately ambiguous dry weight of 3,571 pounds for the Spider, which carries about 130 pounds of extra mass as compared to its coupe counterpart. But at a time when an alarming number of new performance cars are saddled with curb weights that start with a five, the potentially sub-4,000-pound 12Cilindri Spider feels lithe and unencumbered by countermeasures expressly designed to combat the laws of physics. Although its primary mission is to enable drivers to carve their way through picturesque locales at a lively pace without compromising comfort, the 12Cilindri has a notably more sports-car-like persona than the Aston Martin Vanquish – its closest rival – thanks in part to the Ferrari’s incredibly rigid chassis, dual-clutch gearbox, and earnestly performance-tuned suspension. While the eight-speed DCT occasionally takes a beat to get things going from a dead stop, and the hunkered-down stance makes the nose-lift feature a necessity when negotiating steep driveway aprons, the 12Cilindri Spider still manages to retain an admirable level of civility around town and out on the highway. Outfitted with a killer Burmester audio system, a retractable hard top that opens in just 14 seconds at speeds up to 28 mph, and sport seats that feature heating, ventilation, and adjustable bolstering as well as multiple massage routines, the 12Cilindri Spider can be a posh, effortless cruiser when called upon to do so. The only glaring deficiency in this regard comes from Ferrari’s HMI implementation, which utilizes frustratingly difficult-to-use capacitive surfaces on the steering wheel and the instrument panel to control features like adaptive cruise control and mirror adjustments, along with the various functions that are accessed via the 15.6-inch digital gauge cluster. While the infotainment system looks sharp and is quick to respond to inputs, Apple CarPlay conked out on more than one occasion during the few days I spent with the car. Nitpicks aside, one feature that definitely works as intended is the steering-wheel-mounted Manettino switch, which allows you to toggle between the available drive modes. Sport is the default, a naming decision which helps set ride quality expectations, but you can also press this switch like a button to enable Bumpy Road mode, which relaxes the adaptive dampers beyond their standard tuning for more compliance on rough pavement. Out in the canyons, I found myself more interested in the additional drama provided by Race mode. In contrast to convention, Ferrari chose to leave the steering, throttle mapping, and brake-by-wire settings the same in the Sport and Race modes for the sake of predictable response, instead heightening the driving experience when set to the latter by easing the electronic assists, ramping up the programming for the gearbox and the electronically-controlled rear differential, and – importantly – opening up the exhaust valves. While it’s still a little bit quieter than I’d prefer, even with the top down, the noise that this V12 makes while working its way past 9k is a soundtrack to your sweetest dreams. It took some conscious effort to stop myself from short-shifting the first few times I laid into the throttle with the gearbox in manual mode. The revs just seem to build endlessly. It’s also a decidedly different experience than what’s offered in the latest Vanquish. The Aston also features a 12-cylinder atomic bomb under its hood, but the crucial difference here is that the Vanquish’s lofty power figures are owed in part to turbocharging. This gives the Aston a substantial advantage in peak torque (738 lb-ft versus the 12Cilindri’s 500 pound-feet), but it also relegates its redline to a relatively pedestrian 7,000 rpm. The upshot is that not only does the 12Cilindri deliver a much more emotive soundtrack when you drop the hammer, it also feels significantly more buttoned down when called upon to hustle through a technical section of road. Its quick steering rack takes a moment to acclimate to, but it soon becomes apparent that the chassis, brakes, and powertrain have no problem keeping pace. <- Gallery -> The Manettino switch also has dedicated settings for partially or completely disabling the traction and stability control systems if you’re feeling brave (or prefer to do your grand touring sideways), but the intervention is so seamless when these systems are enabled that they rarely distract from the proceedings. While the Vanquish twists and shimmies as the powertrain and the electronics have a debate over the fastest way forward, the 12Cilindri just feels more planted and easier to trust when really hauling the mail. In an era when quadruple-digit horsepower has somehow become readily achievable for production cars, the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider is a reminder that character and emotion aren’t attributes that can be easily quantified on a spec sheet. There will be a time – probably in the foreseeable future – where folks will gaze into the open clamshell hood of a 12Cilindri and say, "Man, they don’t make ’em like this anymore." Like it or not, the days of the unassisted Ferrari V12 are almost certainly coming to a close. With that in mind, well-heeled traditionalists would be wise to savor the moment. View All Ferrari 12Cilindris For Sale Images: Bradley Iger

Touring Superleggera Unveils The New Veloce12 Aperta

duPont REGISTRY Garage Version 1.6 Rolls Out Sharper Valuations and Smarter Market Tracking

Endicott College to Host 16th Annual Misselwood Concours d’Elegance July 17–19, 2026

Market Spotlight: Ferrari Enzo and the World's First Eight-Figure Online Auction Result

News:

New Superleggera Veloce12 Aperta Revealed

Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera is known for having coachbuilt some of the world’s most beautiful cars since 1926, and its latest creations combine purist-focused automotive excellence with modern luxury and design, resulting in a new cohort of collector-worthy Italian masterpieces that...

duPont Registry Featured:

duPont REGISTRY Garage Version 1.6 Rolls Out Sharper Valuations and Smarter Market Tracking

duPont REGISTRY Garage has rolled out version 1.6.4, built on extensive market, auction, and sales data. Last month, in our coverage of duPont REGISTRY Garage’s 12-Month Market Leaders, we touched on the new Markets section and its Market Leaders dashboard,...

Events:

Endicott College to Host 16th Annual Misselwood Concours d’Elegance July 17–19, 2026

Endicott College’s picturesque Misselwood Estate will host the 16th annual Misselwood Concours d’Elegance from July 17 to July 19, 2026, welcoming collectors, enthusiasts, and automotive luminaries from across North America to Boston’s North Shore. This year’s event will also honor...

Features:

Market Spotlight: Ferrari Enzo and the World's First Eight-Figure Online Auction Result

Earlier this week, a 2003 Ferrari Enzo finished in a 1-of-1 Rosso Dino specification closed on duPont REGISTRY Live for $13,018,950, setting a new world record, becoming the most expensive car ever sold through an online auction platform and the first...

New Superleggera Veloce12 Aperta Revealed

The new open-top, purist-focused, V12-powered tourer is Superleggera’s “ultimate weekend escape.”

By Tyler Rampersaud– Jun 26, 2026

duPont REGISTRY Garage Version 1.6 Rolls Out Sharper Valuations and Smarter Market Tracking

The release brings a new pricing gauge, updated charts, and broader navigation changes

By Khris Bharath– Jun 26, 2026

Endicott College to Host 16th Annual Misselwood Concours d’Elegance July 17–19, 2026

The celebrated automotive showcase returns to Endicott’s historic oceanfront estate.

By Sponsored Article– Jun 26, 2026

Market Spotlight: Ferrari Enzo and the World's First Eight-Figure Online Auction Result

While the one-off Rosso Dino example just became the most expensive car ever sold through an online auction platform, the decade of data behind that result tells an even bigger story

By Khris Bharath– Jun 20, 2026