Episode Details

A new V12 Ferrari has been spied leaving the Maranello gates. It's a 'Versione Speciale,' or special version of the 12Cilindri, Ferrari's last remaining 12-cylinder offering, and it may resurrect the famous GTO moniker - more on that later. As the F12tdf was a hardcore version of the F12berlinetta, and the 812 Competizione was a more extreme take on the 812 Superfast, so this new 12Cilindri 'VS' will be the same, providing less of a focus on luxury than the base car and placing more emphasis on extremism. Expect less sound deadening, more carbon fiber, better aero, and a healthy bump in prancing horsepower to help justify an increased cost and a smaller production run.

More Aggressive Aero for Ferrari's Special Edition

The regular 12Cilindri's integrated rear spoiler in the middle of the hatch is fixed in place, with the flaps on either side moving to create additional downforce as needed. All of these aerodynamic devices will be retained for the hardcore special edition, but it's unclear if dynamic actuation will still be required since both the central and outer elements have been exaggerated, creating a more wedge-like look that calls to mind the 849 Testarossa and F80. Like the 296 Speciale (and the upcoming 296 Challenge Stradale), overt aero is key to this car's visual signature. We can ignore the oversized exhaust tips as these early development components aren't representative of what will eventually be revealed, though you would be excused for thinking Ferrari has lost its way in terms of design after the Luce. At the front, more aggressive intake openings are complemented by a pair of dive planes, one on each side, and a significant chin spoiler. We can also expect special wheels, likely including carbon fiber options.

Related: The Ferrari 849 Testarossa Is Worthy of Its Iconic Name — Even Without a V12

By the way, Ferrari is also rumored to be preparing a manual version of the 12Cilindri with 'MM' as a suffix to the name, likely to be revealed during the Ferrari Cavalcade later this month, but it won't be as extreme as this, since such wild aero indicates a car with track focus, and like it or not, dual-clutch transmissions are better for outright performance.

Ferrari May Resurrect the GTO Badge

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