It’s been more than a year since it was unveiled and launched, but now, at long last, the Ferrari 12Cilindri and its Spider variant are available in Malaysia via Ital Auto Malaysia. These dream machines were recently presented during the final round of the Passione Ferrari Club Challenge South East Asia at Sepang International Circuit. A brief recap: the Ferrari 12Cilindri boasts a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine; an eight-speed, dual-clutch transmission and gearbox; and eye-watering performance figures—809bhp, 678Nm of torque, a top speed of over 340km/hr, 0 to 100km/hr in 2.9 seconds, and 100km/hr to 0 in just 31.4 metres, to name but a few. It even has a decently sized boot, 270 litres, or 200 litres in the Spider—as if all that weren’t enough.
Demand for the Ferrari 12Cilindri and Spider is so fervent that the waiting list for local customers is approaching two years. Even the units normally allocated for media test drives or experiential sessions are on rockstar-esque worldwide whirlwind tours. Robb Report Malaysia was invited to participate in one such media day with the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider, during which we journos would do a quick lap around downtown KL. Trust me when I say this: even 30 minutes in the car will make you fall in love with it.
Exterior
The first thing I noticed, besides its stunning, head-turning looks, is that it doesn’t have a traditional ‘comfort’ mode. Wet, Sport, Race, CT Off, and ESC Off are all that appear on the manettino, with Sport usually set as the default (I’d later learn there is a Bumpy Road mode, which would have been useful in KL). These modes exemplify the kind of vehicle the 12Cilindri is meant to be: impactful, powerful, wonderful. From the moment we took off from The Shoppes at Four Seasons Place, it exudes power and poise—and we’re suddenly the most popular people in town. I feel its potential coursing through every gentle turn of the steering wheel as we wind our way through traffic. All 12 cylinders constantly demand to be unleashed, even when queuing at traffic lights and toll gates. And when the lanes ahead are clear, that’s when the show really starts.
Switch the manettino up, floor it, and feel the brute force of 809 Prancing Horses propelling you towards the horizon. Adrenaline floods my veins, and dopamine rushes to every corner of my body. Every kilometre cleared in top gear is heart-stopping, stomach-churning, bloody good fun. And it gets even better in the turns, as the 12Cilindri Spider remains steadfast, planted as if superglued to the asphalt. No matter how unpredictable Malaysian highways and byways get, Ferrari’s impeccably engineered suspension, aerodynamics, and traction control systems all work together to ensure I’m focused on—and enjoying—the thrill of the drive, rather than becoming another tragic news headline.
Interior
In this era of increasing electrification, it is heart-warming to pilot a naturally aspirated V12; however, purists may notice that the symphony the 12Cilindri performs isn’t quite what it used to be. Although its V12 howl will still make you grin from ear to ear, older petrolheads may find its ferocity different from the roars of bygone models—even with the top down and at full throttle. To comply with the ever-growing list of emissions requirements, its new exhaust system and intakes have been optimised to balance public policy, performance, and aural pleasure. Only the most astringent of fans will complain, but everyone else will find joy in every sensation derived from the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider.
Just be mindful of what the wind will do to your hair and if you have any important meetings after you’ve gone for a spin in it.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri is available from RM4,700,000 (inclusive of import duties and options; excluding registration and insurance). The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider is available from RM5,100,000 (inclusive of import duties and options; excluding registration and insurance).
