Ferrari takes on 12-cylinder engine in an increasingly electrified automotive industry

On June 6th, Ferrari announced a new model. It is called "Dodici Cilindri". The unveiling took place at Toranomon Hills Station Tower, where many media outlets were invited to attend. It was amazing that so many media representatives gathered even though the car had already had its world premiere in Miami on May 11rd. You can feel the high presence of the Ferrari brand.

So what kind of models have been released? I think there are two key points. One is the engine, and the other is the design.
As for the engine, those who speak Italian may have immediately recognized it, but the name Dodici Chilindori expresses it. If you translate it directly into Japanese, it means "12 cylinders". In other words, the engine is a V-type 12-cylinder. Dodici means "12" and Chilindori means "cylinder". However, regardless of the number, you may not know that "cylinder" is Chilindori. Even if you learn Italian as a second foreign language, it is unlikely that the word "cylinder" will appear in your textbook. In everyday conversation, you will hardly ever have an exchange like "How many cylinders does this car have?" or "It's 12 cylinders."

But why did Ferrari just name it after the 12 cylinders? It seems a bit too simple, or like they didn't think about it that much. I think they could have come up with a more wonderful, dreamy name. For example, something like the Ferrari Roma, which has a V8 engine mounted in the front. I'm sure I'm not the only one who somehow has a romantic image when I hear the word Roma.

However, if you think about it carefully, Rome also seems like an easy name. The previous one was Portofino, which borrowed the name of the city as it is. Before that, the names of places related to Ferrari were used, such as 360 Modena and 550/575 Maranello. Modena is the name of the prefecture in Emilia-Romagna where Ferrari's headquarters are located, and Maranello is the name of the town where the headquarters is located. Incidentally, there is also a model called the 458 Italia, so if you combine the three, it seems like it would be the address of the headquarters. However, there is no model with Emilia-Romagna in it yet.

The name says it all. Learning a language from a car is also cool.

Regardless, the reason for choosing the Dodici Chilindori was probably to emphasize the 12-cylinder engine. As electrification advances, naturally aspirated 12-cylinder engines are on the way to disappearing. This is because exhaust gas regulations are getting stricter every year. There is a high possibility that they will be replaced by a V8 or V6 + motor.

Even so, it will probably take some time to remember these names. At the moment, I'm not confident that I can say them without getting bored because they are a series of unfamiliar words. However, based on my past experiences, I feel like I will be able to say them surprisingly quickly. Maserati "Quattroporte" and Fiat "Cinquecento" are good examples. When I first saw them, I was like, "What does that mean?", but now I use them in conversations normally.
For those who don't know the history of Maserati, the Quattroporte may seem like a strange name. Quattro = "4" and Porte = "door", so the model name is "four doors". However, if you know that this brand is a sports car manufacturer and two doors are the default, this name makes sense. Four doors are rare.

The name Dodici Chilindori has led us off on a tangent, but this 65-liter 6.5-cylinder engine with a 12-degree bank angle is derived from the 812 series unit. With 830cv of power and a maximum speed of 9500rpm, it's on par with a racing car. Or rather, it's more like a motorcycle. And its improved components and software have already been adopted for the 812 Competizione. Competizione is the English word for "competition." In short, it means "competition vehicle."

Now, let's move on to the second point, the design. The design of this car is simply cool. The actual car has a more subtle and stylish look than the photo. It has a sophisticated urban feel. Until recently, Ferrari's focus on aerodynamics made it too unique. This was because they prioritized lowering air resistance and cooling the engine and brakes with wind. However, after the Ferrari Roma, this thinking changed, and the former allure has returned. The Dodici Chilindori is a model that follows exactly that line. The integrated line from the bonnet to the front bumper is smooth. Moreover, the blacked-out grille reminds us of the old Ferrari 2GTB/365, commonly known as the Daytona. It really looks great.

That's the general overview of the model, but if you have car enthusiasts around you, it's a good idea to remember the name Dodici Chilindri. If you can say it casually, you'll be praised for knowing a lot about cars! However, this Italian word has no other versatility, so please be aware of this. It's never a good idea to say "cylinder" in Italian when traveling to Italy.

Photo by Ferrari

Tatsuya Kushima

Motor journalist and columnist. Currently, he is the media site editor-in-chief and media business producer for the surfing magazine "NALU." She has previously served as editor-in-chief of many men's magazines, golf magazines, car magazines, airline in-flight magazines, etc. In addition to media activities, he is a member of the Japan Car of the Year selection committee, a member of the Japan Cigar Association, a Japan Boat of the Year selection committee, and the creative director of men's golf wear ``The Duke's Golf.''