There’s something almost intrinsically wrong about driving a V12-powered Ferrari at no more than 40 kilometers per hour. The Italian stallion, after all, was engineered to scream its spine-tingling V12 symphony at over 9,000 rpm—not growl softly like you’re passing through a never-ending school zone.
But we were driving this breathtakingly expensive (starts at P43.9 million) and ultra-rare (the first and so far the only one of its kind in the Philippines) 12Cilindri—Maranello’s newest V12 masterpiece—inside the scenic grounds of Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club in Morong, Bataan. So we had no choice but to abide by the club’s 40-km/h speed limit. My consolation? The average speed in Metro Manila roads is 25 km/h—with a bunch of cars and motorcycles (with kamote drivers and riders) around you. So cruising at 40 in scenic, traffic-free Anvaya was actually a balm for the soul.
And yet, as I glided through town with the tachometer barely awake, I discovered a different kind of thrill.
First, the sound. Even restrained, the 6.5-liter V12 hums with an aristocratic growl—more basso profundo than roaring lion, but always reminding you of the fury that lurks a few centimeters deeper in the throttle. At these speeds, every pulse of the 12Cilindri (pronounced “dodeechee cheeleendree”) is intimate, like hearing a powerful opera singer whisper.
And “powerful” is the word. The 12Cilindri pumps out 830hp and 678Nm of torque. It has a mind-boggling 9,500-rpm redline. Performance numbers? 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 340 km/h. While a quick car will hit 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, this Ferrari will be hitting 200 km/h by that time.
The ride quality, surprisingly, is sublime. Ferrari’s magnetorheological suspension, capable of making the car stick to a racetrack like glue, is just as adept at transporting your sensitive backside without undue stiffness or harshness. Steering is light but precise; even under 40, there’s feedback from the road, subtle tugs and nudges that communicate far more than you’d expect at this pace. Chassis tricks? The brake-by-wire and 6D chassis sensor from the Ferrari 296 are here as well as the four-wheel steering and adaptive dampers from the Purosangue SUV.
Visually, it’s like parking a spacecraft in a quiet village. Heads turn. Cameras rise. You’re not going fast, but you’re making an entrance everywhere you go. There’s a particular surrealness in rolling through empty winding roads at bicycle speed, inside a car capable of 340 km/h. I felt like Don Johnson’s Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice, thanks to the 12Cilindri’s nose looking so much like that of the Ferrari Daytona’s made immortal in that detective series.
Having a huge V12 under the front hood makes for a spectacular long hood-short deck profile. Viewed from the side, half of the car is ENGINE. The rest is smooth curves and bulges in all the right places. The rounded rear end looks almost like a space ship, with a blacked out upper half, uniquely shaped backlight, and ultra-slim taillights. A blacked out rear diffuser houses four prominent tailpipes. Functional body tricks include F1-inspired active aero that allows high- or low-downforce configurations, without any wing in sight—amazing.
Inside is an almost symmetrical dual-cockpit layout. Making you feel like an F1 driver is the flat-bottom steering wheel with lots of buttons and switches. There are three displays—a 15.6-inch display for the driver, a 10.25-inch display in the middle, and an 8.8-inch display for the passenger. Functions like climate control and infotainment are all controlled from the center screen, so both driver and passenger have equal access on a long drive. Needless to say, your 43.9 million gets you wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Buyers of the 12Cilindri can choose between Comfort or Sport seats. The former offers a staggering 18-way-adjustable heated-and-cooled seat. The latter foregoes power adjustment and boasts a carbon fiber shell for lighter weight. Other options include a front suspension lifter, a 15-speaker Burmester sound system, a panoramic roof, privacy glass, and even custom luggage. If a panoramic roof isn’t expansive enough, you can opt for the 12Cilindri Spider (convertible in Ferrari-speak). The glass hatch is power-actuated while the cargo area is surprisingly decent. There is also a parcel shelf behind the seats.
All things considered, the low-speed drive over two days didn’t feel repressed at all. It exposes something rare: the 12Cilindri’s breadth of character. Yes, it’s a brutal performance machine—but it’s also a sculpture, an experience, a presence. Driving a Ferrari slowly isn’t boring. It’s like walking a tiger on a leash through a library: you don’t need to hear the roar to feel the power. Even at a crawl, the 12Cilindri thrills in ways few cars can match.
Photos by Mica de los Reyes
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