Ferrari 12Cilindri claims top design award at Milan Design Week
Ferrari's 12Cilindri won the Car Design Award for its clean, futuristic styling, departing from Ferrari's traditional sculpted approach.
Ferrari’s latest front-engined V12 grand tourer, the 12Cilindri, has been awarded the coveted Car Design Award at the 2025 Milan Design Week.
The award was presented during the Milan Design Week at the ADI Design Museum, with Ferrari’s chief design officer Flavio Manzoni attending the ceremony on behalf of the brand. First launched in 1984, the Car Design Award recognises vehicles and concepts that significantly influence the evolution of automotive design. The jury is made up of experts and representatives from leading international motoring publications.
The 12Cilindri impressed the panel for its clean, futuristic styling that departs from Ferrari’s traditional sculpted approach. Designed under the guidance of Manzoni and the Ferrari Styling Centre, the car replaces the complex forms of the 812 Competizione with sharp lines, smooth surfaces and highly functional detailing. It’s a calculated move toward refinement, without losing the emotion expected from a V12 Ferrari. Along the sides, the car’s profile flows back from a distinct dihedral shape, giving the body a monolithic appearance. The bonnet merges seamlessly with the front wings, interrupted only by a pair of vents that help cool the naturally aspirated V12 engine underneath. Instead of traditional headlamps and a grille, the 12Cilindri uses a full-width band that houses daytime running lights, a modern take that simplifies the front fascia.
Related: Review: Ferrari 296 GTB
At the rear, the attention to detail continues. Thin, blade-like tail lamps are embedded in a concave surface, while active aerodynamic flaps take the place of a fixed spoiler. A contrasting lower section — finished in either black or carbon fibre — includes prominent diffusers and quad tailpipes, each wrapped in a sleek metal surround.
The clean, yet technical, aesthetic also carries through to the cabin. Body-coloured surfaces frame a black screen-like interior, giving the impression of one continuous design theme.
Under the bonnet, the 12Cilindri houses Ferrari’s new F140HD engine — a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 producing 610kW and capable of revving to 9 500r/min. Key upgrades include titanium con rods, lighter pistons and a rebalanced crankshaft.
This marks the fifth time a Ferrari has won in the Production Cars category, following the Testarossa (1985), Roma (2020), 296 GTB (2022) and Purosangue (2023). In awarding the 12Cilindri, ADI’s jury praised its ability to honour Ferrari’s history while embracing modern aerodynamic science and creating what they call ‘an out-of-the-box icon’.
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