Ford F150 vs Ferrari 12Cilindri

What's the difference?

The Ford F-150 Platinum – the new top-shelf variant in the company’s F Series truck range – has arrived in Australia as part of the a refreshed line-up.

This full-sized dual-cab ute has a 3.5L twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, myriad drive modes and 4500kg towing capacity and, as such, is regarded as a rival for the likes of the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra.

But with a price-tag tickling $164,000 before on-road costs and at a smidge under six metres long, is this big rig simply too big and too expensive?

We’re testing the short wheelbase (SWB) version this time, so let’s get into it.

The Ferrari 12Cilindri should not exist. Everything about it shouts of excess to the point of illegality. Surely, one would assume, emissions regulations have made a vehicle with a naturally aspirated V12 engine as socially, and indeed legally acceptable as asbestos sandwich wrapping. 

The work it must have taken to somehow squeeze this thing through the regulatory net is clearly more than any other company could be bothered with - the 12Cilindri is the only new atmo V12 a lot of money can buy. 

Ferrari made the effort because this car, with this layout, is an integral part of the brand’s heritage, dating back to 1947, the rock on which it is built. Old Enzo Ferrari himself said the V12 is the Ferrari engine “everything else is a derivation of the original”.

And, of course, they made it because there are plenty of purists out there who will pay big, big dollars to have one. We flew to an unfortunately soggy launch for the car in Luxembourg to see what a V12 that can now rev to 9500rpm would feel, and sound like.