Ferrari 12Cilindri Tailor Made: A Masterclass in Automotive Personalization

The Ferrari 12Cilindri represents a specific point in time where internal combustion meets the absolute limit of modern engineering. This one-off Tailor Made project, created specifically for the South Korean market, proves that personalization has moved beyond simple leather swatches and paint codes. This vehicle is the result of a nearly two-year collaboration between the Ferrari Styling Centre (Centro Stile), the publication COOL HUNTING, and four prominent South Korean artists. Curator JaeEun "jane" Lee guided the creative process across three continents to blend Maranello's engineering with contemporary Korean cultural energy.

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Ferrari started with a base 12Cilindri—a car with a starting price around $423,000 USD—and added layers of cultural depth and technical innovation. The result is a machine that functions as both a high-performance V12 grand tourer and a moving gallery of contemporary Korean art.

The Power of the F140HD V12 Engine

At the heart of this project sits the F140HD engine. It is the latest evolution of the naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 that defines the Maranello brand. This engine produces 819 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.

Ferrari engineers used titanium con rods and lighter aluminum alloy pistons to achieve a 9,500 rpm redline. The software management ensures torque delivery remains smooth across the entire rev range. This is not just raw power; it is precision-engineered acceleration. The F140HD borrows critical DNA from the 812 Competizione, utilizing sliding finger followers for the valves to reduce friction.

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Yoonseul: Shifting the Visual Narrative

The most striking feature of this one-of-one build is the Yoonseul paint finish. In Korean, the word describes how light shimmers on water. This iridescent finish draws inspiration from Goryeo celadon ceramics and the neon lighting of modern Seoul.

The paint is a transitional scheme. It shifts between green, violet, and blue highlights depending on the angle of the light. Artisans in Maranello applied a custom livery over this base, created by the sound and performance artist duo GRAYCODE, jiiiiin. They analyzed the acoustic signature of the V12 engine and translated those sound waves into a visual graphic. This "ghosted" graphic trace runs along the center of the bonnet, representing a visual trace of the engine's soundtrack.

Revolutionary Material Applications

This Tailor Made 12Cilindri introduces several "firsts" for the factory. These details differentiate the car from any other production model:

• Translucent Badging: Artist Hyunhee Kim applied a distinctive semi-translucent style to iconic exterior elements. The Scuderia Ferrari shields, wheel caps, and the Prancing Horse feature never-before-seen semi-transparent acrylic finishes.
• White Lacquered Finishes: Inspired by the research of TaeHyun Lee into lacquer and surface transformation, this car features a restrained use of white across selected elements. This methodology led to Ferrari's first factory white brake calipers and white shift paddles on a production-based car.
• Horsehair Integration: Loewe Foundation Craft Prize winner Dahye Jeong brought traditional hand-weaving into the cabin. Hand-woven Mongolian horsehair is skillfully integrated directly into the dashboard, marking the first time a genuine art piece of this nature has been embedded in a Ferrari interior.

Interior UX and Artistic Integration

The cabin is a study in behavioral design and sensory experience. It moves the user from the mechanical world into a curated cultural space. The layout retains the symmetrical "dual-cockpit" architecture of the standard 12Cilindri but replaces standard materials with avant-garde textiles.

Advanced Textile Technology

The two-seat cabin features a new 3D fabric developed by a South Korean company. This material translates Dahye Jeong's unique hand-weaving style into a durable automotive application. It appears on the seats, floor, and other soft surfaces, providing a tactile depth that standard Alcantara or leather cannot match.

Light Management

The glass roof is a central design element. It features screen-printed patterns by Jeong that interact with incoming light. As the sun moves, it casts intricate shadow patterns throughout the cabin, effectively making the environment change based on the time of day and driving direction.

Calligraphic Customization

On the transmission tunnel, Hyunhee Kim's translucent style creates an immersive environment. This area houses a handcrafted dedication plaque. The plaque features the project name written in traditional Korean calligraphy, serving as a final touch of authentic Korean art that validates the car's one-of-one status.