Ferrari’s History of Design

When it comes to aesthetic beauty, car manufacturers are very varied. Manufacturers like Aston Martin have made nothing but svelte beauties for 112 years. Similarly, SsangYong have made nothing but disgusting monsters since their inception. But most manufacturers like Mercedes very much vary with some very good-looking cars like the AMG GT and some truly ugly ones like the EQE.

Ferrari very much lives in the same category. Not all their cars have been as active as the brand, some like the F430, 612 Scaglietti, FF and Testarossa are truly gobbing to behold. But then equally cars like the 250, Daytona, 458 and LaFerrari are some of, if not the most beautiful cars in existence.

Their current range is one somewhat of a strong, middle-of-the-ground type position. The SF90 and F80 are far from good-looking bordering on ugly and the Purosangue is certainly marmite in its overall styling. But there’s no denying that the Roma and 296 are arguably some of the best-looking cars on sale today.

The 12Cilindri’s Design: Inspired by the Daytona

There is a lot to like about the 12Cilindri. It’s high-revving naturally-aspirated, screaming V12, the 820 horsepower and 211mph top speed that results, the incredibly delicate and fast-responding steering, the point and squirt handling and the terrifying thrill that occurs whenever you put your foot down.

But the best thing about this car is the way it looks. It is arguably one of the most beautiful cars in the world right now. With a long sleek Bonnet, a short and poignant rear and rectangular headlights it pays homage to the legendary Daytona. One of the best-looking cars Ferrari ever made. So it’s no surprise it recently won several awards for its design.

The Car Design Award at Milan Design Week

Milan Design Week, known locally as Settimana del Design di Milano is an influential design event held annually since April 1961. Since its start, it has since grown into a citywide celebration where manufacturers, and designers all showcase their latest beauties that are then adjudicated by journalists and a panel of experts.

Since 1984, the Car Design Award has been a staple at Milan Design Week. Launched by Auto&Design Magazine, it’s divided into categories of Production Cars, Concept Cars and Brand design. The Award is determined by a panel of leading editors and experts from many car magazines.

Ferrari have often been frequent winners of the Car Design Award at Milan Design Week. Their design team won in the Brand Design Category in 2023 and for four years won the Production Car Award. The Testarossa won in 1985, the Roma in 2020, the 296 in 2022 and the Purosangue in 2023.

Now the 12Cilindri has increased that victory to five in 2025. The panel noted its design revisits the essence of FerrariV12s from the 1950s and ’60s. They also described it as an out-of-the-box icon that beautifully “united two souls—sportiness and elegance.” Ultimately the two core traits that make a great Ferrari.

The iF Gold Design Awards

The iF Design Awards have been a longstanding competition since 1953 in Germany. Started by International Forum (iF) Design GmbH, they cover a wide range of categories, including product design, communication, packaging, architecture, and mobility. Over the years, the award ceremonies have been held in cities such as Hannover, Munich, and Berlin.

The most prestigious Award held at iF Design Awards is the Gold Award. The Jury tends to review over 10,000 entries from over 70 countries. Of these awards, only 75 designs receive the coveted Gold Award making a small fraction, approximately less than 1% are granted these awards.

Like before, Ferrari have been frequent winners at the iF Gold Design Awards including the FXX-K in 2016, the GTC4lusso in 2017, the J50 in 2018, the Monza SP1 in 2019 and the SF90 Stradale in 2020. The lesser prestigious iF awards have also proven victorious for Ferrari with the 488 and 488 Spider winning in 2016 and the F80 earning victory in 2025.

The 12Cilindri and 12Cilindri Spider are officially the sixth and seventh cars to win the prestigious iF Gold Design Awards. Like the Milan Judges, the panel felt the car paid homage to Ferrari’s legendary designs in the 50s and 60s with designs that were both “exciting and reassuring.”

The judges reassured that “Ferrari are the quintessence of luxury and performance” and the 12Cilindri once again embodies that. Both these awards verify that the 12Cilindri is one of the most beautiful cars on sale. But that shouldn’t be surprising given Ferrari’s previous success in both competitions across the years. Here’s hoping they continue their success over the years.

Source: Ferrari