Ferrari

812 Superfast

Ferrari 812 Superfast: The V12’s Last Stand

The name “Superfast” might sound like a marketing adjective from the 1960s (because it is—a homage to the 500 Superfast), but in the case of the Ferrari 812, it is simply a factual description. When it launched in 2017 to replace the F12berlinetta, the 812 Superfast became the most powerful naturally aspirated production car ever made.

In an era where every competitor (and even Ferrari itself) was moving towards turbocharging and hybridization, the 812 stood defiant. It features no turbos. No electric motors. Just 12 cylinders, 6.5 liters of displacement, and a redline that screams to 8,900 rpm.

The Engine: F140 GA

The heart of the 812 is the F140 GA engine. It is an evolution of the F12’s engine, but 75% of the components are new.

  • Displacement: Increased from 6.3L to 6.5L via a longer stroke.
  • Injection: It was the first Ferrari V12 to use a 350-bar direct injection system. This ultra-high pressure system atomizes fuel so precisely that it prevents particulates, allowing the massive engine to meet strict Euro 6 emissions regulations without sacrificing power or sound.
  • Output: 800 PS (588 kW; 789 hp) at 8,500 rpm.
  • Torque: 718 Nm at 7,000 rpm (with 80% available from just 3,500 rpm).
  • Intake: Variable geometry intake tracts, derived from Formula 1, allow the engine to “change its shape” internally to breathe efficiently at both low and high rpms.

The result is an engine that feels bottomless. Unlike a turbo engine that runs out of breath near the redline, the 812 pulls harder the faster you spin it. The sound is a mechanical symphony, a complex layering of intake noise and exhaust wail that no speaker system can replicate.

Virtual Short Wheelbase 2.0

Putting 800 horsepower through the rear wheels of a front-engine car is a recipe for disaster (or tire smoke). To make the 812 drivable, Ferrari employed what they call Virtual Short Wheelbase 2.0 (Passo Corto Virtuale). This is a sophisticated four-wheel steering system.

  • Low Speed: The rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the fronts. This effectively “shortens” the wheelbase, making the large GT car feel as agile as a hatchback in tight corners and hairpins.
  • High Speed: The rear wheels turn in the same direction as the fronts. This “lengthens” the wheelbase, providing stability during high-speed lane changes or long sweeping corners.

Combined with the electric power steering (a first for a Ferrari V12, replacing the old hydraulic system), the 812 feels unnervingly agile. You turn the wheel, and the nose darts into the apex instantly.

Aerodynamics: Passive and Active

The 812 looks aggressive, but the design is dictated by airflow management.

  • The Smile: The front intake is massive to cool the V12. Inside the grille, passive flaps open at high speeds solely by air pressure to stall the underbody diffuser and reduce drag.
  • The Flanks: The deep scallops in the doors are not just for style; they channel air away from the turbulent wheel wells and towards the rear fender intakes to create downforce.
  • The Rear: The rear diffuser is body-colored and features active flaps that can flip down to generate downforce or flatten out for top speed runs (340 km/h).

The Driving Experience

Driving an 812 Superfast is an exercise in sensory overload.

  1. Acceleration: It hits 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds. But the 0-200 km/h time of 7.9 seconds is where the V12 shines. It just keeps pulling.
  2. Gearbox: The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission shifts in milliseconds. In “Race” mode, the shifts are programmed to give a physical “kick” in the back to simulate the brutality of a sequential racing box.
  3. The Fear Factor: With traction control off, the 812 is a handful. It will spin its rear tires in 3rd and 4th gear on dry pavement. It demands respect and skill to drive at the limit.

Interior: Luxury Meets Speed

Unlike the mid-engine cars (F8/488) which are driver-centric, the 812 is a Grand Tourer. The interior is spacious and luxurious.

  • Materials: High-grade leather covers almost every surface. The seats are designed for long-distance comfort, though carbon bucket seats are optional.
  • Passenger Display: The optional passenger display lets your co-pilot act as a DJ or check the navigation, though mostly they will be staring at the speed readout in terror.
  • Boot Space: Surprisingly practical, with enough room for a week’s worth of luggage for two people.

812 GTS and Competizione

  • 812 GTS: The convertible version. The first series-production front-engine V12 convertible from Ferrari in 50 years (since the Daytona Spider). It features a retractable hardtop that opens in 14 seconds.
  • 812 Competizione: The hardcore track version. Revs to 9,500 rpm. 830 hp. Features a fully closed rear screen with vortex generators instead of glass and a carbon fiber blade across the hood.

The 812 Superfast marks the end of an era. Its successor, the 12Cilindri, continues the V12 lineage, but the 812 will always be remembered as the car that pushed the classic front-engine formula to its absolute limit before regulations started tightening the noose.