Those who've been following the automotive industry for a while know that some of the biggest manufacturers reveal their latest creations at the Geneva Motor Show. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious car exhibitions in the world that dates back to 1905, and it is often used as a venue for carmakers to showcase their most exotic concepts and latest offerings to the public.That was the case with Ferrari back in 2017, where the legendary Italian marque celebrated their historic 70th anniversary in the most Ferrari way possible by revealing the 812 Superfast - Maranello's all-new uncompromising Grand Tourer. It's the latest V12 Berlinetta of the Prancing Horse, and we're here to show you some of the stuff we just learned about the 812 Superfast.
10 F12 Successor
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
The Ferrari 812 Superfast is the latest in the legendary lineage of 12-cylinder Ferrari sports cars, which was last held by the awesome Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and the F12tdf.
A lot of people have praised the F12 Berlinetta as a proper Italian grand tourer, and the 812 Superfast carries on that legacy, as it's rather an evolutionary more than a revolutionary new sports car from Ferrari.
9 Most Powerful Ferrari Back In 2017
With the exception of the limited-edition LaFerrari hypercar, the Ferrari 812 Superfast held the record for being the most powerful and fastest production Ferrari in history. The F12 Berlinetta's 6.3-liter V12 engine was enlarged to 6.5 liters, and it generated a naturally aspirated power output of 789 hp at 8,500 rpm.
That record was beaten by the Ferrari SF90 Stradale in 2019, but that was due to its V8 engine having hybrid assist. To date, the 812 Superfast is still the most powerful naturally aspirated Ferrari ever made.
8 Performance Figures
Ferrari officially claims the 812 Superfast could reach a top speed of 211 mph, with a 0-62 mph time of 2.9 seconds. The super GT has a dual-clutch transmission built by Getrag with specific gear ratios to provide quick upshifts and downshifts that maximize throttle response even further.
Despite being designed as a grand tourer, the 812 Superfast still lapped Ferrari's Fiorano circuit just half a second slower than its track-focused predecessor, the F12tdf.
7 Weight And Dimensions
The 812 Superfast is longer, wider, but is surprisingly lighter than its predecessor, the F12 Berlinetta. Official figures say the 812 Superfast is 4,657mm long, 1,971mm wide and is only 1,276mm tall.
Its official curb weight stands at 3,845 lbs, so by no means is the 812 Superfast a super-lightweight car. However, it is still 100 lbs lighter than the F12. Coupled with a more powerful engine, the 812 gets a better power-to-weight ratio. Furthermore, despite being a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car, the 812 Superfast has a rearward weight distribution, as it only has 47% of the car's weight on the front wheels.
6 All-Rounder
Ferrari describes the 812 Superfast as "an uncompromising sports car that delivers exhilarating driving both on road and track, yet comfortable enough to allow its owners to enjoy it as an all-round experience".
In fact, this combination proved to sway Ferrari owners to take a V12 Grand Tourer like the 812 Superfast as a daily driver. According to Autocar, Ferrari's research suggests utilization rate increased from 36% in the 550 Maranello to 54% with the F12 Berlinetta.
5 Leading Edge Control Systems
Ferrari refined the F12's vehicle dynamics and integrated them into the 812 Superfast. It's the first Ferrari to be fitted with electric power steering, and with that, technologies such as Ferrari's patented Side Slip Control (SSC) exploits the 812 Superfast's potential even further.
Also, the F12tdf's rear-wheel-steering system has been carried over to the 812 Superfast, and is called the Virtual Short Wheelbase 2.0, which improves the car's nimble handling and quickens the vehicle's response to driver input.
4 Designed By The Ferrari Styling Center
The 812 Superfast's design was based on its predecessor, the F12 Berlinetta. But it has new styling cues with full LED headlamps, revised air vents on the hood, and the circular tail lamps have gone from two to four.
Furthermore, the 812 Superfast's two-box, high-tail design is reminiscent of the 365 GTB/4 Daytona which was a Pininfarina design, but was adopted by the design team at the Ferrari Styling Center.
3 Interior
The 812 Superfast's interior breathes an air of familiarity as it didn't change much from the F12 Berlinetta, and it shares some of its interior pieces with the LaFerrari hypercar such as the shape and position of the air vents, and the contours of its dashboard.
Like its predecessor, the 812 Superfast can also be ordered with a specially-designed, model name-tagged, multi-piece luggage set that will fit nicely into the car's rear trunk.
2 Special New Color
When it was revealed at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the 812 Superfast sported a special new color called the Rosso Settanta, which celebrates 70 years of the Prancing Horse.
Visibly in a darker shade of red than the iconic Rosso Corsa, the Rosso Settanta paintjob was exclusive to the 812 Superfast.
1 812 Competizione
Back in 2021, Ferrari revealed two limited-edition special series cars derived from the 812 Superfast, and they were called the 812 Competizione and the 812 Competizione A. The A stands for Aperta, which is a spectacular Targa top version that's sold exclusively to Ferrari's most loyal customers.
Power output was further boosted to 819 hp thanks to the 6.5-liter V12 having a higher 9,500 rpm redline. They are the direct successors to the F12tdf, and only a total of 999 Competizione and 599 Competizione A examples were made. All of those, of course, were sold out almost immediately.