Ferrari 812 Superfast - Ferrari's Greatest Grand Tourer - Review and Test Drive

Ferrari 812 Superfast - Ferrari's Greatest Grand Tourer - Review and Test Drive.

Following in a long tradition of front engined V12 Ferrari, the 812 Superfast is the pinnacle of Italian greatness and one which we will look back on in decades to come as the last of the line. Realistically is this the last naturally aspirated V12 that Ferrari will make, we don't know, but if it is then it's quite the Swanson to sign off with.

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The Ferrari 812 Superfast (Type F152M) is a front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive grand tourer produced by Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari that made its debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. The 812 Superfast is the successor to the F12berlinetta.

The car has an enlarged 6,496 cc (6.5 L) version of the F140GC V12 compared to the 6.3-litre engine used in the F12berlinetta. The engine generates a power output of 800 PS (588 kW; 789 hp) at 8,500 rpm and 718 N⋅m (530 lb⋅ft) of torque at 7,000 rpm. The 812 Superfast's engine is, as of 2018, the most powerful naturally aspirated production car engine ever made according to the manufacturer.

Despite having possessed powertrain technology expertise in forced induction (mainly turbocharging) and hybrid disciplines, Ferrari has made clear that none of those technologies are being incorporated in the legendary front-engine, rear wheel-drive, V12-engined berlinetta design—at present and in future—due to heritage reasons.

The transmission for the 812 Superfast is a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox manufactured for Ferrari by Getrag, based on the gearbox used in the 458.

The 812 Superfast has 20-inch wheels at the front and the rear. The tyres are Pirelli P Zero with codes of 275/35 ZR 20 for the front tires and 315/35 ZR 20 for the rear. The brakes are carbon-ceramic Brembo Extreme Design disc brakes, which Ferrari claims have 5.8% improved braking performance from 100 km/h to 0 km/h as compared to the F12berlinetta. The brakes are borrowed from the LaFerrari, with a diameter of 398 mm (15.7 in) at the front and 360 mm (14.2 in) at the rear.

Ferrari has stated that the front-engine, rear wheel-drive V12 vehicle platform—part of the brand's heritage—is not easy to refine and has presented various developmental challenges. As such, a combination of complicated aerodynamics technology is used to complement the 812 Superfast's chassis control system. It includes a mix of active and passive aerodynamics to improve drag coefficient values over the F12berlinetta. The front of the car is designed to increase downforce and includes intakes for front brake cooling, as well as ducts to increase underbody air flow. The bonnet of the car also has channels to move air through to the side of the car for additional downforce. The rear diffuser of the 812 Superfast has active flaps that can open up at high speeds to further reduce drag.

Ferrari claims that the 812 Superfast has a top speed of 340 km/h (211 mph) with a 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) acceleration time of 2.9 seconds. The car has a power to weight ratio of 2.18 kg (4.81 lb) per horsepower (PS). The 812 Superfast is the first Ferrari equipped with EPS (Electronic Power Steering). It also shares the rear-wheel-steering system (Virtual Short Wheelbase 2.0) borrowed from the limited edition F12 TDF. The weight distribution of the car is 47% front, 53% rear. The car has recorded a laptime of 1:21:50 around the Fiorano racetrack, 0.50 seconds behind the more track-focused F12tdf.

The design is inspired by the F12berlinetta, though it gets some updated styling cues like full LED headlamps, air vents on the bonnet, quad circular tail lights, and a body-colored rear diffuser. The two-box, high tail design of the car is intended to resemble that of the 365 GTB/4 Daytona, a Pininfarina design, though the car was designed at the Ferrari Styling Center.

The interior of the 812 Superfast takes inspiration from both the preceding F12berlinetta and the interior of the LaFerrari, especially the shape and position of the air vents and the contours of the dashboard.

As part of the Ferrari's flagship model design, the 812 Superfast's center control stack continues to lack a central infotainment display featured in entry-level models such as the GTC4Lusso and Portofino, retaining only a small temperature display for the climate control system and splitting all vehicular status information displays among the driver's multifunction instrument cluster, as well as the passenger-side touchscreen stack display above the glove compartment area.

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