Skip to main content

Ferrari’s 812 Superfast is Ridiculously Super Fast (Even for a V12)

Ferrari 812 Superfast
Get ready to need a cold shower.

Somewhere in Maranello, Italy, someone at Ferrari’s headquarters said hey, let’s make an even faster car. So that’s exactly what the luxury sports car manufacturer did in its 812 Superfast.

This 12-cylinder berlinetta packs a new 6.5-liter V12 engine that unleashes 800 cv and goes from 0-100 kilometers (or 62.13 miles) in exactly 2.9 seconds. NBD. “The engine’s power is underscored by a full, rich exhaust sound that exploits the acoustic clout delivered by its increased displacement,” says experts at Ferrari.

So in other word, it purrs real sweet.

The 812 Superfast was made as an ode to the Prancing Horse heritage of Ferrari, since the company’s first-ever branded car was released 70 years ago in 1947. This won’t be a one-and-done special edition automobile, but a new standard to which Ferrari will hold its 12-cylinder makes.

The Superfast builds on the legacies of two other 12-cylinder Ferrari gems that came before it; first the 2012 F12 berlinette (which was formerly the most powerful and high-performance piece in the 12-cylinder range, and four year after its debut was still considered the wildest V12-powered gran turismo ever released on the market); and the F12tdf that pulls its bumblebee inspiration from the Tour de France, which Ferrari used to dominate in the 50s and 60s. In 2016, Top Gear named the F12tdf the scariest car in the world … and they know because they test drove the beast through Italy. Lucky dudes.

Ferrari 812 Superfast dashboard
The cabin is hyper-sporty with the main elements seeming to float, creating an effect of both thoroughbred racing eagerness and lean elegance. The horizontal dash loops around the central air vents for a luxury, sculptural look.

We’re not sure if it makes more sense now to think of someone at Ferrari wanting to make an even faster V12 for 2017, or if they’re completely off their rocker to try and top the former models. All that really matters though is that they did what they set out to do (loco or no).

Ferrari 812

The new 812 is geared at clients who demand the most powerful and exclusive Ferrari in existence. I mean, the thing has a max power output of 8,500 rpm, which translates to a power output of 123cv— a figure no other front-engined production car has ever even come near to delivering. This is what gives the Superfast its thrilling agility.

Engineers wanted the final product to be ace for both the road and race track, encompassing a build that is both luxurious and sporty. Oh, it’s also built for those who don’t mind dropping more than half a million on a box on wheels.

Yes, we feel somewhat ashamed using such an ordinary descriptor for this rouge beauty (launched in a new color dubbed Rosso Settanta). I mean look at her. And just imagine the thrill of going 0-60+ in less than three second. Oonf.

Photos courtesy Ferrari

Editors' Recommendations

Jahla Seppanen
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Born and raised off-the-grid in New Mexico, Jahla Seppanen is currently a sports, fitness, spirits, and culture writer in…
McLaren reveals its future hybrid supercars will have a V8 engine
A new generation of V8 hybrid engines by McLaren
A McLaren Artura supercar on the road

Almost 12 years ago, McLaren partnered with Ricardo to develop the twin-turbocharged V8 engine of the McLaren 12. It began a business partnership between McLaren and Ricardo that would continue over the past decade.

More succinctly, McLaren and Ricardo collaborated to develop the engines used in popular models, such as the McLaren GT, McLaren 570S Spider, and McLaren Senna. In fact, more than 30,000 McLaren supercars produced over the past decade come with V8 and V6 engines designed by Ricardo and McLaren. However, with the world shifting toward electric vehicles, it remains to be seen how McLaren will adapt. 

Read more
Your childhood dream car is up for auction: The 1988 Lamborghini Countach
Icon of an era: the 1988 Lamborghini Countach awaits its new owner
1988 lamborghini countach auction

Lamborghini Countach is one of the most iconic supercars ever made. If you were a kid in the 80s, you probably had its poster pinned on your bedroom wall while dreaming about how you would wish to own it one day when you grow up. It was the epitome symbol of success in the 80s, and even today, it’s a beacon of nostalgia that takes you back to the Walkman days.

Besides its beauty, the Lamborghini Countach's allure is that it’s extremely rare to find — only 52 Lamborghini Countach were originally sold in the United States. Lamborghini is reviving it with an electrified model, but if you grew up in the 80s, that may not be enough to tickle your fancy.

Read more
What the EPA’s new proposed rules about electric vehicles mean for car buyers
If you plan to purchase a vehicle, read this first
EPA plague in the U.S.

President Biden has witnessed enormous growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales since taking office, with sales tripling and the total amount of available models doubling. For example, over 130,000 public charging stations for electric cars have been deployed across the United States, indicating a 40% increase over prior years.

In addition, since Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, the private sector has spent over $120 billion in domestic electric vehicle and battery production. Now the EPA has introduced new rules and regulations surrounding EVs to further accelerate America's movements toward more environmentally friendly automobiles. 

Read more