Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Auto
  3. News

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

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.

Recommended Videos

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. Image used with permission by copyright holder

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
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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

Jahla Seppanen
Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual
Born and raised off-the-grid in New Mexico, Jahla Seppanen is currently a sports, fitness, spirits, and culture writer in… Read Full Bio
Michael Jordan’s 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello Hitting Auction Block After Decades-Long Search
Car, Coupe, Sports Car

On May 29, 1997, Michael Jordan had a Ferrari 550 Maranello delivered to him. It was a match made in heaven: a renowned supercar for the greatest basketball player of all time. At the time, Jordan was on a quest to win his fifth NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls. Less than a month later, he accomplished the feat. Hours after claiming his fifth NBA title on June 13, 1997, Jordan was seen in the bowels of United Center, sitting in his Ferrari, with a cigar in hand. Photographers followed him as he smiled for the cameras while he sat behind the wheel: Rosso Barchetta over tan leather, chrome Speedline wheels, and an Illinois plate that read “MJ 5.”

The Ferrari 550 Maranello was a landmark for the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer, marking its return to the front-engined V12 — a two-seat berlinetta with a gated manual, the configuration that made the marque’s name, revived after more than two decades away. The Ferrari was a constant presence as he geared up for his sixth NBA title and his second three-peat. He drove the car to home games, practices, and public appearances.

Read more
Honda Just Hid a Superbike Engine Inside a 1980s Time Machine
Helmet, Adult, Male

In the late 70s and early 80s, legendary racer Freddie Spencer rocketed around circuits, capturing AMA Superbike titles and exhibiting the smooth, precise style he became known for. But just as important were the bikes he did it on — production-based Honda CB750s and 900s, looking as much like street bikes as racing machines. No windscreen, upright bars, and a bulging, muscular fuel tank. It was truly production-based racing.

That era of Honda CB motorcycles had the rare combination of street presence and race-worthy performance — icons of an era gone by. But Honda didn’t forget. The new CB1000F hearkens back to AMA Superbike’s golden age, while looking ahead with modern tech and street-worthy style. Here’s what makes this bike a compelling design. 

Read more
Here are the three Cadillac drops you missed at Monterey Car Week
Car, Coupe, Sports Car

If you are a gearhead, or just a car guy in general, then you know that last week (like every year around this time) the car world descended on California for Monterey Car Week. It is an opportunity to check out some of the best of the best that is hitting the market this year. And, also, a really great opportunity to just stare at beautiful vehicles, both old and new. Of course, one of the most storied and luxurious car manufacturers in the country is always ready to make a splash, and luckily for their fans, Cadillac showed up with something special to show off. They created the optimum day-to-day ride, the best date night or evening ride, and then the completely impractical but equally badass machine.

Here are the three big moments for Cady lovers that landed at Monterey Car Week.

Read more