10 Things Only True Enthusiasts Know About the Ferrari 812 Superfast

The Ferrari 812 Superfast, being the predecessor to the 740 horsepower F12, is a true testament to Ferrari’s capability of building incredible cars – just let the performance speak for itself. As the most powerful naturally aspirated Ferrari Supercar produced at the time, this vehicle set new boundaries and had many drivers questioning if this would be the last front-engine supercar that Ferrari would produce with their well-known V-12.

With many of the newer supercars featuring electric motors that assist in providing incredible acceleration, Ferrari seems to be going this route with the 812. This is due to the increased performance numbers and better fuel economy brought on by integrating an electric motor. However, Ferrari was sure to stick to its roots with the 812 Superfast. A fuel economy of 12 MPG to 16 MPG is common on the Ferrari Superfast, which is somewhat expected from a naturally aspirated V-12 that revs to nearly 9,000 RPM. While the fuel economy may not be the best, the performance, on the other hand, is hard to match.

Related: Ferrari Electric GT: Everything We Know So Far

1 Powerful 6.5-liter-V12 Engine

The engine featured in the Ferrari 812 Superfast offers the perfect mixture of smooth power delivery, high revving capabilities, and minimal vibrations due to the perfect balance of this V-12. Ferrari’s history with this engine goes all the way back to 1947, with a newer version still being used today. Here are some of the notable cars that the Ferrari V-12 has been featured in:

• Ferrari 250 GTO

• Ferrari 365 GTB4

• Ferrari F12berlinetta

• Ferrari Enzo

• Ferrari LaFerrari

Ferrari has a specific reason for the way it names its cars, with the 812 being a great example. The first number represents the power rating for the car which in this case is 800 CV, converting to 789 horsepower. The 12 represents the amount of cylinders, which is obviously a V-12. On top of this, the 812 delivers an incredible 529 foot-pounds of torque with a 0-60 MPH of 2.8 seconds – that should explain the Superfast name.

2 Ideal Front-To-Rear Weight Distribution

Weight distribution plays an important role in how a supercar handles. The Ferrari 812 Superfast is a front-engine car with a weight distribution of 47 percent front and 53 percent rear. Here are some of the ways that weight distribution is affected when driving:

• Braking:
  When braking the weight of the vehicle shifts to the front

• Accelerating:
  Under acceleration, the weight of the car shifts to the back which increases the grip on the rear tires

• Turning:
  When turning, the weight will shift to the opposite side in which you are turning

By utilizing a balanced weight distribution, The Ferrari Superfast is a street car that allows for exceptional turn control, incredible acceleration, and the ability to stop on a dime. As Chris Harris from Top Gear said, “Even though it’s fantastically fast and capable on circuit, the 812 is, after all, a street car.”

3 Speed-Enhancing Driver Control Systems

With this car producing nearly 800 horses, the Ferrari 812 Superfast benefits from driving features that allow you to really put the power to the ground while setting blazing-fast lap times. Here are some of the driver control systems featured that set this Ferrari Supercar apart:

• All-wheel-Steering

• Torque-Variable Electric Power Steering

• ESP 9.1 Premium with High-Performance ABS/EBD

• Dual-Coil SCM-E

The Ferrari Superfast is the first Ferrari to incorporate Electric Power Steering. This integrates the steering system with all the other electronic controls that the car has, allowing for the best possible feedback and performance. The All-Wheel-Steering provides increased control in understeer and oversteer conditions, which lets you carry even higher speeds around corners.

Related:Ferrari Isn’t Ready To Kill Off Its Naturally Aspirated V-12 Yet

4 Most Powerful Front-Engine Ferrari Road Car

Ferrari proudly announced that this car is the most potent front-engine V-12 Ferrari street car. With nearly 800 horsepower and 529 foot-pounds of torque, you may be surprised to learn that this Ferrari Supercar is also naturally aspirated. Here are the power figures compared to some of the previous models featuring the Ferrari V-12:

As you can see, the power and torque are not far off from the previous models. However, Ferrari has still made this car exceptional by combining advanced technology with the top-notch performance of its famous V-12. The Ferrari 812 Superfast is indeed a car that you can set some of the fastest hot laps in – while still being able to drive it home.

5 50 Years Of Inspiration

Enzo Anselmo Giuseppe Maria Ferrari, better known as “Enzo Ferrari”, was the founder of the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix racing team, which later led to the creation of the Ferrari brand. After serving in the Italian Army, Enzo, being inspired by previous racers such as Felice Nazzaro, wanted in on the action. Enzo was eventually able to secure a ride with Alfa Romeo, which is where most of his racing success came from.

• Grand Prix win at Ravenna on the Savio Circuit (1923)

• Grand Prix win at Ravenna (1924)

• Grand Prix win at Polesine (1924)

• Grand Prix win at Coppa Acerbo in Pescara (1924)

Following his success in the Grand Prix series, Enzo decided to focus on the development of race cars instead of the actual driving aspect. This led to the eventual creation of the Scuderia Ferrari race team in 1929 which is responsible for the Ferrari Supercars that we see today.

6 Exotic And Luxurious Interior

With an interior that isn’t necessarily focused on luxury, this is expected, after all – it is a Ferrari Supercar. In the driver’s seat, you have the feel of a race car, with the following features:

• The steering wheel automatically rises or lowers when opening and shutting the driver’s door for easier entry

• Key fob slot in the center console

• Power Start (launch control) button on the center console

• Racing-styled interior with 812 Superfast logo on the dashboard

• Passenger information screen that displays RPM, speed, G-forces, music, and more

• Comfortable seats that provide a combination of comfort and support

This car has an optional JBL high-powered sound system upgrade. Unfortunately, if you prefer a sunroof or convertible – you’ll have to opt for the 812 GTS. As for the driver’s information display, you have the tachometer front and center. On each side, there are two information screens that display the tire pressures, GPS, speeds, and more.

Related:The Fastest Ferraris Ever Produced

7 High-Revving Capabilities

An added benefit of utilizing a V-12 engine is the perfect balance and resilience of the engine design. In turn, this allows the Ferrari 812 Superfast to rev to the moon – nearly 9,000 RPMs. Let’s compare this to the redline of some other Ferrari Supercars that feature the V-12:

As you can see, the Ferrari Superfast is nearly one of the highest-revving Ferrari V-12s, being just a few hundred RPMs below the LaFerrari. The 812 Superfast has a redline that is 200 RPMs higher than its predecessor, the F12berlinetta.

8 Incredible Braking Capabilities

When driving a car with a top speed of 211 MPH, it’s crucial that the brakes can not only stop on time but also handle the extreme temperatures that are seen on the track. Ferrari made slight work of this category by utilizing the following brake components:

• Carbon-ceramic rotors

• Brembo calipers

• “Brembo Extreme Design” brakes – the most efficient brakes ever developed by Ferrari

The brakes featured on the Ferrari 812 Superfast are the same ones seen on the LaFerrari, said to have a 5.8 percent improved braking compared to thoaw on the F12berlinetta. These are currently the best brakes that Ferrari has developed and featured in its Supercars.

9 Racing-Inspired Driver Controls

Similar to F1 cars, you have a majority of the controls readily available directly on the steering wheel. This allows for the best driving experience while enabling you to focus solely on the road ahead. Here are all the controls that Ferrari has integrated with the steering wheel of the 812 Superfast:

• Turn signals

• Headlight controls

• Engine start/stop button

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• Drive mode selector

• Windshield wiper controls

• Paddle shifters on the back side of the steering wheel

With this Ferrari Supercar having a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the paddle shifters allow for seamless and lightning-fast gear-changes. Shift times are 30 percent faster on the upshift and 40 percent faster on the downshift, when compared to the F12berlinetta.

Related: The Most Expensive Ferraris In The World

10 Price

With a starting price of $335,000 that can easily exceed $400,000 with the right options (many of these being cosmetic), the Ferrari Superfast is certainly an uncommon sight. Let’s compare the price of the 812 Superfast to some of the other popular Ferrari Supercars:

If you’re a fan of Ferrari and hope to be an owner as well, this typically comes with a hefty price tag. It is worth mentioning, however, that the 812 Superfast is on the lower spectrum of pricing when compared to other Ferrari Supercars such as the LaFerrari or Enzo.