As mentioned earlier, the 812 is the most powerful series-production Ferrari you can buy today. And its Italian stallions are still produced by a naturally aspirated 12-cylinder.
Said engine is based on the F12’s V12, which has been upsized from 6.3 litres to 6.5 litres. But the power gains didn’t just come from the motor’s increased displacement. Other upgrades include a new crankshaft, new con-rods and a more robust crankcase to withstand the higher loads.
There’s also a new high-pressure 350-bar (previously 200-bar) direct injection system and F1-inspired variable-length inlet ducts, which are adapted from the track-tuned F12tdf.
These enhancements have made the 812 Superfast go, well, super fast. Zero to 100km/h takes just 2.9 seconds, or 0.2 of a second faster than the F12. Going from a standstill to 200km/h is accomplished in 7.9 seconds, or 0.6 of a second faster than the F12.
6.5L V12 powerplant is based on the F12’s 6.3L unit, but 75 percent of its components are new.
The top speed, however, is still capped at 340km/h, which is on a par with the F12.
Responsible for the 812’s heightened handling are the electric power steering (the 812 is the first Ferrari to have this) and rear-wheel-steering system (officially known as Virtual Short Wheelbase 2.0), which is borrowed from the F12tdf.
With so many significant improvements, you might think that the 812 is Ferrari’s final 12-cylinder sports car.
Well, fortunately for Ferrari fans and general petrolheads alike, it isn’t. Stefano Lai, Ferrari’s senior vice-president of communications, confirmed that the carmaker will continue making V12 sports cars as long as it is able to push the boundaries of efficiency through natural aspiration.
Ferrari also revealed that almost 40 percent of 812 Superfast clients mainly buy cars with V12 engines, so this is one group that it will not want to disappoint.
