Under the spotlight
812 Superfast’s 588kW V12 is most powerful ever Ferrari production engine
COVERS off, spotlights shining down on its chiselled body, the Ferrari 812 Superfast has arrived in Australia. North Melbourne’s The Meat Market hosted the Australasian premiere of the latest Maranello masterpiece this week, complete with its very apt name.
Arguably only Ferrari could get away with naming one of its cars “Superfast” but really, who are we to argue? Especially when the 812 can crack 100kmh in less than three seconds and travel on to 340kmh.
The mid-front-engined and rear-drive 812 offers 588kW and 718Nm from its 6.5-litre V12, making it the fastest production Ferrari in its 70-year road car history.
Anoraks may point to the LaFerrari supercar (708kW) being more powerful with its extra hybrid boost, but Ferrari classifies this as a “limited production” model rather than one you or I could easily buy.
If we had the $610,000 before on-roads asking price that is. And can endure the waiting list associated with the Superfast, confirmed to be many years for this desirable V12 supercar even before first deliveries are made to Australian customers early next year.
“The 812 Superfast is the most powerful, fastest Ferrari in the marque’s 70-year history, reaching 0–100kmh in just 2.9 seconds,” said Herbert Appleroth, chief executive officer of Ferrari Australasia, at the reveal.
“As the Australasian love affair with Ferrari
continues, the 812 Superfast is proving to be amongst the most in-demand models we have ever seen in this market.”
Why so special? It’s all about that V12 it seems.
There are no turbos or superchargers involved to realise those otherworldly performance figures and purists just love the idea of a naturally aspirated 12-cylinder Ferrari.
Rumours abound that the 812 Superfast could be Ferrari’s final non-turbo or non-hybrid engine offered in its showrooms models, as pressure to meet ever-stricter emissions targets mount, plus big power is so much easier to attain with forced induction.
The 812 Superfast features a dual-clutch auto gearbox, four-wheel steering and is the first Ferrari to have electric power steering.
It also uses the latest version of Ferrari’s Slide Slip Control. What’s that? Basically, it’ll do very clever electric things to prevent you crashing should you start fully exploiting all that performance.
It all makes the new car something of a superstar. At its global reveal at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year, eager onlookers were queuing just to get a look at the Superfast, with only a select few being allowed a seat in its leather-lined cabin.
It all adds up to the perfect Ferrari, don’t you think?
Hugely expensive, practically unobtainable and with outrageous performance. No wonder they’re allowed to call it Superfast.