We check out the Ferrari 812 Superfast
It’s Eid, which means it’s time to let your hair down and perhaps, if tradition is anything to go by, splash out on a new car. While there are only a handful of people around the UAE who can look in a Ferrari shop window and think, ‘yep, maybe it’s time for an upgrade,’ there isn’t a person we have ever come across who doesn’t enjoy discovering the latest model. There is something magical about these Italian supercars and we think merely discussing them can entertain and inspire. If you are able to splash out, more power to you and you’ll want to keep an eye on this 812 Superfast. If, like us, you’re more at ease dreaming of the day you’ll look down and see a prancing horse badge on your steering wheel, let’s get lost in the fantasy together, shall we?
A dream update
The 812 Superfast is the most powerful and fastest road-going Ferrari ever built. Let’s just take that in. It’s quite an opening gambit. Imagine all the Ferraris of which you’ve heard and possibly had pictures of on your wall and this one is the speediest of the lot. What a feat. Taking over from the F12berlinetta and F12tdf, the 812 superfast builds on the make’s 12-cylinder legacy by producing 800hp compared to its predecessor’s 740. That extra 60hp results in a top speed of 340km/h (yes, you read that correctly) and a staggering 0-100km/h time of 2.9 seconds. Think about it. It probably took you longer to read that sentence than it takes this car to get going.
Not too shabby to look at
The F12 was obviously a stunner and you can see its influence in creating the 812 Superfast. Through the assimilation of its body shape and bold, aerodynamic design an even more beautiful product has emerged. We defy anyone to say this car is not eye-catching. Not only that, its appearance actually helps performance. The aerodynamic coefficient values delivered by the 812 Superfast are a significant improvement on those of the F12berlinetta. The main factor was a 65 per cent increase in downforce to 210 kg at 200 km/h. To the side of the air intakes for engine and brake cooling, is a turning vane on the front bumper which is designed to channel air flow striking the front of car to ensure it hugs its flanks, thereby reducing the width of the car’s wake. This in turn reduces overall drag. Before we lose you in all this tech- talk, all you need to know is this sports car is functionally lean, mean and we think deserves a poster series of its own.
Driving? Let’s just say it’s a thrill
That amount of power and speed in a car this size creates one heck of a noise, but alongside the tingle us primitives experience revving a roaring engine, the power is put to good use. The 812 Superfast’s four-wheel steering means the back wheels help you fly round corners. Then there’s the EPS (Electric Power Steering) which allows for new driver-assistance funcitonalities such as (P.P.A.) Peak Performance Advisor where you’re alerted in advance that the car is nearing its grip limit, or (P.Ov.S) Power Oversteer Support where, in the case of poweron oversteer out of corners, the steering wheel weighting helps you to realign the car correctly. All we know is if you sit in it, switch the knob on the steering wheel to race mode and put your foot down, it goes. Fast.
What’s it like sitting in there?
Like everything you could imagine sitting in a premium Ferrari feels like. For many it’s the pinnacle of motoring and we can see why. Not only are you in charge of this powerful vehicle, you are swathed in racing heritage emanating from the interior design. In a word: bellissima.