At the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari unveiled the new 812 Superfast, the latest in a prestigious line of front-engine twelve-cylinder flagship GTs that was revived with the 550 Maranello. As the successor to the F12 Berlinetta, Ferrari marketed the 812 Superfast as “the fastest and most powerful Ferrari yet.”
Ferrari engineers managed to extract even more performance from the car, continuing the legacy of models like the 599 GTO and the F12TdF. In developing the new 812 Competizione, they focused on the 6.5-liter V12 engine, adding lighter internals, new cylinder heads, and low-friction coatings with revised oiling.
This allowed them to unleash an impressive 819 horsepower, reaching a stratospheric 9,500rpm redline. Aerodynamic enhancements were applied throughout the body to ensure the 812 Competizione remained planted, with a wind-tunnel-tuned rear panel replacing the rear windscreen, becoming one of its most distinctive features.
It is widely believed that the 812 Competizione will be Ferrari’s final non-hybrid, naturally aspirated 12-cylinder supercar, marking the end of a legacy that began in 1947. With only 500 examples announced, all units were quickly sold, cementing the 812 Competizione’s status as an instant classic.
Photos by Rasy Ran courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
