Ferrari will debut a new 12-cylinder berlinetta - the 812 Superfast - at the Geneva Motor Show.
The most powerful and fastest Ferrari in the marque’s history builds on the legacies of the F12berlinetta and F12tdf and is described as an ‘uncompromising sports car’ that will deliver exhilarating driving both on road and track yet also be comfortable enough to enjoy as an all-rounder.
Powered by a new 6.5-litre V12 engine that unleashes 789bhp at 8,500 rpm - figures that no other front-engined production car has ever even come near to delivering, says Ferrari. The engine’s power is underscored by a full, rich exhaust sound that exploits the ‘acoustic clout’ delivered by its increased displacement.
Maximum torque is 718 Nm at 7,000 rpm, a significant 80% of which is already available at 3,500 rpm, improving both driveability and pick-up even at low revs.
These performance levels were achieved in part by adopting a direct injection system, paired with intake tracts derived from Ferrari’s naturally-aspirated F1 engines. The 812 Superfast’s dual-clutch transmission has specific gear ratios which, combined with shorter up and down-shifting times between gears, sharpen throttle response still further.
The 812 Superfast is the first Ferrari to feature EPS (Electric Power Steering) which fully exploits the potential of the car’s performance and is integrated with the electronic vehicle dynamics controls – which also features Side Slip Control (SSC) - making it easier to handle and ‘even more thrilling to exploit’.
The 812 Superfast has a fastback sleekness, a two-box design with a high tail reminiscent of the 365 GTB4 of 1969. The design of the flanks visually shortens the tail and is characterised by muscular wheelarches, while full-LED headlights are integrated into the design of the sculpted air intakes on the bonnet. Active flaps at the front of the underbody, and the rear flank aids an aerodynamic by-pass to increase downforce. At the rear, four round tail-lights give the 812 Superfast a ‘broad, imposing stance, visually lowering both spoiler and cabin’.
The cabin has been given a sportier, more radical look says Ferrari. The horizontal dash loops around the central air vents for a ‘sophisticated, sculptural’ design. New, more sporty and ergonomic seats feature alongside a new HMI, including new steering wheel and instrument clusters and the latest infotainment and air-conditioning units.
The car is being launched in a special new colour, Rosso Settanta, which marks the company’s 70th anniversary. The Geneva Motor Show runs from 9-19 March 2017.