The Ferrari 812 Superfast

If Ferrari offers you the keys to a 12-cylinder flagship powerhouse, accept without hesitation. To fully understand and appreciate the beautiful Ferrari 812 SuperFast, we need to understand one thing. We need to understand emotion. Now, what is emotion? Unconditional love, freedom, and memories alike all have the power to illicit such vivid, raw, and unadulterated emotion. Driving the 812 SuperFast is an experience that transcends verbal expression. It’s like handling a venomous serpent while conducting an orchestra. It can be dangerous and exhilarating while simultaneously beautiful and tranquil. Driving an 812 is an experience you would want to last a lifetime.

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I’ve never understood the idea of a grand touring car. This 812 changes everything. In a perfect world, this car would be sitting in my dream garage. With a naturally aspirated 6.5L V12 throwing out 789 horsepower to the rear wheels, the car will blow the tires off in any gear. In perfect conditions the car can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds. We never achieved such a number, but we absolutely achieved tire slaying rpms in a fraction of the time.

 

Adjusting the Manettino in the 812 Superfast is like picking a the difficulty in your favorite game. There are five Manettino settings on the 812’s steering wheel. Starting from Wet, Sport, Race, CT OFF and ESC OFF. The further down you go, the more challenging (and fun) the car becomes. While the modes change different dynamics like throttle response, suspension dampening, and traction control, the modes seem mostly similar to me.

 

If there is one complaint I have on the 812 Superfast, I must say the alert chimes for going flat-out ESC OFF are not sufficient. An image of a skull and crossbones while incredibly tacky would paint a better picture. While Motor Journal is fairly new, we have had opportunities to drive incredible high-horsepower vehicles. I’ve driven multiple supercars well above 100 miles per hour and this car is one I could not conquer.

 

This car has been the only vehicle in my life to give me adrenaline shakes from looking at it. With nearly 800 horsepower, I think it was well warranted. Anything above 25% throttle seemed to set the rear tires ablaze even in the standard Sport setting. Cranking it to ESC OFF and burning rubber out of Allegiant Stadium will forever be a highlight of my life. Getting onto the interstate and hearing the throaty V12 roar while reaching even 5,000 rpm was enough to get your adrenaline flowing.

 

I admit, I wasn’t man enough to launch this car. Firstly, I don’t have a death wish. More realistically, I don’t think I had spent enough time with the car to know its limits as well as mine. That’s another reason I love this car so much. This isn’t a car you can jump into and conquer in your first drive. It’s a car that challenges you to perform better. It demands respect and excellence. While yes it is incredibly easy to operate if you’re familiar with supercars, the 812 Superfast needs a competent driver if you’re going to push it to the limits.

 

I have nothing but love for the Superfast. Originally, the name seemed standoffish and I wasn’t convinced it could ever replace the F12 Berlinetta. As time marched on and officially getting behind the wheel, the 812 has become one of my all-time greats. The looks of the 812 are stunning. It looks dangerous. It looks like a force to be reckoned with. No matter where the car is, it steals the show. Its presence is undeniable especially hearing the engine reach the 9,000 RPM redline. Not only that, but 812 can pull off every color. We were lucky enough to have our first Ferrari in red and the car is gorgeous from every angle.

 

Ferrari nailed everything even down to the smallest details. At first, I was disappointed to not have the carbon fiber driving zone option. However, the sound of your fingernail tapping the aluminum paddles is one of the most satisfying noises I’ve heard from a vehicle. The air vents are beautifully designed and even the dome light dimming has earned a place in my heart. To my surprise, I was greeted with a DRS notification when I reached interstate speeds. If that doesn’t make you feel like a racing driver I don’t know what will.

 

The Ferrari 812 Superfast is the total package. It blends performance with luxury effortlessly making it perfect for both spirited driving and road trips. It has the heart of a monster but the practicality and usability of a GT. It has the exact amount of beauty, soul, and performance that I was looking for in the car. If I ever have the opportunity, an 812 Superfast will make it to my garage. It’s not just a performance machine, it’s incredibly livable with a great amount of room and with a seven speed dual-clutch transmission the RPM are never a nuisance even at freeway speeds. The Ferrari 812 Superfast might just be the best grand tourer in the business right now.

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Review: Morgan Jacobsen, November 23, 2024

Video: Morgan Jacobsen, Desilynn Aguirre November 23, 2024

Photo: Morgan Jacobsen, Desilynn Aguirre November 23, 2024