Ferrari, the Italian automaker, has outdone itself yet again. When the 812 Superfast came out a couple of years ago, people were clamoring to get their hands on it. Now that there’s a new kid on the block, that resembles the Superfast, people’s curiosity has exploded. The new 812 GTS is not only a front-engine V12, but it’s also a convertible, the likes that haven’t been seen, for the most part, in about 50 years. The world’s most powerful convertible, actually.

What makes this Ferrari so special?

Ferrari’s executives admit that they weren’t looking for an open-top design, to begin with. But when they talked to their engineers, they became convinced that it not only was it possible, it would create a sensational throwback to their 365 GTS4, otherwise known as the Daytona Spider, from the 1970s era. The very car that’s known to be the last front-engine V12 convertible sold on the market. Not including some limited editions that trickled out over the years.

There were a few adjustments that needed to take place to make this work, for the 812 though. The two main problems they had to address was the storage for the top when it was down and cargo space for luggage and other items. Their solution turned out to be with the buttresses you see adorning the rear, stretching from the seats all the way back to the taillights. The space between them opens up to store items and the hardtop when it folds down. Because of this feature, the rear quarter windows, seen on the Superstar, are much smaller.

The most powerful convertible?

Ferrari is a company that pulls out all the stops to ensure they build the highest quality sports cars around. The 812 is no exception to that. With a 6.5L V12 engine dropped at the front of the vehicle, Ferrari claims that the GTS will roar to life with an acceleration time of 3.0 seconds going from 0 to 62 mph. They also say that it can go from 0 to 124 mph in a scant 8.3 seconds.

The GTS is known as the most powerful convertible because of the power it can generate in the quickest amount of time. Ferrari says the 812 Superfast has the same engine specs as the convertible, including the 789 hp running with 529 lb-ft of torque. The seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle, seen on both vehicles, directs the power to the rear wheels for better performance on the road. To top it all off, the GTS has a maxed speed of 211 mph.

What else makes it so compelling?

Besides the powerful engine and convertible feature, this Ferrari has a windscreen that comes in handy when the top is down. To protect passengers, a rear screen will pop up to deflect the wind. Also, you’ll notice that there’s no rear aero duct on the fender that the Superfast has. Instead, this 812 sports an additional flap on the rear diffuser.

The cabin resembles the Superstar, but with some minor, modern tweaks to the instrument panel and steering wheel as well as the center console. You can find infinite headroom with the GTS, because of the ability to retract the hardtop on command. The muscular styling, which we see with other Ferraris, makes it as stylish as it fast on the road, reminding us of another great performing car from the 1970s, the Daytona Spider.

Ferrari managed to create a car that isn’t just a Superfast with a top-down feature. They made a sister vehicle that holds its own with just some similar features that other Ferraris have. The 2020 812 GTS is sure to make a splash when it rolls out into the market.