A red Ferrari 812 Superfast taking a turn at a racetrack

Ferrari 812 Superfast: What It’s Like to Drive

by Shawn Parham

Published on September 18, 2019 5:30 pm

2 min read

Recently, Ferrari introduced the 812 Superfast as a replacement for the F12berlinetta, and we have to say, the styling has grown on us. But with a base price that’s well over $300,000, few people will be able to experience the wail of the 812’s 6.5-liter V12 or feel the way 789 hp accelerates. The good news is, Matt Farah actually did get a chance to drive the 812 Superfast, which means we can all live vicariously through him in the video below.

As you’ll see in the video, Matt loved the long look of the 812 Superfast, but noted that it has a footprint similar to a Corvette (the 812 Superfast has a length of just over 15 feet and is about 6 feet wide). The titanium exhaust tip “makes it sound real crazy” in race mode and it “drives like a high-end viper”. He also notes the 812 is “aided by an active aero-system in the rear diffuser which reduces drag at high speeds,” which means the car should be pretty stable.

If you’re not familiar with them, active aerodynamics systems can be used to improve both performance and fuel economy. Active grille shutters, for example, close to make air flow over the car’s body instead of to the engine. They will automatically open when the engine gets too warm so air gets redirected to the engine compartment to assist with engine cooling.

Driving the 812 Superfast

This Ferrari F12 replacement is built for extreme performance, requiring under three seconds to complete the sprint from 0-to-62 mph. The V12 isn’t just powerful, either. It will rev all the way up to 8,900 rpm if you want it to. And since it’s a naturally aspirated engine, you’ll want to keep the revs high. Peak power doesn’t arrive until 8,500 rpm.

As Matt noted in the video, the Ferrari 812 Superfast is exhilarating to drive saying, “The engine is such an animal…it has such long legs over a wide power band…you can short shift this thing like crazy and still be just tearing down the road.” It may be a front-engine grand tourer, but it’s still every bit a Ferrari.

“The steering is literally the quickest steering ratio I’ve ever seen in a front-engine car…the steering is really fast. The ratio’s really short. Even to make a 90-degree corner in the city, you just go 180 degrees with the wheel. You don’t actually have to take your hands off the wheel.”

Some people may not realize this, but when you turn the steering wheel in one car, it doesn’t always turn the front wheels as far as it would in a different car. For daily driving, you don’t necessarily need or want a super short steering ratio, but in a performance car, it’s a huge benefit.

But enough of the technical stuff. Instead, why not watch this alternate version of the review that’s purely focused on the sound of that incredible V12?