Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

48 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

N

o Ferrari road car can claim
a longer line of descent
than those with a high-revving
V12 engine up front that drives
the rear wheels. This was the
layout of the very fi rst road
cars the company made in 1950
and the Ferrari-badged racers
produced from 1947.
The latest in the Ferrari V12
line is the 812 Superfast, priced
at $610,000. This is $80,000
less than the car it replaces,
the F12berlinetta. While the
two cars share the same basic
chassis structure, Ferrari has
done more than enough to
justify the new name.
The headline change is the
812 Superfast’s larger and more
powerful V12 engine.
Ferrari’s engineers increased
the piston stroke of the
F12berlinetta’s 6.3L with a new
crankshaft and made major
improvements to the intake and
fuel-injection systems. In its
new 6.5L capacity, the V12 wails
to 8900rpm and delivers 588kW
of power.
There are small improvements
to Ferrari’s speedy seven-speed
double-clutch transmission,

too, and major changes to the

two-seater’s chassis. The 812

Superfast adopts both electric

assist for the steering and a

rear-wheel steering system. It

also has wider front tyres and

the latest versions of Ferrari’s

interlinked chassis and drivetrain

control software. The aim was

to improve on the F12’s already

hugely impressive handling.

Inside is an all-new

instrument panel that blends

decently up-to-date infotainment

tech with luscious leather

and glinting metal. The 812

Superfast’s exterior is equally

new. Ferrari’s aerodynamic

engineers insisted on a higher

tail than on the F12berlinetta,

for reasons of stability, and

fi ne-tuned the airfl ow around

and through the 812 Superfast’s

multi-pierced bodywork.

So extraordinary are this car’s

limits that the only sensible place

to push it is on a track. Handily,

Ferrari has one of its own, the

Fiorano Circuit, close by where the

812 Superfast is built in Maranello

in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region.

Fiorano is a demanding little

circuit. Its mix of high-speed kinks

and tight curves is a real test of

steering, handling, brakes and

drivetrain. The Superfast’s speed

and agility, grip and stability are,

sometimes literally, breathtaking.

Ferrari’s superbly integrated,

brilliantly subtle electronic driver

aids make it easy and safe to use

everything the 812 Superfast has

to give. The company claims a

0-100km/h time of 2.9 seconds,

and it’s believable, as is its

claimed top speed of 340km/h.

Twist Ferrari’s trademark,

steering-wheel-mounted

Manettino switch from track-sharp

Race mode to street-suitable

Sport and the 812 Superfast

becomes a wonderful road car.

It’s almost 2m wide, though, so in

traffi c it can be a bit fraught.

The seats and driving

position are excellent, visibility

is way better than from any

mid-engined supercar and

there’s usable room beneath

the tailgate for real luggage.

Acceleration remains crushingly

ferocious in Sport, but the 812

Superfast is truly docile to drive

at ordinary speeds on ordinary

roads. The ride is fi rm but not

bumpy and the transmission

shifts smoothly.

It’s the Ferrari’s breadth of

ability that makes it a truly great,

hugely desirable and addictively

enjoyable car. As it should be for

the money...

By John Carey

THINGS WE LIKE

 V12’s performance and sound

 Brilliant double-clutch

transmission

 Handling and ride comfort

 Improved interior

 Reduced price compared to the

F12berlinetta

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Car’s width demands caution

Lower price still stratospheric

SPEX

Made in Italy

6.5L V12/seven-speed dual-clutch

automatic/rear-wheel drive

588kW of power at 8500rpm/718Nm

of torque at 7000rpm

0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds (claimed)

15L/100km combined; 98 octane

premium; CO2 emissions are 340g/

km

Warranty: Three years/unlimited

kilometres

Standard: Six airbags, stability

control, leather upholstery,

dual-zone air, parking sensors,

camera, LED headlights, 20-inch

alloy wheels, carbon ceramic

brakes, self- levelling suspension,

Bluetooth, navigation, voice control,

Apple CarPlay

Redbook future values: 3yr: 58%;

5yr: 44%

Safety

Not rated

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

compare with ...

Bentley Continental GT Speed,

Lamborghini Aventador S