The Ferrari 812 Superfast
The first and most difficult challenge Ferrari always faces when it decides to develop a new model is to push the boundaries of its own achievements yet again . This challenge is made all the tougher when the task at hand involves designing a new 12-cylinder engine , the power unit that hailed the start of the glorious Prancing Horse story 70 years ago in 1947 .
On this occasion , intensive research and development focused on exploiting Ferrari ’ s wealth of track-derived engineering know-how has produced a unique model designed to offer its drivers both benchmark performance across the board and the most riveting and rewarding driving experience possible . Whilst , of course , also guaranteeing the superb comfort on longer trips that is the signature of a genuine Grand Tourer berlinetta . Ferrari ’ s past is studded with just such cars , a long and illustrious list of exceptional models that have gone down in automotive history .
The obsessive pursuit of the most seamless melding possible of state-of-the-art running gear with a harmonious yet edgy design from the ever-inventive Ferrari Styling Centre , has produced a near-perfect aerodynamic package .
The 812 Superfast ’ s exceptionally futuristic , finely-honed lines also , however , clothe Prancing Horse power at its rawest , as an entirely new 12-cylinder engine of unprecedented efficiency and might was designed for the car .
That engine ’ s output has been boosted by 60 cv compared to the F12berlinetta , so that it unleashes a massive 800 CV , making the 812 Superfast the most powerful and fastest roadgoing Ferrari ever built ( with the exception , of course , of the mid-rear- engined , special limited-series 12-cylinders ). The 812 Superfast thus ushers in a new era in Ferrari 12-cylinder history , in doing so , building on the invaluable legacies of the F12berlinetta and F12tdf .
To make full use of that huge power and to guarantee perfect weight distribution , the car exploits a highly evolved transaxle architecture that couples a front-mounted engine with a rearmounted transmission .
The 812 Superfast is equipped with leading-edge vehicle dynamics control systems and components . It is striking for both its highly innovative design and aero package , as well as its unparalleled handling . It is also the first Ferrari to sport EPS ( Electric Power Steering ).
Simply put , the 812 Superfast is the new benchmark for mid-front-engined sports cars . And at its heart is the new 12-cylinder which has forged its character .
Like all cars with Prancing Horse DNA , this new berlinetta delivers exhilarating feedback both on road and track , but equally promises exceptionally fluid handling and ride comfort that drivers will appreciate on longer journeys .
The 812 Superfast , in fact , is aimed at clients that demand the most powerful and exclusive Ferrari in the range . They want a blisteringly high-performance car , but refuse to compromise on the kind of versatility that will allow them to thoroughly appreciate driving it as a 360-degree experience .
Engine and transmission
The challenge Ferrari tackled with the 812 Superfast was to design the most powerful road-going engine in the marque ’ s history ( 800 cv , 123 cv / l ) whilst contemporaneously cutting fuel consumption and emissions , and , naturally , retaining the inimitable Ferrari 12-cylinder soundtrack .
At the development stage , the engineers set themselves the goal of exceeding the specific power output of the F12berlinetta ’ s V12 which itself delivered class-topping performance . To do so , they decided to focus their efforts principally on optimising the intake system and combustion efficiency to fully exploit the increase in the engine ’ s displacement from 6.2 to 6.5 litres . These aspects increased the maximum amount of air that could be drawn into the engine ( and thus its power output ) thereby boosting its efficiency .
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