Elite Traveler Summer 2020

INSPIRE TOP CARS

Reigning supreme as the most efficient ever developed by Ferrari, Brembo extreme design brakes, which previously equipped the LaFerrari, come standard on the 812 Superfast

Ferrari 2020 812 Superfast

Whenever Ferrari updates or redesigns, the Prancing Horse consults its racing annals and previous models. The arrival of the 812 Superfast brings the premiere of a new 12-cylinder engine, the singular machine that launched Enzo Ferrari fromman to brand 73 years ago. The 6.5-liter, naturally aspirated V12 produces 789 hp, which crowns the 812 Superfast as the most powerful, fastest road-bound Ferrari ever built (with the exception of the mid-rear-engined, special limited-series 12-cylinders). Continuing its legacy, Ferrari referred to the F12berlinetta and the F12tdf for inspiration, regardless of the industry-wide shift away from big internal combustion engines and toward hybridization and electrification. In an unusual but unsurprising evolution, the Italian supercar brand is capitalizing on the front-mid-mounted engine and pairing it with a rear-mounted transmission. This sophisticated transaxle architecture achieves the enviable 50:50 weight distribution. Branded a new Berlinetta, the 812 Superfast possesses the aerodynamic footprint and stylings of a fastback. Those entrenched in Ferrari lore will merely glance at its backside and immediately envisage the 1969 365 GTB/4 Daytona. The four round tail lights and quad exhaust pipes, not to mention the diffuser, will have fans seeing double. For all of the racing intensity and tradition-bound design cues, the interior is a study in simplicity. The pared-down edit offers a bounty of negative space — so refreshing in the age of touchscreens and overwhelming infotainment systems. Analog knobs and a sleek trio of buttons alleviate complex cockpit navigation. This vehicle wants its driver’s eyes on the road. From $358,000, ferrari.com