THE FASTEST AND MOST POWERFUL FERRARI YET

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.

MAX POWER OUTPUT OF 800 CV AT 8,500 RPM

On this occasion, intensive research and development focused on exploiting Ferrari’s wealth of track-derived engineering know-how has produced the 812 Superfast, designed to offer its drivers both benchmark performance across the board and the most riveting and rewarding driving experience possible.

With its output boosted to 800 cv, 60 more than the F12berlinetta, the 812 Superfast is the most powerful and fastest road-going Ferrari ever built (with the exception, of course, of the rear-engined special limited-series 12-cylinders). The 812 Superfast thus ushers in a new era in Ferrari 12-cylinder history, and, in doing so, builds on the invaluable legacies of the F12berlinetta and F12tdf.

PERFECT WEIGHT BALANCE

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 rear-mounted transmission.

It is also the first Ferrari equipped with EPS (Electric Power Steering).

RECORD POWER OUTPUT OF 800 CV AT 8,500 RPM

At the development stage, Ferrari’s engineers set themselves the goal of exceeding the specific power output of the F12berlinetta’s V12.
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.

MAXIMUM TORQUE IS 718 NM @ 7,000 RPM

The development process resulted in a maximum power output of 800 cv at 8,500 rpm, a new benchmark for the Ferrari range, in addition to a specific power output of 123 cv/l, a completely unprecedented figure for an engine front-mounted in a production car.

Maximum torque is 718 Nm @ 7,000 rpm – a completely unprecedented achievement for a naturally-aspirated Ferrari production engine. A significant 80% of that maximum torque is available at just 3,500 rpm, improving both flexibility and pick-up at lower revs.

The shape of the power curve, which rises constantly all the way to the maximum revs of 8,500 rpm, and the rapidity with which engine speed increases, thanks to low inertia, give occupants the feeling of boundless power and acceleration.

EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH AERODYNAMIC EFFICIENCY

The 812 Superfast’s aero design is part of Ferrari’s ongoing commitment to continually improving performance with each new model, both in terms of speed and augmented vehicle dynamics for a more exhilarating driving experience.

The development guidelines aimed to achieve exceptionally high aerodynamic efficiency figures through boosting of the downforce that influences a car’s stability without increasing drag as the latter would negatively impact fuel consumption and maximum speed.

The aerodynamic coefficient values delivered by the 812 Superfast are a significant improvement on those of the F12berlinetta.

Mobile aero solutions, whether mechanically activated (active mobile aerodynamics) or activated by the pressure of the air itself (passive mobile aerodynamics), guarantee very low drag values.

To the side of the air intakes for engine and brake cooling, is a turning vane on the front bumper which is designed to channel air flows striking the front of car to ensure they hug its flanks, thereby reducing the width of the car’s wake. This in turn appreciably reduces overall drag. A spoiler on tail of the car generates rear downforce.

Three pairs of curved dams were adopted on the underbody and are responsible for 30% of the increase in downforce compared to the F12berlinetta, as already achieved on the special series F12tdf.

FIRST FERRARI WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING

The 812 Superfast is the first Ferrari to introduce Electric Power Steering (EPS) which, in line with Ferrari tradition, is used to fully exploit the potential of the car in terms of performance by integrating it with all of the electronic vehicle dynamics controls.

The car also sees the introduction of the Virtual Short Wheelbase 2.0 system (PCV) which, starting from the experience gained with the F12tdf, combines electric front-wheel steering assistance with the mechanical concept built around tyre dimensions and the rear-wheel steering. All integrated with the vehicle dynamics control systems based on Version 5.0 of the SSC, with the aim of improving the agility and response time to steering wheel inputs of the 812 Superfast.

VEHICLE DYNAMIC

The integration of the EPS enabled Ferrari’s engineers to introduce functionalities to support the driver’s performance experience by means of the primary interface with the road: the steering wheel.

Ferrari Peak Performance (FPP): when cornering, the steering wheel torque will provide the driver with an indication that the car is getting closer to its limit of grip, helping the control of that dynamic state.

Ferrari Power Oversteer (FPO): in case of oversteer, most frequently induced while powering out of corners, the steering wheel torque will give the driver feedback to give steering wheel inputs that are coherent with realigning the car correctly.

The mechanical set-up sees the adoption of tyres developed specifically for Ferrari by Michelin and Pirelli and retain the same sizes front and rear (275/315) introduced on the F12tdf to optimize the Passo Corto Virtuale concept.

The Brembo Extreme Design brakes, which previously equipped the LaFerrari, are the most efficient ever developed by Ferrari. Combined with the Hi-Performance ABS of the 9.1 Premium ESP, the braking performance from 100 km/h is improved by 5.8% compare to the F12berlinetta.

POWER AND AGGRESSION

Designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre, the new 812 Superfast redefines the formal language of front-engined V12 Ferrari proportions without altering either its exterior dimensions or interior space and comfort.

Seen in silhouette, the 812 Superfast has a fastback sleekness: a two-box design with a high tail reminiscent of the glorious 365 GTB4 (Daytona) of 1969, visually lowering an aggressive rear spoiler designed to guarantee downforce.

The draped design of the flanks visually shortens the tail and is characterised by sharply slanted crease lines and impressively muscular wheelarches that imbue the 812 Superfast with the power and aggression.

The 812 Superfast’s sumptuously sculptural, three-dimensional flanks are characterised by a striking vent behind the front wheels designed to suck high-pressure air from the wheelarches and then channel it along the doors.

Four round tail-lights inspired by Ferrari tradition emphasise a design crafted around horizontal lines and give the 812 Superfast a broad, imposing stance, visually lowering both spoiler and the very compact cabin without, however, sacrificing its space or that of the boot.

LIGHT COMPACT VOLUMES

The cabin has been radically redesigned to imbue it with an even sportier character. Light, compact volumes hug the contours of the interior structures to the extent that the latter are visible in certain areas.

These ultra-taut surfaces are deliberately layered and broken up to create voids with the result that the main elements seem to float. The overall effect is of both thoroughbred racing eagerness and lean elegance that never feels overstated.

The horizontal dash loops stylishly around the central air vents for a sophisticated, sculptural, yet supremely stylish look that is also a nod to the LaFerrari’s cockpit.

courtesy: 812superfast.ferrari.com