Is this the last naturally-aspirated V12 we'll see?
In an automotive world that will soon be dominated by electric vehicles, defenders of the internal combustion engine are losing the war, and the latest vehicles to fall victim to this eco onslaught are bastions of the supercar world, and an Italian national treasure. Ferrari has officially stopped taking orders for the iconic Ferrari 812 Superfast and GTS. This is massively significant, as it could mark the end of the series-production naturally-aspirated V12 Ferrari free of turbocharging or hybrid technology. Ferrari will still be producing versions of the 812, including the 812 Competizione well into 2023, but the writing is officially on the wall.
According to a spokesperson for Ferrari Australasia, order books are now closed for the 812 Superfast coupe and GTS convertible. “There are no current plans to reintroduce orders for these cars. We are currently not in a position to provide production timeline details,” the spokesperson said.
Production of these vehicles will continue until all orders have been filled, but the chances of getting your hands on a brand new one have sailed. One f the greatest reasons for the discontinuation of the current family is the stringent emissions rules coming into play across the globe, forcing Ferrari to adopt turbocharging and hybrid tech, with full EVs arriving in the near future. The naturally-aspirated V12 engine might still find a home in the new Purosangue SUV and stunning Daytona SP3.
The 812 Superfast signals the end of Ferrari's love affair with front-engine V12 grand tourers which included legends such as the 365 GTB/4 'Daytona', the 550 Maranello, and the F12 Berlinetta. At launch, the Ferrari 812's 6.5-liter V12 was declared the most powerful naturally-aspirated production engine ever built with a power output of 789 horsepower and 530 lb-ft of torque. The 812 GTO takes that number to around 800 hp. The 812 Superfast is capable of storming to 62 mph in only 2.9 seconds, and will reach 124 mph in 7.9 seconds. Keep your foot in it, and this prancing horse will top out at 211 mph. Ferrari has not officially announced a successor to the 812, but rumors tell us that it should be showing face in 2023, and will feature a V12 engine bastardized by a hybrid system. Rest in peace sweet prince.
Keyword: End Of An Era: Ferrari 812 Orders Officially Closed