Introduced in 2012 as a replacement for the Ferrari 599, the F12berlinetta harkens back to the 365 GTB/4 “Daytona” and, in many ways, to the iconic 250 GTO and 275 GTB. A full-fledged grand tourer powered by a no-nonsense, naturally aspirated V-12, the F12berlinetta has already spawned many one-off and special-edition models, including the F12 TRS, SP America, F60 America, Carrozzeria Touring Berlinetta Lusso, and more recently the F12tdf. After some five years on the market, the F12 received its mid-cycle facelift ahead of the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. It goes by the name 812 Superfast and comes with many improvements.
Just like the transition from the FF to the GTC4Lusso, the F12berlinetta gained a significant update and a name change. Ferrari didn’t care to explain the meaning behind the new name, but it’s safe to assume that the “812” comes from the engine’s output in PS plus the number of cylinders, while Superfast is just… well… an attempt to be cool in the 21st century. This isn’t the first time a Ferrari appears to have been named by the company’s social media department, as the LaFerrari is just as flamboyant. But it’s worth mentioning that the 812 isn’t the first Superfast in the company’s lineup. The name dates back to 1964, when Ferrari offered the 500 Superfast as the top-of-the-line version of the America model.
Moving over to more important things, Ferrari gave the F12berlinetta a thorough restyling. The grand tourer sports numerous modifications front and rear, while the interior has updated tech, a few nips and tucks, and new seats. More importantly, the 6.3-liter V-12 was redesigned into a new mill that makes the 812 Superfast the quickest and most powerful production Ferrari ever built.