Ferrari 812 Competizione: an extraordinary new supercar

Like the 812 Superfast it’s based on, Ferrari’s new 812 Competizione boasts a 6.5-litre V12 engine. That engine, however, has been cranked up to produce “the most powerful purely petrol-powered road car engine Ferrari has ever made”, says Adam Towler for Evo.

The rods are made from titanium, making them 40% lighter, and the pistons have been coated in a low-friction, diamond-like coating (DLC) compound. The cylinder head has been heavily revised to permit a higher rev limit and there’s a completely new intake system. That all adds up to an engine that revs to 9,500rpm, producing 819bhp – 30bhp more than an “ordinary” Superfast. The only sacrifice is a slight reduction in torque, from 530lb ft to 510lb ft.

The dual-clutch, seven-speed gearbox has also been recalibrated for faster shifts between gears, and while the car is 38kg lighter than the standard 812, its reworked body produces more downforce that sticks you to the tarmac. Changes to the Ferrari’s aerodynamics make the Competizione look “shorter, wider and more menacing than the regular Superfast”.

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For all that, driving it “doesn’t scare one silly”, says Matt Prior for Autocar. While sitting behind the wheel is “tremendously exciting” – anything that “slams into a 9,500rpm limiter with this verve could be nothing else” – the Competizione is a “much more complete, rounded car” than you might imagine. It’s agile, too, with the huge front tyres and active rear steering acting to disguise the weight. Even with this amount of power and speed at your finger tips, the Competizione remains responsive and earns your trust.

A triumphant send-off

It’s a triumphant send-off for Ferrari’s goosebump-generating engine, says Alexander Stoklosa on Motortrend. Following the release of the F12 tdf in 2015 and the 812 Superfast two years later, Ferrari is unlikely to make any more naturally aspirated, non-hybrid V12s. Worse still, the Competizione’s limited run is already sold out, not withstanding the £446,970 price tag before optional extras (you can still buy a regular 812 Superfast from around £250,000).

So, if you can’t get your hands on one, why bother reviewing it? Because it is “too intoxicating to not share, and because it is a rolling preview of clever advancements from [Ferrari’s home in] Maranello that in all likelihood will make their way into other Ferraris someday, including those that are electrified, mid-engine, and all-wheel drive”, says Stoklosa. “And won’t those be something?”