TESTED 26.10.20, WILTSHIRE ON SALE NOW
FERRARI 812 GTS Y
ou know the Ferrari that’s so amazing and quick that they called it the Superfast? This is just like that, but with no roof. In losing the Superfast tag, as is Ferrari’s way (the F8 Tributo with no roof is simply called the F8 Spider), the 812 GTS gains a folding hard-top and 75kg because of the mechanism and the body-stiffening required. What it retains are the elements that make the 812 Superfast special. Up front is a 6.5-litre V12 petrol engine with no turbochargers that revs to nearly 9000rpm and on the way makes 789bhp. It drives the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. And if that amount of power through only two driven wheels sounds hairy, holding it together is a complex array of electronics that oversees traction control, stability control, a limitedslip differential and even Side Slip Control, which allows some oversteer. I think you would classify the 812 GTS as a convertible super-GT, with rivals including the Aston Martin
26 AUTOCAR.COM.PH JUNE 2021
DBS Superleggera Volante and perhaps the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster but not too much else. It’s just too powerful and expensive (£293,150 before options, and buyers will be encouraged to add plenty) for there to be many alternatives. There are only two seats inside – not even tiny rear ones fit only for a Pomeranian – and, unlike in a Lamborghini drop-top, no seating
space has been taken away to bring you a folding roof; the seats slide just as far back as in the coupé. They’re well finished and supportive and bring a decent driving position, although some might want the steering wheel (a bit complexly buttoned and squared-off, but you get used to it) to reach closer. The rest of the cabin is pleasingly laid out, albeit the two small screens
Everything inside is neatly designed and expertly constructed
behind the steering wheel – which control the infotainment and monitor the car’s trip computer, temperatures and other systems – aren’t totally straightforward. But I really like the look and feel of the air vents, there’s a cool secondary display in front of the passenger so they can see how fast you’re not going and all is rather nicely designed and well finished. The engine is the masterpiece in
