MILAN — Ferrari is seeking to retain its appeal to traditional fans with two new V-12 sports cars, the 812 Competizione coupe and its sibling, the 812 Competizione Aperta roadster.
Ferrari’s pivot to electrification has raised concerns that it could abandon high-performance internal-combustion -engine sports cars.
Asked whether the two new models will be Ferrari’s last V-12-engine cars as the company adds more hybrids and its first full-electric car, marketing and commercial boss Enrico Galliera said: “aspirated V-12 engines are the heart of Ferrari and what we did with these models is to try and identify ways to keep them alive.”
The 812 Competizione coupe and its sibling, the 812 Competizione Aperta roadster derive from the 812 Superfast coupe that is already on the market.
They are powered by 6.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with maximum output of 818 hp (830 metric hp or cv) at 9,500 rpm — 29 hp higher than the 812 Superfast. The engine is coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Just 999 units of the coupe and 599 units of the roadster will be built.
Galliera said demand for the two cars was higher but the company decided to limit output to offer its best customers something “extremely exclusive.”
The 812 Competizione has a maximum speed of over 340 kph (212 mph) and accelerates from 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in 2.85 seconds.
The increased power output has been obtained with an optimization of multiple engine components, such as pistons, crankshaft and distribution — the distribution and the cylinder heads were completely redesigned.
The exhaust system was also redesigned after the adoption of a gasoline particulate filter to keep the same acoustics as the 812 Superfast coupe while complying with emissions regulations.
The 812 Competizione is 38 kg (83 pounds) lighter than the 812 Superfast, thanks to a more extensive use of carbon fiber and a number of small optimizations in the powertrain and body shell.
A new four-wheel steering system helps to improve handling in racing track conditions. The independent rear-wheel steering features a new electronic management system that enables the right and left actuators to be actioned individually rather than being synchronized, said Ferrari’s chief technical officer, Michael Leiters.
Asked whether Ferrari will offer an XX version of the 812 Competizion, which in Ferrari tradition is a very limited edition developed exclusively for the track, Galliera said it’s too early to discuss such a move but added: “We are thinking about something.”
The last such car was the FXX-K, based on the street-legal La Ferrari, and produced in 40 units until 2017.
High margins
The two 812 Competizione versions were unveiled on Wednesday in a livestream that was broadcast from Ferrari’s Fiorano test track, close to its Maranello headquarters in northern Italy.
The 812 Competizione coupe’s base price in Italy is 499,000 euros ($600,000) including VAT sales tax, while the 812 Competizione Aperta will cost more, starting at 578,000 euros.
The prices are much higher than the average selling price of Ferraris and will help the company increase its profit margins.
According to a report by Jefferies, the average selling price of a Ferrari was 309,000 euros in the first quarter.
V-12 cars accounted for 20 percent of Ferrari’s 2,771 deliveries from January to April. V-12 vehicle sales were down 20 percent, while sales of V-8 cars increased 8 percent.
Deliveries of the 812 Competizione coupe will start in the first quarter of 2022, while the 812 Competizione Aperto will follow in the fourth quarter. Deliveries to the U.S. market usually start three months later, a Ferrari spokesperson said.
Going electric
Ferrari Chairman John Elkann confirmed to financial analysts on May 4 that the company’s first full-electric model will be launched in 2025.
Ferrari started selling its first plug-in hybrid model, the SF90 Stradale, in 2019.
Elkann said on May 4 that Ferrari’s launch program has been affected by the need to reduce expenditure during the COVID-19 pandemic.