Now that the 812 Superfast has replaced the seemingly still-new F12 Berlinetta as Ferrari’s V12 flagship (ultra-exclusive LaFerrari notwithstanding), the Maranello automaker is now said to be nearing an unveil of the car’s drop top twin. An 812 Spider, perhaps?
This seems quite out of the ordinary on Ferrari’s part as they have traditionally not subjected its highest end performance GT to a convertible treatment since…ever. Well, not in series production, that is. The company did engage in short run of open top V12s, such as the 550 Barchetta at 448 examples and the 575 Superamerica which was pegged at 559 examples.
It’s quite possible that a theoretical 812 Spider will be subject to an equally exclusive production run, reserved for Ferrari’s most favoured customers as collector tokens, and it would fall entirely in the company’s norms should this be the case. However, a slim chance exists that a V12 convertible will be made more broadly available.
Should that be the case, there’s no reason to assume that the car will differ mechanically to the 812 Superfast hardtop, likely boasting the same orchestral 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 with 588kW and 718Nm. It’s also unlikely that the move from coupe to convertible will have meaningfully adverse effect on handling either, given its space-age construction methods/materials and inherently high structural rigidity.
The rumour stems from FerrariChat.com where noted insider Marcel Massini shared info of stirrings within Maranello indicating the impending arrival of a new 812 variant back in September, but one that featured a metal folding roof akin to that used on the Portofino.
Since then, various members have been adding to the original poster’s thread, perpetuating and lending a touch more credence to this possibility, with some claiming to have already previewed the car at a private Ferrari function.
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