Lifting the massive one-piece bonnet not solely reveals how far again the engine sits but additionally exposes the tyres, to make the automotive look a bit racy.
The engine {hardware} is excessive itself: its final outing was within the 812 Competizione and it makes the identical 819bhp at 9250rpm, with a 9500rpm redline, though minor set up modifications have decreased peak torque by 10lb ft to 500lb ft, made at 7250rpm.
Having eight speeds relatively than seven has added just a few kilos, though Ferrari claims the centre of gravity is decrease. It quotes solely a dry weight, of 1560kg. We put an 812 Superfast on the scales, fuelled, at 1725kg.
The inner gear ratios are the identical as within the SF90 and 296 GTB, however a decrease ultimate drive means 5% shorter ratios in low gears than within the 812 Superfast or 812 Competizione – not automobiles unendowed with efficiency.
The acceleration figures, then – 2.9sec to 62mph and seven.9sec to 124mph – stay the identical because the 812 Superfast’s, as a result of there’s a restrict to what rear tyres can do with 819bhp that they couldn’t with 789bhp.
And the character and supply stay each bit as particular as within the 812 Competizione. In a world the place not many producers may be dedicated to naturally aspirated V12s, any which are left are fabulous.
It’s clean as a result of all engines with multiples of straight six cylinders are clean, and it has to have gentle internals as a result of it’s a 6.5-litre engine that revs to 9500rpm with out tearing itself aside.
You may’t use all of it on the street, clearly, and Ferrari’s engineers are conscious this automotive must be pleasant at speeds the place it’s not breaking sweat. In order that they’ve modified the torque output in third and fourth gears between 2000rpm and 5000rpm, which is the place they suppose drivers spend a variety of time on nation roads. It has had peaks decreased in locations flatten it, to be extra linearly responsive in these areas.
It’ll nonetheless make peak torque in these gears. This isn’t a transfer like within the turbocharged 488 GTB, the place solely seventh gear made full torque, in order that it nonetheless constructed as much as one thing; it’s simply administration of the responses. They’re nonetheless as distinctive as something not electrical.
It’s bassy at low revs, resisting being a relentless drone, tuneful by way of the mid-range the place you’ll spend most of your time. The one disappointments about the way it sounds and the way it responds at excessive revs are how arduous it’s to seek out locations the place you may get there. Accelerative bursts final fractions of a second.
The gearbox is a dual-clutch unit, perhaps the smoothest and quickest, and there’s an electronically managed limited-slip differential, plus drive modes and ECUs to meld the entire caboodle collectively, which regulate not solely these but additionally the by-wire braking system, lively rear steering, variable stability management and slip management.