Ferrari was caught again testing what
looks like the even more hardcore 812 ‘GTO’ variant on public roads. In true
Ferrari fashion, the test cars with the ‘Prova’ plates look pretty beat-up,
with plenty of scratches and duct tape, and if you look closely you’ll notice
that the extra bits of aero, particularly at the rear, are held on by rivets
and even a zip tie.
The angrier 812 will become the successor
of the F12 TdF and the 599 GTO, further improving every dynamic aspect of the
V12 supercar. Traditionally, the revisions will target saving weight wherever
possible, add more clever aero to the bodywork and extract more power out of
the naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine.
The 812 Superfast already features one of
the most impressive V12 engines in the market, producing 789 HP and 718 Nm of torque, but the carmaker is reportedly keen to add up to
60 HP for a total of around 850 HP. The upgrades will probably include a more
aggressive shifting strategy for the dual-clutch transmission too, as well as
bigger brakes, stickier tires, and of course new suspension components and
settings.
While the test cars don’t necessarily
preview what the finished car will look like, they do reveal that Ferrari is
focusing more on the lower body to extract more downforce. The new aero
elements of the 812 ‘GTO’ will be active to provide the best possible results
without the drag coefficient taking a big hit. As is the case with every new
limited-edition big Ferrari, we also expect Ferrari to introduce some sort of
new technologies that will magically allow its front-engined supercar to go
even faster around corners.
Production numbers will be kept at around
800 examples, which is similar to how many F12 TdF models Ferrari produced. We
don’t know yet if Ferrari will use the iconic GTO nameplate, which was last
used in the 599 GTO, or if they’ll go a new name.
