2023 Ferrari 812 GTS
Overview
The Ferrari 812 GTS sits at the intersection of speed and luxury, delivering both the boisterous wail of 789 prancing horses and the satisfying refinement of a cabin lined with Italian leather. It is Jekyll-and-Hyde duality in the extreme. This front-engine, rear-drive supercar is equally adept at whisking you comfortably to dinner at a three-star Michelin restaurant and mashing your innards together with its seemingly limitless performance. While Ferrari isn’t fond of us strapping our test gear to its products, we were able to clock a 2.7-second 60-mph run back in 2018 in the GTS’s coupe version, then called the Superfast. It hit 100 mph in 5.7 seconds and destroyed the quarter-mile in 10.4 seconds at 138 mph. Super-fast indeed. Under the hood of the 2023 812 GTS convertible—the only body style available for this model year —sits that same sensational 6.5-liter V-12. Our drive in a 2021 Ferrari 812 GTS confirmed this car’s incredible luxury-supercar bandwidth; we deemed it “two cars in one.” Anyone lucky enough to purchase a 2023 812 GTS will also be getting what is probably the last naturally aspirated V-12 Ferrari without hybrid assist. As if the 812 needed anything more to make it special.
What’s New for 2023?
For the 2023 model year, Ferrari has dropped the Competizion coupe and Competizione A convertible (A for Aperta, which means open in English) from the 812 lineup, leaving the GTS convertible as the sole offering.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Ferrari offers the 812 GTS convertible in a single spec that features carbon-ceramic brake rotors, 20-inch wheels, and an interior slathered in aromatic leather. Buyers can select from a host of paint colors, interior trimmings, and wheel designs, but that’s about the extent of the customization. While Competizione coupes and Competizione Aperta convertibles were previously available for those who want an even more potent 812 experience, they aren’t offered for the 2023 model year. We’re just fine with the GTS, which allows us to enjoy the feeling of windswept hair and revel in the V-12’s growl on long drives down the Pacific Coast Highway or through the Catskills—or blasts on the Angeles Crest highway.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Ferrari 812 GTS gets its muscle from a 789-hp 6.5-liter V-12, which delivers a bracing 530 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Although the GTS doesn’t use the Superfast name, it is still super fast; it tops out at 211 mph according to Ferrari. While we haven’t tested a GTS, the Superfast that we tested hit 60 mph in a mere 2.7 seconds. Ferrari claims the GTS should reach 60 about a tenth of a second behind the Superfast, likely owing to the necessary chassis reinforcements and folding top mechanism that make the convertible an estimated 265 pounds heavier than the coupe. In our drive of the GTS, we found the handling to be nimble and sporty for a near two-ton car, making it feel much smaller than it is. The removable roof makes it easy to listen to the 812’s stupendous noise—its exhaust note starts as a guttural growl and rises to an ear-piercing shriek. And the standard carbon-ceramic brakes bring this beast to a quick and decisive halt; the Superfast coupe needed just 142 feet to stop from 70 mph in our testing and the braking performance should be similar on the GTS.
More on the 812 GTS Coupe
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The Ferrari 812 chugs fuel in all guises. Not that that’s an issue for a car in this price category, but we report the fuel economy of everything with wheels, just so you know. For the record, the GTS averages 12 mpg in the city and 15 mpg on the highway per the EPA’s yardstick. The Lamborghini Huracán—a chief rival, albeit with a V-10—fares a bit better, returning 13 and 18 mpg, respectively, in those environs. During our time with the 812 Superfast, we managed only 11 mpg, two points shy of its 13-mpg combined rating; we haven’t gotten our hands on a GTS for testing purposes. For more information about the 812’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The 812’s cabin provides seating for two, with reasonably spacious accommodations, good ergonomics, and modern design. Wishing for drivers to embrace the grand-touring nature of the 812 and keep their hands on the wheel at all times, Ferrari eliminated the typical steering-wheel stalks and instead put push-button controls for the wipers and turn signals on the spokes. As for storage space, the old Superfast coupe outshined many competitors, offering 18 cubic feet of cargo volume. We can’t say the same for the convertible, though. The GTS’s roof-folding equipment cuts that down to a mere seven cubes. You’ll need to send most of your luggage on ahead.
The Car and Driver Difference
Infotainment and Connectivity
All 812 GTS’s come with a six-speaker stereo, but why listen to that when you have a built-in V-12 soundtrack? An integrated navigation system with a voice-activation feature comes standard along with Bluetooth phone pairing and music streaming. Owners can option to have Apple CarPlay capability, but Android users are out of luck.
How to Buy and Maintain a Car
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Like a lot of supercars, the 812 GTS offers little in the way of driver-assistance features. For more information about the 812’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard backup camera Standard front and rear parking sensors
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Ferrari’s limited and powertrain warranties match the coverage provided by Lamborghini. However, the Maranello automaker sets itself apart by offering seven years of complimentary scheduled maintenance; Lamborghini offers nothing of the sort.
Limited warranty covers three years or unlimited miles Powertrain warranty covers three years or unlimited miles Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for seven years with no mileage limit
Specifications
Specifications
2021 Ferrari 812 GTS
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door convertible
BASE PRICE
$404,494
ENGINE TYPE
DOHC 48-valve V-12, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement
396 in3, 6496 cm3
Power
789 hp @ 8500 rpm
Torque
530 lb-ft @ 7000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
7-speed dual-clutch automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107.1 in
Length: 184.8 in
Width: 77.6 in
Height: 50.2 in
Trunk volume: 7 ft3
Curb weight (C/D est): 4000 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 2.8 sec
100 mph: 5.8 sec
1/4 mile: 10.5 sec
Top speed: 211 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 13/12/15 mpg
More Features and Specs
