Wish I could mate an F12 body with the chassis and engine of an 812.
Imagining it could be done and that both models, the 812 and the F12 ( with the body, chassis and engine of an 812), were sold by Ferrari, I wonder which one would have the greatest success.
Couldn’t ferrari just fix the poor rear design of the 812 for the next model year? They are so lucky this isn’t a down economy when the 812 was launched.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The waiting list is miles long though. PS: Ferrari doesn't change the design between model years (which is an american thing anyway - in Europe there is no such thing).
Merc and Audi and bmw do mid cycle updates all the time in between model changes. I for one can stand the ungainly looks though.
Mid life face-lifts are done every 3-4 years, not on a model year basis. Ferrari doesn't do that though. They launch a new model (in the usual pattern "new platform - old platform - new platform etc") every 5 years, or so. Anyway, Ferrari has nothing to do with BMW or Mercedes, or any other mass-volume manufacturer.
Some side by side pictures of the F12 B and the 812 which I like. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
My opinion below... After personally spending a little more time behind the wheel Of an 812, I have to say it is a much better car than the one it replaces (FWIW I think The F12 is amazing and I love it) For me the first difference is the gearshifts. Downshifts just seem so explosive and ferocious compared to the F12 (apparently 40% faster) - downshifting just feels so much better in this car than in the F12 and I never thought I’d think that. It just explodes down, bang, bang, bang!! Rear wheel steer makes the car feel so much smaller through tight bends, and I love it. Feels so nimble not how a big front engined V12 should (and I mean that in a good way) (In stock form exhaust wise) At normal speeds the F12 is pretty quiet and I really need to go a lot faster for that glorious sound to come out. In the 812 the valves just seem to open up so much earlier which just adds to the drama. Obviously having an exhaust changes things but I’m just talking about in stock form The 812 also feels less twitchy to me. I just feel more in control and feel like I’m less likely to wrap myself around a tree. Better nanny’s keeping me safe I know and Some may not like this which I understand, but I just feel more relaxed in the 812 vs an F12. You may prefer the more edgy car but again just my opinion Looks - Totally subjective so I won’t even go there I haven’t driven one on a track and the above just relates to how I can realistically drive a Ferrari on public roads without losing my license an/or going to jail Epic car overall and I am so impressed. I was initially not too excited by the 812 but after driving it bit I just want more I don’t own one but wish I did [emoji846] Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
This is a good post - the comparison between the cars is interesting. In the first pair, the 812 looks much nicer. The F12 seems to have more bulk around the mid-section and its lines in that area are straighter and less interesting and voluptuous. The 812 is more nicely sculpted with the emphasis being the mid-section flowing to meet the bonnet at a lower point, giving a sportier stance. The second pair is quite close, the lower-slung 812 gives a flatter grille area whereas the higher stance F12 allows a more interesting body-coloured portion around the grille with the flared edges pointing down and perhaps enhancing its stance. F12 slightly better, maybe? The third pairing is very similar and not a nice angle to shoot cars from in general. Overall this pair shows without doubt that these cars are built on the same basic platform. The fourth pair is quite a nice angle and the 812’s more lithe look with less bulk in the middle plus the nicer shaped and lower bonnet give it a better look. 812 easy here. The fifth pair is again a good shot for the 812. The side profile is just better for the 812 and gives a leaner, lower but more flowing and voluptuous (sorry to repeat an adjective but can’t think of a better one) look. It’s so much more interesting and suggestive of its speed. If nobody knew how old these cars were and you were asked to take one for a drive, that look invites you to pick up the keys of the 812. Pair six and seven are clearly for the F12. I like the back of the 812 but it doesn’t quite have the cleverness of the F12. The so-called uterus feature is actually very clever. The area of both rears is the same (same platform remember) but the larger single light and the sculpted span between them at the top of the ‘uterus’ makes the F12’s rear seem much smaller and tighter. The bottom part of the uterus, which is what gives the top part some sense is unique and though it was controversial at the time, I think is a stand-out feature of the car. The 812 seems staid and uninteresting in comparison. My personal conclusion; both cars are beautiful, the 812 has more of what I like but Ferrari has managed to make two different cars from the same platform, each with its own character yet easily identifiable as brothers.
Usually one per a model's life cycle, but it still doesn't matter what they do. Supercar manufacturers do it differently.
Being friendly is a trait of a great car. A car that is trying to kill you is an unresolved and badly engineered one. As Se Simone says, a car has too much power when it cannot deploy it with safety. That's why the 1000 HP LaFerrari is just right, whereas the 800 HP tdf is a handful.
I have a F12 and I tried a 812. I drove both only on road, not track. They are very similar. From a mechanical point of view, I would say more a restyling than a new car. From the esthetic point of view is personal. I prefer the front of F12 and the rear of 812.
Great picture comparison Mario, thanks. My only one small quibble is the first shot of the F12 is a F12 with some extra body moldings that make the car look thicker than it would be in pure stock form. Is it really a surprise that Ferrari, at the top of their game, would make the successor to the F12 even better? No. But, it is really wonderful to get the first hand accounts of those who have driven the new car. The biggest thing I take away is the size of the improvement, overall, its quite a step above the F12. That's really hard to do. But that's why they are Ferrari.
I have to agree I keep trying to get excited about the 812 but I don't want to give up my F12 for it ...
Larry, I've seen your F12 and it is far nicer looking all around than the 812. Of course the 812 is more refined and has a great motor. We expect that. But you have to really take in the beauty of the machine with a Ferrari and the 812 just doesn't have it not matter how that first ride tries to convince you it does. Just my opinion but many do share it.
Back of the 812 looks absolutely fine here. In fact magnificent. Especially compared to that 720. There are photos of the F12 that don’t look so great either so comments about one looks better than the other is only opinion. Image Unavailable, Please Login
