Unlike some of its rivals, which make cars with names almost impossible to pronounce with confidence — try saying Lamborghini Huracán Performante in a nightclub and see if you don't get a clip round the ear — the name of the new Ferrari couldn't be any more straightforward. The 812 Superfast is the most powerful "regular" road-going Ferrari ever made (the spicier and pricier LaFerrari and track-ier FXXK models were strictly limited editions): a whopping 800bhp from its glorious-sounding, naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine is the 812 bit and that combination definitely equals Superfast — 0–62mph takes 2.9secs and top speed is a life-changing (and, potentially, ending) 211mph.
What's more surprising is how easy it is to handle. This front-engined super GT is a doddle to drive around town (yes, even over speed bumps). That's equally true when storming up a winding road on one of the hills near Ferrari's Maranello HQ or flying around the marque's Fiorano track in "race mode", engaged by hitting the steering wheel's bright red Manettino switch.
The seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission is quicker than ever, with three downshifts in just one second possible from a pull and hold of the left paddle. The steering — electrically-powered for the first time on a Ferrari — is responsive and surprisingly light, and the brakes are simply epic, allowing you to hurtle towards track corners for way longer than you might in lesser cars.
In Emilia-Romagna, you have to make a pit stop for Parmesan and balsamic vinegar, both of which slotted into the large 320-litre boot under the 812's rear hatch alongside two bags with no problem.
Knowing where the car's body actually starts and stops is always handy when manoeuvring, so the 812's raised front fender edges really help. By comparison, vision over your shoulder is poor but in a Ferrari you're more likely to be spending time going forward than doing three-point turns; surely that's someone's else's job?
Inside, the interior mixes thrusty metallic air vents and modern creature comforts like a smartphone link via Apple Car Play to a colour screen. Unusually, there's also a slim passenger side infotainment screen where your colleague/lover/hitch-hiker can fiddle while you focus on the road.
Yes, the sporty bucket seats weren't the comfiest after hours behind the wheel and for £250k it would be nice to have a "one-touch-up" electric window fitted as standard on the passenger side, but these are just niggles, really. The Superfast is first and foremost a car that celebrates driving, and its combination of extreme V12 power and everyday usability feels an appropriate way to mark how far Ferrari has come on its 70th anniversary.
