Overview
The Ferrari 812 GTS is everything a Ferrari should be. It’s painfully gorgeous and upholstered with the finest Italian leather, but those details are just a warmup for the naturally aspirated, 789-hp V-12 engine. Comically fast, the front-mounted V-12 sings the maker’s siren song as conducted by the driver’s right foot whenever the mood strikes. If that sounds a bit dramatic, it is, but the 812’s purity of purpose and design are that inspiring. Part of that charm is how civil it can be for nights on the town even as neck-straining acceleration remains just an accelerator stab away. 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. Superfast indeed. That same 6.5-liter V-12 is found under the hood of the 2024 812 GTS convertible—the only body style available for this model year. Any doubts regarding the 812’s supercar bandwidth were quelled with our drive of the 2021 Ferrari 812 GTS, where we came away deeming it “two cars in one.” Buyers fortunate enough to land a 2024 812 GTS are also joining an elite club, as the 812 will very likely be the last naturally aspirated V-12 Ferrari sports car without hybrid assist. As if the 812 needed anything more to make it special.
Where This Vehicle Ranks
What’s New for 2024?
Nothing. Ferrari has dropped the Competizione coupe and Competizione A convertible from the 812 lineup in 2023, leaving the GTS convertible as the sole offering for 2024.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Since the car comes in a single spec and at a high base price, Ferrari makes sure all the requisite items are in place: 20-inch wheels, carbon-ceramic brake rotors, and an interior slathered in aromatic leather. Customization options extend to numerous paint colors, interior trimmings, and wheel designs, but not much more. As previously mentioned, the Competizione coupes and Competizione Aperta convertibles exited the lineup at the end of the 2023 model year. The GTS makes for a dandy placeholder, however, as its folding metal top only intensifies the V-12’s concerto while the wind blows through our hair, whether on a long drive down the Pacific Coast Highway or short blasts in urban environments.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Though the GTS doesn’t use the Superfast name, it is still super fast, topping out at 211 mph, according to Ferrari. The thrust for that velocity is provided by a naturally aspirated 789-hp 6.5-liter V-12, which delivers 530 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Likely one of the last Ferrari engines to leave Maranello without the aid of forced induction or hybridization, the V-12 stands as a not so subtle reminder of the philosophy the brand was built on. We haven’t tested a GTS, but our test drivers did launch a Superfast to 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 the folding top mechanism, which 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 nearly 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 braking performance should be similar for the GTS.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Though the Ferrari 812 has many charms, fuel economy is not one of them. Not that deals on $330,000-plus, 789-hp sports cars are made or broken over EPA fuel-economy numbers, but even the financially gifted should know exactly what they are getting. The Ferrari 812 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. 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
You won’t find much extraneous space in the 812, but the lucky two occupants likely won’t lose any sleep over it. Instead, they’ll enjoy reasonably comfortable accommodations, tasteful modern design, and good ergonomics. 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. Storage space is limited to just seven cubic feet, thanks in part to the folding top; the old Superfast coupe offered 18 cubic feet of cargo volume. But if you have the means to afford a GTS and are obsessed with luggage space, you’re missing the point entirely.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Sure, there’s a standard six-speaker audio setup, but the real music emanates from the V-12 behind your ears. Standard tech also includes an integrated navigation system with a voice-activation feature along with Bluetooth phone pairing and music streaming. Owners can get Apple CarPlay capability as an option, but Android users are out of luck.
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
