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Ferrari 812 GTS 2020: specs, price and UK release
Drop-top Superfast pays tribute to the 50-year-old 365 GTS4 Daytona Spider
The 812 GTS, released alongside a Spider version of the F8 Tributo supercar, is a drop-top version of the V12-engined 812 Superfast coupe.
Though Ferrari traditionally uses the “Spider” name for its drop-top models, as it has done with the F8 Tributo, it opted for the “GTS” label for its convertible 812 to mark the 50th anniversary of the “famed” 365 GTS4 Daytona Spider, Auto Express reports.
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The Daytona Spider was the last front-engined Ferrari convertible to be fitted with a V12 engine, according to automotive news site Motoring Research. Now, five decades on, the company’s iconic V12 is available once again in a convertible model courtesy of the new 812 GTS.
Here’s everything you need to know about the grand tourer:
Price and UK release
Orders are expected to open later this year, with prices starting at €356,000 (£318,000), Autocar reports. That makes the 812 GTS £57,000 more expensive than the £261,000 812 Superfast.
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Design and roof mechanism
It takes an eagled-eyed Ferrari fan to spot the difference between the 812 GTS and the hard-topped 812 Superfast.
When the 812 GTS’s roof is raised, the most notable difference can be found towards the rear of the vehicle. Gone is the sloping rear window of the 812 Superfast, and in its place is a flat rear deck with a pair of fairings behind the driver and passenger’s seat.
The rear wheel arches have also been redesigned, resulting in the omission of the small air duct located behind the small rear window, says Autocar. To compensate for the loss of the key aerodynamic device, there is an additional flap in the car’s diffuser.
The multi-element roof can be retracted in 14 seconds at speeds of up to 28mph, the magazine adds. The mechanism doesn’t impact interior space, either, meaning the 812 GTS’s cabin is identical to that of the 812 Superfast.
Engine and performance
Ahead of the driver is the same 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine that powers the current 812 Superfast coupe. And similarly, the motor in the 812 GTS delivers 789bhp and 529lb-ft of torque, notes Evo.
With peak power coming in at 8,500rpm, just 400rpm shy of the engine’s redline, drivers can complete a run to 62mph from standstill in less than three seconds, the motoring magazine says. Top speed is quoted at 211mph, which is identical to the hard-top version.
What separates the two models, however, is that the 812 GTS is equipped with a new exhaust particulate filter to meet the EU’s strict emissions regulations. While these systems can muffle a car’s engine note, Evo says Ferrari has tweaked the drop-top’s exhaust geometry to “ensure it still sounds its best”.
