The new 2021 Ferrari 812 GTS is not the fastest Ferrari on the road. That distinction goes to the 2021 Ferrari SF90 Stradale, a hypercar boasting 986-hp and an acceleration of 0-60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds, a 0-124 mph sprint in just 6.7 seconds, and a top speed of 211 mph. However, the GTS is not far behind with a V12 engine and an acceleration of 0-60 mph in a mere 2.8 seconds.

The GTS is based on the Ferrari 812 Superfast, which replaced the front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive F12 Berlinetta as Ferrari's flagship V12 in 2017. The introduction of the 812 GTS in 2021 marks the first production 12-cylinder convertible offered by Ferrari in over half a century.

The GTS looks as spectacular as the rigid-roofed Superfast coupé, with just a few obvious visual differences. On the coupé, the roof and rear are joined with a flush transition while the GTS accommodates an upright small rear window, part of the folding roof mechanism. The rear deck is horizontal and includes a pair of buttresses that replace the sloping glass that flowed to the rear on the Superfast. The diffuser has also been modified to improve airflow.

Here are more facts, figures, and costs of the 2021 Ferrari 812 GTS.

The Foldable Roof May Be the Most Distinguishing Feature

The GTS foldable roof rotates through 180º
Via: Regarding Luxury

Convertible versions of Ferrari’s V12 GT cars traditionally have been specials with limited production.

Over the years, Ferrari created several different convertible models. The 550 Barchetta employed a floppy piece of canvas useful only for maintaining the seats dry but a failure as a noise abatement feature. The 575M Superamerica was equipped with a complex flipping Targa top with unusual rear proportions.

In 2010, Ferrari introduced the SA Aperta, the roadster variant of the 599 at the Paris Motor Show. The limited-edition was designed in honor of Sergio Pininfarina and Andrea Pininfarina.

The F12 Berlinetta sequel to 599 GTB was given the drop-top treatment only from Ferrari’s special projects division, making the 812 GTS Ferrari’s first V12 roadster in more than ten years.

The GTS foldable roof rotates through 180º then gently disappears under the tonneau cover in 14 seconds. Structural bracing required for the roadster adds 120kg, but an attractive rear buttress that flows into the rear deck integrates well with the design. As a result, the small section of the roof that looks like a Targa top does little to change the car’s profile appearance.

Behind the seats, a vertical pane of glass can be lowered, providing an exhilarating blast of fresh air and a front-row seat to Ferrari’s V12 exhaust note music, even with the roof up.

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The GTS Performance and Handling Matches the 812 Superfast

Red Ferrari 812 GTS parked in front of a hotel
Via: Autogespot

The Ferrari 812 GTS may represent the end of an era. In the age of electric vehicles, hybrids, and turbo-boosted internal combustion engines, the latest Ferrari boasts a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine capable of revving to almost 9,000rpm. The 812 GTS roadster is a roofless 812 Superfast that delivers 789 hp and a brisk 530 lb.-ft. of torque to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Savoring every magnificent note played by the 12-cylinder masterpiece, starting as a guttural growl and rising to an ear-piercing squeal, driving the 812 GTS is a pleasure whose days are perhaps numbered.

Car and Driver 0- 60 mph test results showed a time of 2.8 seconds, placing the GTS just a second behind the 812 Superfast coupé. The almost imperceptibly slower time is most likely due to the necessary chassis reinforcements that make the convertible a bit heavier than the coupé.

The 789 horsepower gives the driver pause before pressing the peddle to the metal, but Ferrari has included handling features that allow even the least experienced driver to enjoy a brisk tour around the sharp curves on a mountain road.

Sophisticated electronics, including a four-wheel-steering system, make the GTS manageable to drive. According to Goodwood Road and Racing, “It’s almost impossible to describe just how much the 812 pulls you along, signaling every single movement or upcoming trouble without alarm, but with a gentle nudge. It feels very much like going out to drive an F1 car, and having Sebastian Vettel joining you over a headset to talk you through exactly what is going on from five seconds in the future.”

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The Ferrari 812 GTS Has a Comfortable Interior but a Reduced Cargo Space

Leather interior of the Ferrari 812 GTS
Via: autocarindia.com

Like most exceptional supercars, the Ferrari 812 GTS offers seating for two in a reasonably spacious (for a sports car) interior with accommodating ergonomics based on a modern design.

Incentivizing drivers to always maintain hands on the wheel (for optimum control), Ferrari replaced the typical steering-wheel stalks with spokes that offer push-button controls for the turn signals and wipers.

While the 812 Superfast coupé beats most of the competition with its 18 cubic feet of cargo volume, the roadster, with its space-occupying roof-folding equipment, cuts that down to a mere seven cubic feet. Luggage for a long trip would need to be sent ahead, and golf clubs should be left in the country club locker facility instead of jammed into the limited space available in the GTS interior.

Is the Ferrari 812 GTS Convertible Feature Worth the Extra $15,000?

Four wheels off the ground Ferrari 812 GTS roadster
Via: carmagazine.co.uk

Both the Ferrari 812 Superfast coupé and roadster come from the factory with most options buyers want, including 20-inch wheels, carbon-ceramic brake rotors, and an interior filled with aromatic leather. Buyer customization is limited to interior trimmings, wheel designs, and a host of paint colors.

The Ferrari Superfast has a base price of about $340,000, while the GTS is offered at $355,000.

The price difference of only $15,000 makes the GTS well worth the extra investment. Who knows how much longer a Ferrari enthusiast will be able to purchase a naturally aspirated front-engine V12 roadster? The GTS may very well be the last of an era.

Sources: caranddriver.com, goodwood.com, topgear.com, classicdriver.com, carmagazine.co.uk

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