Spied: Ferrari's V12-Powered 812 Superfast Successor Nears Production

Ferrari has been spied testing what is likely a V12 successor to the 812 in the Alps, although you wouldn't know that at first glance. While the V12 engine note is undeniable, this camouflaged test mule looks more like a modified Roma. The Roma sits below the 812 in Ferrari's lineup and comes with a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 612 horsepower. By comparison, the 812 Superfast that arrived in 2017 has a 6.5-liter V12 with 789 hp; the newer 812 Competizione is even more absurd and makes 819 hp.

It's difficult to know how Ferrari will possibly enhance the mighty V12, one of the highest-revving engines in the world, but we wouldn't put it past the Italian automaker. The 812's successor is expected to be based on the scalable FR-orientation platform that can accommodate different wheelbases, rear- or all-wheel drive, and V8 or V12 engines. It's also compatible with hybrids.

The test mule in the video sounds as spectacular as we've come to expect from a Ferrari V12, with an exciting roar from the quad-exit tailpipes. There is no way to tell if the V12 has been electrified in any form, but we shouldn't fear the final product if it has. After all, Ferrari has shown us how soul-stirring a hybrid supercar can be with the SF90 Stradale. That car has three electric motors, but we don't expect such an elaborate setup from the 812 successor if it is electrified in some way.

Although it looks much like the Roma, this test mule sports a few differences, like a longer hood, bigger air intakes, and enlarged wheel arches. These changes all point to the need to accommodate a larger V12 and a wider track, too.

Like the 812 Competizione, the newer car will probably have a dual-clutch automatic transmission. An evolution of the Side Slip Control system - essentially the Ferrari's electronic brain that dictates how it performs under varying conditions - will also be used.

It's been well over a year since we saw Ferrari testing a V12 in a Roma body, and that test mule also had a slightly larger body. Hopefully, this timeline means that Ferrari isn't far from revealing the final product. The 812's successor (it still doesn't have a name) will likely arrive as a 2025 model, which, hopefully, means a reveal should take place late this year or early next.