It was only a couple of years ago when I had my first taste behind the wheel of Ferrari’s glorious V12 in the form of the 812 Superfast. The experience was nothing shy of phenomenal. Ferrari’s official Philippine distributor, Motostrada Inc., now introduces the comeback of a legend that supplements the 812 bloodline: the powerful and prestigious 812 GTS.

Standing as the successor to the 365 GTS4 (also known as the Daytona Spider) that emerged five decades ago and tied to Ferrari’s victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1967, the 812 GTS leaps in to provide Ferraristas the truest essence of the prancing horse’s iconic and most powerful V12 engine in a convertible-type supercar to date. Designed to fill a void in the modern Ferrari stable, the 812 GTS was built to deeply satisfy genuine connoisseurs of the brand.

With 789hp and 718Nm of torque coupled to a snappy seven-speed dual clutch transmission, this sleek convertible maintains the same performance as its fixed-roof sibling. This car is capable of zero to 100km/h in under 3 seconds, zero to 200km/h in 8.3 seconds, and a top speed in excess of 340km/h.  Combined with Ferrari’s latest driving tech, the 812 GTS delivers its pilot and passenger to the ultimate in driving confidence and pleasure while saddled in exquisite Daytona leather race seats, enveloped in a cockpit that represents Ferrari’s modern signature look.

Apart from the carryover features from the 812 Superfast, the 812 GTS comes with eco-friendly gadgetry such as a stop-start system to reduce emissions and keep the vehicle compliant with modern environmental standards. In the performance realm, the Manettino settings have been calibrated to elevate the sporty nature of this beast by accelerating the response from paddle-shifter input in its more aggressive modes. Coupled with shortened gear ratios, these features enable the driver to engage and feel the full potential of the naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 instantaneously, with majority of pulling power coming in as early as 3,500rpm and constantly maintaining maximum torque all the way to 8,900rpm.

Other noteworthy changes include the redesign of the exhaust geometry enhancing the V12’s sound to heighten the audible experience. This improvement in combustion order harmonics is most prevalent with the top down.

Speaking of the retractable roof, the whole transition from closed to open only takes 14 seconds and can be engaged up to 45km/h. Ferrari engineers have meticulously worked on aerodynamics with strong consideration on the open top, creating a driving environment that’s both comfortable and exhilarating in an open-air sense.

The 812 GTS is the Italian marque’s lightest and most powerful front engine V12 convertible in its history – a super grand tourer that takes the spirit of the brand to new heights with tighter handling dynamics complemented by an evolved Virtual Short Wheelbase 2.0 system to reduce instability and a more engaging overall driving character. To top off this amazing package, Ferrari elevates the ownership experience by serving up a seven-year maintenance program covering standard maintenance services, showcasing the brand’s dedication to its distinguished clientele.