2021 Ferrari 812 GTS

In today's world, the 812 GTS still feels like something beautifully unreasonable.

A front-engined Ferrari, a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12, 800 hp sent to the rear wheels, a folding hardtop and enough drama to make every kilometre feel like an event. Ferrari lists the 812 GTS with 800 cv, 718 Nm, a 0-100 km/h time in 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 340 km/h. It also marks the return of Ferrari’s series-production front-engined V12 spider, with a retractable hardtop that opens or closes in 14 seconds. And honestly? This is how a Ferrari should feel.

A V12 Ferrari with the roof down

The magic starts with the engine. The 812 GTS uses one of the great modern Ferrari engines: a naturally aspirated V12 that revs close to 9,000 rpm, responds instantly and sounds like it belongs in a different era. Not because it feels old, but because it feels free.

• No turbos.

• No hybrid system.

• No artificial drama.

Just twelve cylinders, throttle response, noise and violence. With the roof open, the experience becomes almost ridiculous. The sound fills the cabin, the shifts feel sharper, and the whole car turns into a rolling piece of theatre. It is loud, intense and completely addictive, but never in a cheap way.

The car we drove: Grigio GTS, perfectly specified

The Ferrari 812 GTS we drove is currently offered by Collection by Vermant. It was delivered new in December 2021 to its first and only owner, a Belgian Ferrari enthusiast who actually used the car as intended. Not as a static object. Not as a garage queen. But for proper road trips and drives across Europe.

The 812 GTS is not only a collector-grade V12 Ferrari. It is also a grand tourer. One built to cover distance, to cross borders and to make long journeys unforgettable. This specific car is finished in Grigio GTS, a dark metallic grey that suits the shape beautifully. It gives the car a more elegant and serious look, while allowing the matte black details to stand out without becoming too aggressive.

The specification is very strong: matte black forged racing wheels, black brake calipers, black ceramic exhaust tips, matte black Ferrari badging, Scuderia Ferrari shields, surround view, front lift, Apple CarPlay, JBL High Power Hi-Fi and full paint protection film from new. It is tasteful, complete and clearly configured by someone who knew what they were doing.

Design: drama without becoming vulgar

The 812 GTS is not a subtle car. But it is not vulgar either. The proportions are classic Ferrari GT: long bonnet, cabin pushed rearwards, powerful rear haunches and a shape that looks like it is moving even when parked. The GTS adds those dramatic rear buttresses, and with the roof down the whole car becomes even more special.

In Grigio GTS, it avoids the obviousness of red. That works beautifully here. The dark paint makes the car look more mature, while the black details give it just enough menace. The result is a Ferrari that feels expensive, serious and emotional without screaming too hard.

Interior: comfort seats were the right choice

Inside, this 812 GTS is finished with a carefully chosen mix of leather, Alcantara and carbon fibre. The biggest win? Comfort seats. In a car like this, they make complete sense. Yes, racing seats look more aggressive, but the 812 GTS is a car you actually want to drive for hours. Comfort seats make it more usable, more relaxed and more suited to the kind of long-distance grand touring this car was built for.

The Daytona-style leather inserts, Alcantara centre sections, stitched Cavallino on the headrests and Italian flag details give the cabin a very specific Ferrari atmosphere. Sporty, but not cold. Elegant, but not boring. The carbon fibre options also help. The driver zone with LEDs, central bridge, dashboard inserts and inner door handles give the interior the right amount of technical emotion.

Driving: pure spectacle, but still usable

The 812 GTS is fast in a way that feels almost absurd. Not just because of the numbers, but because of the way it delivers them. The engine does not simply accelerate. It explodes forward. Every gear feels like another chapter in the same mechanical opera, and the closer you get to the top of the rev range, the more alive the car becomes.

It is pure spectacle. But the surprising thing is how usable it still feels. At lower speeds, the V12 is smooth. The gearbox behaves properly when you are not pushing. The car feels special without being unbearable. With the front lift, surround view and comfort-focused specification, this particular 812 GTS is far easier to live with than its performance suggests.

Roof down: the whole point of the GTS

With the roof down, you do not just hear the V12. You sit inside the sound. Every downshift, every tunnel, every open stretch of road becomes more intense. The 812 GTS turns driving into something almost cinematic.

Wind comfort is also better than expected. This is still a very fast open Ferrari, so of course the experience is physical. But it is not messy. You can drive with the roof down comfortably at normal motorway speeds, and the car never feels like it has lost its composure because the roof is missing.

The end-of-an-era feeling

It is impossible to drive the 812 GTS without thinking about what it represents. Naturally aspirated V12 engines are becoming rare. Front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, open-top V12 Ferraris are even rarer. And in a market moving toward electrification, noise regulations and hybrid assistance, cars like this feel increasingly precious.

That does not mean the future is bad. But it does mean the 812 GTS already feels historically important. It is not just fast. It is not just expensive. It is not just beautiful. It feels like one of the last Ferraris from a world where the engine was still the absolute centre of the experience. And what an engine.

Collection by Vermant: available now

This specific Ferrari 812 GTS is currently available through Collection by Vermant. The car has had one owner, comes with a very desirable specification and is still covered by Ferrari Power warranty until November 2026.

Combined with its full paint protection film from new, strong colour combination and road-trip history, it feels like exactly the kind of 812 GTS you would want to buy. Not a forgotten garage queen. A car that was loved, driven and specified with taste. And now available for its next chapter.

AutoNext Verdict

The Ferrari 812 GTS is one of those cars that reminds you why Ferrari still matters. Not because of the badge alone. Because of the feeling. The naturally aspirated V12 is sensational. The design is dramatic but elegant. The open-top experience is unforgettable.

And this particular Grigio GTS example, with its comfort seats, carbon details, black accents and carefully chosen options, feels beautifully configured. Everything just clicks. This is how we want a Ferrari.