Image: Ferrari Corporate.
You would think that after the insane Ferrari 812 Superfast, that would be the peak of what a naturally aspirated supercar could do. It tops out at 211mph thanks to it's 789bhp 6.5 litre V12. And given that engine is capable of moving the earth's axis a few degrees, it was about as mental as a front engined road car could get. So mental that we all thought that would be it.
Yet somehow, by the means that only Thanos could achieve, Ferrari has just beaten the 812 at its own game. They call it the Competizione.
Here is all you need to know about it and how it stacks up against the equally mad rivals from Lamborghini, Porsche and McLaren.
Image: Ferrari Corporate.
The 6.5 litre V12 engine has now been upped to 819bhp and 510 lb.ft of torque - making this one of the most powerful Ferraris ever made and one of the most powerful cars on the market right now.
The engine is mated to a refined version of the 7-speed dual-clutch system as found in the normal 812 yet despite the increase in poke, still tops out the same 0-60 time of 2.9 seconds and 211mph top speed as the normal 812. Perhaps this is a sign we have reached peak performance? That's certainly an argument to be said in relation to internal combustion cars.
Other changes to the engine include an increased rev limit to a screaming 9,500rpm as well as titanium conrods, new camshafts and a new intake system.
Image: Ferrari Corporate.
Other changes include independent rear-wheel steering which Ferrari says will keep the car stable when cornering aggressively. But it's probably safe to assume it won't save your life as 819bhp in a rear-wheel-drive car isn't exactly stable in itself...
The Competizione hardtop is 37kg lighter than the normal 812 - which doesn't really seem like a lot when compared to previous lightweight Ferraris. But interestingly, the forged aluminium wheels alone save 3.7kg from the standard car.
But most noticeably, the rear window has been replaced by an aluminium panel which Ferrari says will give more opportunities for buyers to customise. Whether that means you can have a window installed back in? We'll have to wait and see.
Image: Ferrari Corporate
Details of the Competizione Aperta haven't been revealed yet, but you can imagine it'll be the same story as the hardtop as per it's 812 GTS base. A little bit of weight removed here, more power and silliness there etc.
But one thing that has been revealed is that the Aperta will be a lot rarer than the hardtop. Just 599 will ever be made in contrast to 999 coupes. Therefore much like other special convertible Ferraris, it'll hold quite the premium on the used market.
And it'll probably have to be used car prices when considering one of these things; because all 812 Competiziones and Apertas have been sold! Unless you can get your hands on a build slot, good luck...
But what are its competitors?
Image: Ferrari Corporate.
In reality, anything that's expensive and exclusive is a competitor to the 812 Competizione. When you've got circa £400,000 or more, there's a lot of choice.
Lamborghini could tempt you with an Aventador SVJ which many would deem as this car's main rival. But buyers would probably also consider a Porsche 911 GT2 RS or a couple of Ferrari's existing lightweight monsters: the 488 Pista, 458 Speciale or even this car's predecessor: the F12 TDF.
And since McLaren 765LTs are a thing, those are a strong contender too as well as the Senna if prices of those keep plummeting. The rich work in a very odd way and by definition, the Senna is the best option out of all the above. But it's fair to say the V12 Ferraris hold the most speciality.
Image: Ferrari Corporate.