A few weeks ago, Ferrari unveiled the new hardcore 812 Competizione. With 819 horsepower and 530 lb-ft of torque on tap, the Competizione packs the most powerful V12 ever fitted to a Ferrari road car, up from 789 hp in the Superfast. This enables the Competizione to rocket from 0-60 mph in just 2.85 seconds.

With Ferrari's first electric supercar launching in 2025, many assumed the 812 Competizione will be Ferrari's last-ever V12-powered prancing horse. Fear not, however, because Ferrari's fabled V12 is not dead yet. As more automakers embrace electrification, Ferrari is determined to keep the V12 alive for as long as possible because it's the "heart of Ferrari" according to Ferrari's chief marketing and commercial officer, Enrico Galliera.

Speaking with Autocar, Ferrari's technical boss Michael Leiters hinted that Ferrari is already developing an even more potent V12 powerplant. "We're working on that," he teased. Unfortunately, Ferrari didn't drop any hints about which model will utilize the more powerful V12, although Galliera ruled out the possibility of it being used in a track-only 812. "We're thinking about something that will be visible in the future," he hinted.

Potentially, Ferrari's more powerful V12 could be reserved for the next-generation hypercar that will replace the LaFerrari. If so, it will almost certainly be electrified to boost the output to over 1,000 horsepower.

Alternatively, Ferrari could be plotting a new special-edition Icona model as a successor to the Monza SP1 and SP2 speedsters. At the time, the SP1 and SP2 packed the most powerful version of Ferrari's V12 yet rated at 810 hp.

Since then, Ferrari has upgraded the V12 unit in the Competizione with redesigned pistons and new lightweight components, so similar techniques could be used to squeeze even more power from the engine in a new limited-edition model. This could be the ultimate send-off for the V12 before Ferrari enters a new electric era.