Should you go for the Italian car with an English name or the English car with an Italian name? It’s the question on everyone’s lips and it’s one that Tiff Needell of LoveCars wants an answer to.

In the world of grand touring cars, you’d be hard-pressed to find two more iconic brands than Ferrari and Aston Martin, and the legendary names both have a front-engine V12 GT car on sale today. To find out which is best, Needell and his co-host Paul Woodman take the Ferrari 812 Superfast and the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera to an Italian-ish villa.

Both are producers of ludicrous stats, with the English car producing 725 hp (735 PS/541 kW) from its twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V12. That allows it to race from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.4 seconds. Although those are impressive stats, the car is thoroughly outdone by the Ferrari.

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The 812 Superfast leaps off the line and reaches 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 2.9 seconds thanks to its 6.5-liter, naturally aspirated V12 that can rev to 9,000 rpm and produce 800 hp (812 PS/597 kW).

In a drag race, the difference is clear to see. Geared more for performance than comfort, the Ferrari beats the Aston Martin handily, even though it gets a bad start and is, according to Woodman, on the wetter, grittier side of the airstrip.

In terms of how honest their names are, then, that’s one to nothing for the Ferrari. And the score quickly rises to 2-0 when you look at their curb weights and realize that, at 1,630 kg (3,594 lbs), the 812 Superfast is 63 kg (139 lbs) lighter than the so-called DBS Superleggera, which weighs in at 1,693 kg (3,732 lbs).

That weight is put to good use, though, and the hosts agree that in terms of long-distance highway driving, the Aston Martin is the quieter, more relaxing, and more luxurious choice out of the two. That may make it the better grand tourer, but it doesn’t necessarily make it Woodman’s top choice.

“In a world where there’s so many straight-laced GTs out there, I’m so happy that there’s room for something just completely bonkers and completely unhinged such as this, the 812,” he says. “And there’s no question, it is one of the most incredible cars I’ve had the pleasure to drive.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-GerFcJ0I4