Gran Turismo Omologata. Three words that, when acronymed, should send a tingle down the spine of any supercar fan. The Ferrari 250 GTO and 288 GTO are undeniable classics and now there’s a new ‘Omologata’ joining them in the shape of this, the Ferrari 599 GTO.
We’ve been aware of its existence for some time and saw the obligatory spy shots earlier this month, but have had to wait until now for an official unveiling.
Just so you know what we’re talking about here, the Ferrari 599 GTO is officially the company’s fastest road-going car ever produced. The GTO is powered by a 500 kW six-litre V12 with 620 N.m of torque, propelling it to 100 km/h from stand still in just 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 335 km/h. It is linked to a six-speed F1-style gearbox, capable of changing gears in 60 milliseconds.
In order to achieve its pace, Ferrari says the car, shares more with the hardcore track-focused 599XX than the production model 599. We were expecting it to look much like the track-only 599XX, but quite are impressed by how faithful it is to the track-focused ‘development car’. Examples of the technology carried over include the car’s ability to generate 144 kg of downforce at 200 km/h according to Ferrari. This has been achieved through changes to the nose of the car, where a front spoiler incorporates a separate lower wing, and the adoption of F1 style wheel doughnuts – a disc positioned outside the brake disc that ensure hot air exiting the wheel arch stays close to the side of the body and reduces drag. By using thinner aluminium and glass, Ferrari has also been able to save weight over the standard 599. Coupled with the carbon-ceramic brakes, and lightweight transmission and exhaust systems, the 599 GTO has a dry weight of 1 495 kg, and delivers a power-to-weight ratio of 334 kW per tonne.
An indication of the car’s pace is given by its lap record beating run around Ferrari’s test track at Fiorano. The company claims it lapped the circuit in 1 minute 24 seconds – a second faster than the previous record set in a Ferrari Enzo.
Styling wise, the rear diffuser is particularly dramatic, while the bonnet that shrouds its front-mounted V12 engine is intricately sculptured, with extra cooling and a neat indent to house optional stripes. Heritage liveries and personalised colour schemes are a standout feature on the 599 GTO’s options list, with scope to create something that looks quite different to the red and carbon car you see here.
Inside the cabin, the GTO has been fitted with longer and more user-friendly carbonfibre gearshift paddles. While the standard 599 has an ‘ice’ traction setting, it is replaced in the 599 GTO by a CT-Off function, which turns traction control off. The car is also fitted with Virtual Race Engineer, which monitors the status of the car and gives feedback on vehicle performance.
Just 599 units will be produced with an estimated starting price in the region of £280 000.
