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Ferrari officially reveals the new 599 GTO

Rick Resch — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 05:04:00 +0000

The new Ferrari 599 GTO

We’ve seen the spy shots. We’ve even seen the options list. Now Ferrari has officially taken the wraps off its new performance benchmark, the 599 GTO, ahead of the car’s official debut later this April at the Beijing Motor Show.

Sort of a street-legal stepping stone between the production 599 GTB Fiorano and the famous Gran Turismo Omologato designation made famous by the legendary 250 GTO of the 1960s and the muscle-bound 288 GTO of the 1980s. That’s quite a legacy to follow, so it’s a good thing the 599 GTO brings the goods.

Output from the 6.0-liter V12-itself derived from the Enzo’s engine-is up from 612hp to 661, with torque up a modest 9lb-ft to 457. Coupled with a 195kg (430lb) weight reduction program-now tipping the scales at 1495kg (3295lbs), the leaner and meaner 599 can sprint to 62mph from a standstill in 3.35 seconds, with a top speed in excess of 208mph, while lapping the Fiorano test track from which its donor’s name comes from in 1 minute, 24 seconds. That’s faster than the Enzo, a full second faster.

The GTO is also treated to more aerodynamic bodywork, including a new front splitter, side sills, diffuser and rear spoiler. The vented hood is new as well, as are the ten-spoke, 20-inch rims with F1-derived wheel donuts aiding aero efficiency.

Is this getting your curiousity? Don’t get too excited. As the new flagship in Ferrari’s range, the 599 GTO is reported to carry a price tag approaching GBP 300,000 overseas (equivalent to nearly $460,000). Only 599 examples will be offered, which is still more than the Enzo whose performance it overshadows. Read the press release and look at the images in the gallery for a closer view.

The Ferrari website just recently released the configurator for the Ferrari 599 GTO. It can be viewed here: www.Ferrari.com

[Source: Ferrari]

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Revealed on www.ferrari.com: the new 599 GTO – The fastest ever road-going Ferrari will be unveiled to the public at the Beijing Motor Show

Maranello, 8 April – Now available on www.ferrari.com are the first photos and information on the new 599 GTO, an extreme V12 berlinetta developed to a specific performance-oriented brief. The 599 GTO is, in fact, the company’s fastest ever road car. It is an exclusive limited edition special which, in true Ferrari tradition, is a completely new concept, albeit inspired by a production car. In fact the 599 GTO is based on the 599XX, the advanced experimental track car, and can be considered almost a road-going version.

The 599 GTO is reserved for just 599 clients who seek the maximum expression of high-performance driving. The 599 GTO benefits directly from the technological transfer from racing and set a record lap time at Fiorano in 1’24″.

The Fiorano lap time provides just one indication of the potential of this car. Just as significant are the technical specifications – 670 hp in a 1495kg car represents a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.23 kg/hp, and ensures a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 3.35″ as well as a top speed of over 335 km/h.

Fundamental to the GTO’s performance is the innovative approach to chassis development which, for the first time on a production car, saw the integration between a handling set-up tuned for a level of responsiveness that is close to the limit and highly sophisticated electronic controls. The result is the almost complete absence of understeer and a truly communicative chassis.

As is Ferrari’s policy, every new Ferrari features new solutions for a road car. Thus the 599 GTO is equipped with the latest, second-generation carbon-ceramic brakes which are lighter and offer better performance, new aerodynamic innovations, such as the wheel doughnuts which increase aerodynamic efficiency as well as improve brake cooling, and the Supersport tyres developed by Michelin include a wider front tyre for greater roadholding. The driver-car interface is also new with the adoption of the Virtual Race Engineer (VRE) which provides the driver with instantaneous information on performance.

The 599 GTO’s more aggressive character is also apparent in a number of styling elements that recall the 599XX and from the powerful sound of the V12.

The GTO (Gran Turismo Omologata) moniker instantly calls to mind two Ferraris that have entered the collective imagination as symbols of performance. After the 1962 250 GTO, which swept the boards in GT racing categories in the 1960s and is now a highly prized collector’s car, came the iconic 1984 GTO, which basically invented the entire modern supercar genre.

The web special includes photos, videos and interviews on the new car, while an exclusive preview for a small number of Ferrari clients will be held on April 14th at the Military Academy in Modena. The public debut of the 599 GTO will instead be at the Beijing International Motor Show at the end of April.

599 GTO TECHNICAL CONTENTS

ENGINE AND GEARBOX

The 599 GTO’s engine is directly derived from the 599XX unit implementing, however, the necessary modifications for road-going homologation. It thus complies with Euro 5 and LEV 2 standards. The 5999 cc 65-degree V12 engine punches out 670 CV at 8250 rpm with maximum torque of 620 Nm at 6500 rpm and there is a smooth, constant rush of power all the way to the redline with no loss of flexibility even at medium and low revs. This result was obtained by working on the fluid-dynamics and components to reduce internal friction and by adopting, amongst other things, the 599XX’s redesigned crankshaft. The car also has a racing-type intake system with a new manifold with diffuser-type intake geometry and short inlet tracts designed to improve power delivery at high revs and reduce losses. To maximise volumetric efficiency per cylinder, a connection between the two plenums at the front compensates for variations in the volume. This is how the engineers managed to achieve maximum performance at high engine speeds. The engine sound inside the car is carefully controlled to balance the intake sound with the exhaust, which features a 599XX-derived 6-into-1 manifold.

The 599 GTO features the same, lower 60 ms shift times and the possibility to make multiple downshifts as on the 599XX.

VEHICLE DYNAMICS

One of the most significant innovations on the 599 GTO is the close correlation between the chassis set-up, which is close to the handling limit, and the input from the electronic controls which are developed to increase overall levels of performance.

Since the very earliest states of the two cars’ development, Maranello’s engineers worked to ensure that these two areas of the car would be seamlessly integrated thus pushing responsiveness to the limit. The result is, of course, superlative driving involvement as well as faster lap times. Apart from new springs and a stiffer rear anti-roll bar, the car also features a second generation magnetorheological suspension control system (SCM2). The suspension works in tandem with the VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) and latest-generation F1-Trac traction control. This makes the car extremely responsive to driver inputs – thanks in part to the adoption of a very direct steering ratio – but also very stable under braking, sharper on turn-in, more precise in cornering and quicker out of corners.

WEIGHT REDUCTION

The 599 GTO inherits much of the development work – using the same principles as employed in F1 – that went into making the 599XX such an extreme performance car. Reducing weight was a vital objective and the result was the widespread use of composites and components manufactured with technologies more akin to racing specifications. The areas involved include the bodywork and greenhouse (with thinner gauge aluminium and thinner glass), the brakes, transmission and exhaust system. The result is a dry weight of 1495 kg and a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.23 kg/hp, a very significant figure that underlines the GTO’s performance potential.

AERODYNAMICS

The 599 GTO’s aerodynamics have benefited significantly from Ferrari engineers’ experience in F1 and with the 599XX which allowed downforce to be greatly increased without impacting on drag. Thanks to solutions transferred from the track car to the road-going version, the GTO generates downforce of 144 kg at 200 km/h. The entire car was honed, including the front, the sides, the flat underbody and cooling flows. In the latter instance, the GTO can count on improved ducting to the brake discs and pads, and the adoption of wheel doughnuts – a disc positioned outside the brake disc that ensure that hot air exiting the wheelarch stays as close to the body of the car as possible to reduce drag.

Work on the nose of the car was aimed at reducing the width of the wake generated by the front and thus reduce drag. The front spoiler incorporates a separate lower wing that increases downforce at the front of the car and increases the flow of cooling air to the oil radiator. On the flanks there’s a new sill design with a more pronounced leading edge that improves the efficiency of the central section of the underbody. The underbody itself incorporates a new, lower front section with diffusers ahead of the front wheels to optimise downforce, and a new double-curve rear diffuser.

WHEEL RIMS AND TYRES

Here the difference in size between the front and rear tyres has been changed. The GTO’s front tyres are now 285/30 on a 9.5” channel with 315/35 on an 11.5” channel at the rear. The 599 GTO has 20” rims. Roll rigidity is greater at the rear to minimise understeer. These solutions guarantee improved lateral grip and quicker turn in.

BRAKES

The new CCM2 braking system is lighter and even more consistent in high performance situations. Its consistent coefficient of attrition meant that the ABS could be calibrated to a particularly high performance level, further reducing lap times, thanks to improved deceleration and shorter stopping distances. In fact, the 599 GTO boasts an excellent 100 to 0 km/h braking distance of just 32.5 metres. As well as their role in improving aerodynamics, the Formula 1-derived wheel doughnuts also improve braking efficiency by optimising brake cooling.

CAR-DRIVER INTERFACE

The car-driver interface was designed to maximise car and driver performance with a layout of the main commands that ensures absolute efficiency and minimum distraction. The Racing manettino also puts the emphasis firmly on sporty, track-specific driving settings by offering the driver full choice with regard to the electronic control parameters. The ICE position on the 599 GTB Fiorano has been replaced by CT-Off (traction control off). The GTO is also fitted with bespoke, longer carbon-fibre F1 paddles for easier use in high-speed driving. In addition the GTO also features the Virtual Race Engineer, a system that monitors the status of the car and gives the driver immediate visibility of vehicle performance.

599 GTO technical specifications

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT

Length: 4710 mm (185.4 in)

Width: 1962 mm (77.2 in)

Height: 1326 mm (52.2 in)

Wheelbase: 2750 mm (108.3 in)

Front track: 1701 mm (67.0 in)

Rear track: 1618 mm (63.7 in)

Dry weight*: 1495 kg (3296 lbs)

Kerb weight*: 1605 kg (3538 lbs)

Weight distribution: 47% front – 53% rear

Fuel tank capacity: 105 litres (27.7 US gal/23.1 UK/gal)

Boot volume: 320 litres (11.3 cu ft)

ENGINE

Type: V12 – 65°

Bore & stroke : 92 x 75.2 mm (3.62 x 2.96 in)

Unitary displacement: 499.9 cc (30.51 cu in)

Total displacement: 5999 cc (366.08 cu in)

Compression ratio: 11.2:1

Maximum power: 500 kW (670 CV) at 8250 rpm

Maximum torque : 620 Nm (457 lbs/ft) at 6500 rpm

GEARBOX

F1 6–speed + reverse

SUSPENSION

SCM2 – Magnetorheological Supension Control

TYRES

Front: 285/30 ZR20”

Rear: 315/35 ZR20”

CARBON-CERAMIC BRAKES

Front: 398 x 38 mm (15.7 x 1.5 in)

Rear: 360 x 32 mm (14.2 x 1.3 in)

ELECTRONIC CONTROLS

CST with F1-Trac: Traction and stability control

TPTMS: Tyre pressure and temperature monitoring system

PERFORMANCE

Maximum speed: over 335 km/h (over 208 mph)

0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) : 3.35 sec

FUEL CONSUMPTION

Combined cycle (ECE)*: 17.5 l/100 km

CO2 EMISSIONS

Combined cycle (ECE)*: 411 g/km

*European version

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Source: autoblog.com

Ferrari 599 GTO pricing sheet leaked online

Rick Resch — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:32:51 +0000

This is the pricing sheet to the Ferrari 599 GTO

You know that when Ferrari comes out with a new flagship supercar, it’s going to cost you. The upcoming exotic from the gates of Maranello is the 599 GTO, reviving the stoic nameplate that adorned the 250 GTO of the 1960s and the 288 GTO of the 1980s on what stands to be the ultimate iteration of the 599 GTB Fiorano.

A pricing sheet has apparently leaked onto the interwebs, revealing the “base” price of the 599 GTO and listing the various options available. The cost of entry, according to the sheet, comes in at a whopping 319,495 euros (nearly $430,000). But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Want the entire engine bay done up in carbon fiber? That’ll be another 7,774 euros (over $10,000). Four point harness? That’s a must-have at 2,990 euros ($4,000). Want a full leather or Alcantara interior? Tempting choices at 4,425 and 3,708 euros, respectively (nearly $6,000/$5,000). Those options are just intended to get you warmed up. Check out a better image of the list at Autogespot.

What do you think about the prices of options on the Ferrari 599 GTO? You might have to sell some organs to pay for the extras if you can get pass paying for the base model of the 599 GTO.

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Source: autoblog.com and nitrobahn.com

Ferrari 599 GTO coming to Paris, first picture revealed

Rick Resch — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:12:44 +0000

Ferrari 599 GTO

This grainy picture claims to show the upcoming GTO version of the Ferrari 599.

The Ferrari 599 GTO was expected to be shown earlier this month at the Geneva International Motor Show, but instead Ferrari revealed a hybrid version of the V12-powered supercar. It’s supposedly will be publicly unveiled in September at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.

The peculiar thing is Ferrari’s reuse of the GTO tag hasn’t been applied to one of Ferrari’s road cars since the launch of the much-revered 288 GTO in 1984. Nevertheless, Ferrari 599 GTO will be a lightweight version of the 599 GTB Fiorano.

The GTO (translated as Gran Turismo Omologato) will be a more focused version of the 599 than the current GTB and HGTE models, and was confirmed by Ferrari boss Amedeo Felisa on a trip to Australia last month.

This model will have a 6.0-liter V12 engine derived from the Ferrari Enzo. Power will likely be north of 650 bhp, with a similar rise in torque and performance.

Weight will be reduced to less than 3,630 lb (1,650 kg), and the car will likely feature the higher performing ferous iron brake pad technology pioneered on the hardcore 599XX model plus, perhaps, the more aggressive gear shift software and certain elements of the aerodynamic upgrades seen on the 599XX. The new model will feature a set of carbon-fiber exterior panels and a stripped-out interior and specially developed alloy wheels.

This car is capable of racing from 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds which is 0.3 seconds faster than the Enzo. With a top speed at 210 mph, this model is limited to 500 editions only and will cost around a half a million dollars.

What do you think about the picture of the Ferrari 599 GTO?

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Picture used courtesy of FastLane Daily.

Source: autocar.co.uk, automotto.org, and mibz.com

More spy photos of Ferrari 599 GTO

Rick Resch — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:21:40 +0000

A spy photo of the Ferrari 599 GTO

It’s only a couple of weeks since there was spy photos of the new Ferrari 599-based GTO-and now there have been another example on the roads around Maranello’s factory gates. It’ll be the first official Ferrari GTO sold since the 1980s 288 GTO.

Standing for Gran Turismo Omologato, the 599-spec GTO will produce some 700 bhp from the regular car’s Enzo-derived 6.0-liter V12. Although none of the spec is confirmed yet, early brochures have spilled some of the technical detail and we understand that the GTO will rev to a neck-snapping 9000 rpm.

The regular 599 develops 611 bhp and 448 lb-ft, and the GTO version is tipped to top 500 lb-ft of torque. Make no mistake, this 599 will be fast and furious as the Scuderia spec 430.

The GTO will pack a load of carbon fiber-the roof on this scarlet test car even appears to be fashioned from the black stuff- to bring the weight of the 599 below 1,690 kg.

Stickier tires and a faster map for the F1 sequential gearbox should bring the 0-62 mph time down to some 3.5 sec.

Expect the 599 GTO to receive styling tweaks over the regular model, including aero tweaks and cooling vents.

Later in 2010 there is to be a run of some 500 cars planned. Prices are tipped to top GBP $300,000. Start saving now.

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Source: carmagazine.co.uk

Spy shots of Ferrari 599 GTO test mule

Rick Resch — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:01:38 +0000

A spy shot of the Ferrari 599 GTO

Ferrari has confirmed that it will be releasing the 599 GTO. It is essentially a road version of the built-for-the-track Ferrari 599XX, and this is the first time the Prancing Horse automaker has used the GTO nameplate since the letters were first used on the iconic ’60s-era 250 GTO and the 288 GTO that followed two decades later and laid the groundwork for the F40, the beginning of the modern age of Ferrari supercars. Now the name is set to come back again on an extreme version of the 599 GTB Fiorano.

Official details behind the car are still being kept secret by Ferrari but those who are in-the-know have said that the car’s 6.0-liter V12 engine will develop an estimated 700 horsepower thanks to an increased rev limit of 9,000 rpm-88 hp over the standard 599. It will be derived from the Ferrari Enzo, which, if accurate, should give the 599 GTO a top speed of somewhere in the neighborhood of 220 mph and a 0-60 mph time of around 3.2 seconds. It is also set to have quicker gearchanges than the standard 599 GTB at just 60 milliseconds (down from 100 milliseconds), a 0.5-second-faster time.

A fearless observer in Maranello with a camera handy appears to have snapped a camouflaged prototype out in plain view. Besides yards of white vinyl and black tape telling you something’s up, this 599 test mule is wearing big black alloys, a blacked-out roof (like that of the 599XX, without the extra winglets), a monster rear diffuser and Provo-style factory plates. Beyond that there’s little to tell, but this is the first evidence we have beyond rumors and guesses as to what Maranello is up to next.

The Ferrari 599 GTO is expected to make an appearance at the Geneva International Motor Show in March and is rumored to be headed out to dealerships in the succeeding months on a limited run of just 500 total units with a price tag that is expected to fall just bit under half-a-million dollars ($464,950).

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Source: autoblog.com, topspeed.com and insideline.com

Ferrari reveals future plans, confirms 599 GTO and Enzo replacement

Rick Resch — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:52:54 +0000

Ferrari Enzo

Down under in Australia the launch of a brand new Ferrari and Maserati dealership in Sydney, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa has revealed some of the automaker’s future projects, confirming plans for the revival of the legendary GTO badge as well as the replacement for the Enzo supercar.

Putting the recent global financial crisis well behind it, Ferrari will be launching a number of new models in the coming years, starting off with the brand new 458 Italia. Felisa confirmed this model would be followed by a 458 Spider convertible next year but said there were no plans for a track-focused ‘Scuderia’ version just yet.

He went on to disclose that the 599 Hybrid set for next month’s 2010 Geneva International Motor show isn’t destined for production, although the limited edition 599 GTO is. Speaking with GoAuto, Felisa said early hybrid prototypes are already showing improvements in fuel economy of more than 25% but stressed that the technology is just not ready for production and likely won’t be for another five years.

“The suppliers are not ready. Everything is underdeveloped. There is a lot of work to so. It is not for tomorrow. We haven’t decided when [it will be introduced]. It will be around that period [2015], but not before five years,” Felisa explained. In the meantime, Ferrari will launch milder fuel saving technologies, such as cylinder deactivation, engine stop-start and electrically-powered auxiliary systems to take the load off the engine. The first of these systems will appear in the California next year.

As for the new GTO based on the 599, Felisa said the car “is coming” and in the process revive the legendary three letter badge last used on the 288 GTO almost a quarter century ago. Similar in theory to the 430 Scuderia and the 360 Challenge Stradale before that, the new 599 GTO is essentially a lighter and more hardcore version of the regular V-12 powered 599 GTB.

The story doesn’t end there as Felisa also confirmed the news we have all been salivating about for months-a replacement for the Enzo supercar is in development. He said it will be available in left-hand drive only and designed with all the characteristics Ferrari is famous for, which we can safely interpret as being loud, fast and bursting with Italian flair.

What do you think about the future models coming from Ferrari?

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Source: motorauthority.com