With a Fiorano lap time of 1’24” the 599 GTO is the fastest road-going Ferrari ever. A mid-front engined V12 berlinetta, in the finest Ferrari tradition, an exclusive limited series of 599 cars will be built on the platform of the production car, but developed with an entirely different concept in mind. It is more closely based, in fact, on the 599XX, the experimental car destined exclusively for track but not competition use. More than virtually any other car, the 599 GTO benefits directly from the carry-over of racing experience and, thanks to numerous cutting-edge technical features, it genuinely pushes the boundaries of road car technology.
The 599 GTO represents the new pinnacle of sports car performance and was designed specifically for enthusiastic drivers who know how to appreciate and exploit its power. It has an unprecedented weight-to-power ratio, achieved thanks to new materials and technologies that have slashed 100 kg from its overall weight and it boasts an aerodynamic package that doubles the downforce of the 599 GTB Fiorano. The 670 CV V12 engine was derived from the 599XX’s but is homologated for road use and the car also boasts new generation carbon-ceramic (CCM2) brakes. Lastly the electronic control systems were an integral part of the chassis development from the start of the project, making the 599 GTO exceptionally responsive and involving in the hands of expert of drivers. It is thus particularly suited to owners capable of making the very most of its levels of performance.
The car’s name recalls both the 599 GTB Fiorano and the 599XX with which it shares the same 5999 cc engine displacement, while the GTO (Gran Turismo Omologata) name is a moniker of huge significance in Ferrari history. It was first adopted in 1962 for the 250 GTO, long considered the finest Ferrari ever built, and then later revived for the 1984 GTO, often unofficially referred to as the 288 GTO and widely credited with having invented the modern supercar concept. The new 599 GTO embodies the blistering performance, technological innovation, philosophy and spirit that
transformed the 250 GT into the legendary and highly sought-after 250 GTO. In short, it epitomises the very essence of the marque in its utter uniqueness and exclusivity.
ENGINE AND GEARBOX
The 599 GTO’s engine is derived directly from the 599XX, albeit with certain modifications necessary for it to comply with Euro 5 and LEV2 standards and thus gain road-going homologation. Specifically, these involved the addition of one catalyser per cylinder bank and an exhaust silencer. The new car is powered by a 65-degree V12 with a bore of 92 mm and a stroke of 75.2 mm. It has a 6-litre displacement and, with an output of 670 CV at 8,250 rpm, boasts a specific power output of 112 CV/litre and a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.23 kg/CV. The engine offers a constant crescendo of power and torque all the way up to the rev limiter at 8,400 rpm. Torque peaks at 620 Nm at 6500 rpm with impressive flexibility even at low to medium revs and incredible pulling power all the way to the redline. This result was achieved thanks to development work on the engine’s fluid-dynamics and on component friction losses which have been reduced by 12 per cent compared to a traditional 12-cylinder. That was achieved by using Printed Grafal® coating on the piston skirts, superfinished cam lobes (the same process as used on F1 engines), DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating on the hydraulic tappets and by opting for a new crankshaft featuring counterweights with aerodynamic profiling. The intake system features 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 and this ensures maximum performance at high engine speeds. At the same time, both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced to 17.5 l/100km and 411 g/km respectively, a result that is fully in line with Ferrari’s commitment to the environment despite increasing power.
Meticulously selected materials and geometries have ensured that the engine sound inside the car is carefully controlled to balance the intake sound with the exhaust, thus giving the driver plenty of feedback. The sound filtering through to the cockpit is now 8 decibels louder, and is clear and powerful regardless of engine speed or driving conditions. The exhaust features a new 6-into-1 manifold which produces a potent, howl with combustion harmonics predominating. The silencer assembly retains the thrilling 12-cylinder soundtrack whilst also ensuring an excellent level of acoustic comfort.