Ferrari 599 GTO: The Fastest Ever
The Ferrari 599 GTO boasts a sophisticated technological set-up that delivers unprecedented performance and overtakes, in terms of lap times, the Ferrari Enzo itself. Just as the GTO from the 60s, the newest GTO is astonishing due to its superiority on the road and at the track. Its 6.0 liter, V12 engine produces 670 hp at 8500 rpm and sets the timer to blow past the 0-62 mph in a grin-inducing 3.4 seconds. Only 599 GTO will be produced, each wearing a numbered plate reading “one of 599”. There are custom colors and two-tone paint finishes exclusively for the 599 GTO. Carbon fiber is in evidence throughout, including in the cockpit where it is used to reduce weight and as a design element thanks to its non-reflective matt finish conveying a racing touch. The last F1 transmission allows to switch gears in a lightning-quick 60 milliseconds and gear ratios are 6-percent shorter than the GTB’s.
Ferrari dedication to GTO models is legendary, with two previous highly celebrated models: the 250 GTO and 288 GTO. In the Sixties the 250 GTO embodied the company’s philosophy of using its Formula One racing experience to develop its road cars. The 250 GTO won no fewer than three consecutive GT Titles in the World Sportscar Championship, and today it is one of the most sought-after collectors’ cars on the market. The GTO were made between 1984 and 1986 and most people refer to it as 288 GTO for its 2.8-litre, eight-cylinder engine. The GTO’s successor was the famed F40, which was the fastest street-legal production car from 1987 to 1989.
The 599 GTB’s performance is clearly tangible in the Ferrari 599 GTO. But the real incubator in the 599 GTO is the 599XX, a 700 hp track-only car. The 599 GTO’s niche is between these two cars: more menacing and less refined than a GTB, less raucous than an XX. To improve the performance of the GTO version, engineers shaved 100 Kg off the weight of the 599 GTB Fiorano F1 version. They achieved the result by reducing the aluminum skin’s thickness by 0.1mm and with a more extensive use of carbon fiber as well as lightweight composite materials. First seen on the 599XX, the second-gen carbon-ceramic discs (CCM2) are now mated to pads of the same material for increased consistency, improved stopping power and lighter weight.
Designed by Pininfarina, the 599 GTO is not only more boisterous than its parent, its look proves it. Front, side and rear aspects are bolder and more aggressive. Paint treatments and colors recall the Ferrari’s triumphant race cars of the past. Two-tone treatments, including a signature red and black, are instantly eye catching. Inside, a virtual race engineer tips off the driver when the car is ready to be driven hard. A screen reveals the engine’s status to maximize performance. The 599 GTO comes in rosso corsa with a Silverstone matt. This is what Ferrari Design Center defines the 599 GTO “basic colors”. Of course, customers can personalize their cars as they desire.
