2006 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano was designed with several specific objectives in mind: to increase driving pleasure, to guarantee performance (courtesy of technology transfers from the F1 single-seaters), and to ensure comfort, ergonomics and safety. The new Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed in excess of 330 km/h. The car takes its name from the Fiorano circuit Ferrari uses to hone the performance of its track and road cars. ‘GTB’ stands for Gran Turismo Berlinetta, after the most famous Ferrari berlinettas ever built, and ’599′ is the displacement of the V12 engine divided by 10. With the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Pininfarina designers wanted to explore wholly innovative lines. As ever, this was not an isolated process, but took place alongside optimisation of the car’s exterior aerodynamics, which were designed to deliver cutting-edge down-force figures. The cabin too was given an original aerodynamic design. The wraparound rear window is hugged by two flying buttresses, which channel air towards the nolder, adding a highly original (yet functional) twist. When it came to the rear of the car, it seemed time to depart from the now signature circular quad rear lights and low-fixed licence plate. The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is a strikingly sculptural car, its surfaces beautifully honed and modelled by Ferrari’s designers and engineers. The design is so supple, in fact, that every angle brings something new to light. All of the freedom allowed in designing an extreme sports car was used here and the result is endlessly surprising. A balance has been struck in the interior between the car’s sporty vocation and the intimacy that only skilled hand-crafting and detailed personalisation can achieve. The Pininfarina designers had one clear but ambitious goal in designing the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. They wanted to clothe it in innovative lines that would still have all of the trademarks of Ferrari’s sportiest and most high performance models. As ever, this process was not a standalone one but took place hand in hand with the optimisation of the car’s exterior aerodynamics which were designed to deliver cutting-edge downforce figures. The car’s design was developed around front-sloping lines which give it a thoroughly dynamic stance from the side. One of the unique strengths of the current Ferrari range is the F1-type gearbox. This was taken a step further in the design of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano resulting in the astonishing F1-SuperFast. The new gearbox’s name encompasses the two key concepts behind its design: the fact that it is derived from the ultra-competitive world of Formula 1 and the faster-than-ever gear shifting times it delivers. In fact, it is one of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano’s most innovative and exclusive features and is yet another world first on a roadgoing car. In yet another first for a road car, the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano comes equipped with the F1-Trac traction control system which previously only Ferrari’s F1 drivers enjoyed. However, Ferrari’s track experience is now such that this system has been adapted for industrial production. Because it is so much faster and more precise than a traditional system, the F1-Trac will give even less expert drivers the confidence to really make the most of their car’s potential and stability. The damping action exerted by a car’s suspension plays a key role in guaranteeing fun driving and easy handling across the board. The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano’s SCM Magnetorheological Suspension system, however, is exceptionally efficient even by the Prancing Horse’s renowned standards. The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano’s engine is a 65° V12 with a 5999 cm3 displacement that delivers a specific power output of 103 hp/litre. Its architecture was derived directly from the Enzo’s. A further development of the same engine, this time for track-only use, was used on the recent Ferrari FXX also. The basic architecture of the Enzo engine was retained (block, cylinder heads, sump and combustion chamber geometries) while new components and subassemblies were designed to yield high engine revs, significantly reduce weight and optimise its distribution,and yield a more compact power unit. Engine sound is one of the most distinctive features of any Ferrari model and, naturally enough, development work on the 599 GTB Fiorano also centred on honing the quality of in-car sound which not only enhances driving pleasure but makes for a quieter ride inside the cabin itself. The quality of sound is down to the sound frequencies which reach the driver. The Pininfarina designers had one clear but ambitious goal in designing the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. They wanted to clothe it in innovative lines that would still have all of the trademarks of Ferrari’s sportiest and most high performance models. As ever, this process was not a standalone one but took place hand in hand with the optimisation of the car’s exterior aerodynamics which were designed to deliver cutting-edge downforce figures. The car’s design was developed around front-sloping lines which give it a thoroughly dynamic stance from the side.