Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

Ferrari 599 at a glance

By our calculation, the V12 delivers about 76 kW per litre and the car carries about 3.7 kg of dry weight per kW.

Name and concept

The name combines the engine's capacity, 5,999 cc rounded to 599, with GTB for Gran Turismo Berlinetta and Fiorano, Ferrari's test track next to the Maranello factory. The car was revealed at the Geneva motor show in February 2006 as the replacement for the 575M Maranello, which had been built since 2002.

Like the 575M, the 599 places its V12 behind the front axle and its gearbox at the rear, a layout that improves weight distribution. The old 1cars review quoted a 47:53 front-to-rear split and a 320-litre boot. The space frame and body are made of aluminium, and the old page described the structure as lighter and stiffer than the 575M's.

Technology: F1-Trac, magnetorheological dampers and the SuperFast gearbox

The 599 was the first Ferrari with F1-Trac, a traction control system based on Formula 1 practice that estimates the available grip and lets the car exit corners faster without losing control. It also used magnetorheological dampers, whose fluid changes viscosity in milliseconds to firm up or soften the ride. Both are controlled through the manettino on the steering wheel.

The F1 SuperFast automated manual changed gear in 100 milliseconds. The optional HGTE handling package, with stiffer springs, a stiffer rear anti-roll bar and recalibrated dampers, cut that to 85 milliseconds. A six-speed manual with Ferrari's open gate remained on the price list, but only 30 cars were made with it, 20 for the United States and 10 for Europe.

Inside the 599

The cabin is a strict two-seater: behind the seats there is a luggage shelf rather than the small rear seats of the 612 Scaglietti. According to the old 1cars review, the three-spoke steering wheel combined leather, Alcantara and carbon fibre and carried the engine start button and the manettino. The instrument panel placed a large central rev counter between a compact speedometer on the right and a trip-computer display on the left, which also showed the settings of the driver aids. The centre console held little more than the audio and climate controls, while the gearbox buttons sat on the tunnel between the seats. Despite the V12's sound under load, the review described the car as calm and free of vibration at cruising speed.

599 GTO and SA Aperta

The 599 GTO, announced on 8 April 2010, brought lessons from the track-only 599XX to the road. Its V12 gave 493 kW (670 PS) at 8,250 rpm and 620 Nm, and it weighed about 100 kg less than the GTB. Ferrari quoted under 3.3 seconds to 100 km/h, over 335 km/h and a Fiorano lap of 1 minute 24 seconds, one second faster than the Enzo. Production was limited to 599 cars, about 125 of them for the United States.

The SA Aperta, shown at the Paris motor show in 2010, was an open two-seater with the GTO's 493 kW engine. Its name honours Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina, and Ferrari built 80.

By our calculation, the GTO has 37 kW, or about 8%, more than the GTB and carries about 3.3 kg per kW.

599XX: the track-only programme

The 599XX was unveiled at the Geneva show in 2009. It was not homologated for the road and was meant only for circuits and test tracks. Its V12 revved to 9,000 rpm and gave 540 kW (730 PS). Ferrari reported 630 kg of downforce at 300 km/h, aided by fans that drew air from under the car, and a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap of 6:58.16. The 599XX Evoluzione, confirmed in December 2011, added an active rear wing, 740 PS and 700 Nm, and saved another 35 kg.

A further offshoot was the 599 Hybrid, a test car with a kinetic energy recovery system. Ferrari used the lessons from it in the LaFerrari hybrid hypercar.

Buying a 599 today

The 599 is a big, complex V12 Ferrari, and a full history is essential. Checks to make:

• F1 SuperFast clutch: a dealer can read out the remaining clutch life.
• Dampers: magnetorheological units are costly to replace when they leak.
• Service record: annual Ferrari or specialist services with documented fluid changes.
• Brakes: carbon-ceramic discs and their condition.
• Version: a manual GTB, a GTO or an SA Aperta are rare, and authenticity documents matter.

The standard GTB is the most usable and the most numerous; the GTO is the driver's car and the collector's favourite; the SA Aperta is for those who want an open V12 Ferrari of this era.

Before and after the 599

The F12berlinetta was announced on 29 February 2012 and unveiled at Geneva on 6 March 2012; its successor is the Ferrari 812. The four-seat sister of the 599 era was the 612 Scaglietti. All models are in the Ferrari catalogue; the power figures of different eras can be compared with the power-to-weight calculator, and any two cars with the comparison tool.