Overview
Ferrari unveiled the 599 GTB Fiorano at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show as the successor to the 575M Maranello, and it was a serious step forward. The name combines the car’s 5,999 cc displacement, its GTB (Gran Turismo Berlinetta) designation and Fiorano, Ferrari’s private test circuit near Maranello. Pininfarina’s design is long, sculpted and aerodynamic, with a dramatic, tapering tail and a cabin set well back. It looks as if it was shaped by airflow, because it largely was. It’s a front-engined V12 two-seater, but a far more extreme one than the 575M.
Engine and Performance
Under the long bonnet sits a 6.0-litre V12 derived from the one in the Enzo, producing about 620 PS (456 kW) and 608 Nm of torque. It revs to around 8,400 rpm and has a ringing, high-pitched sound that’s much closer to a race engine than the deep growl of earlier front-engined twelves. Power goes through a six-speed manual or a faster F1 paddle-shift gearbox, and the paddle-shift car was by far the more common. The 599 GTB reaches 100 km/h in about 3.7 seconds and tops out at over 330 km/h (205 mph), which made it one of the fastest road-going Ferraris of its time.
Chassis and Handling
The 599 uses an aluminium space-frame and aluminium body, with the gearbox at the rear to keep the weight balance close to ideal. It was also the first Ferrari road car to use magnetorheological dampers, called SCM, which adjust almost instantly to the road surface. Together with the manettino dial, F1-Trac traction control and carbon-ceramic brakes, they give the car a calm, well-controlled feel at very high speed. Despite its size, it turns in eagerly and feels remarkably agile, and the rear-mounted wing-like tail helps keep it stable.
Interior and Comfort
Inside, the 599 is a purposeful two-seater. There’s fine leather, a driver-focused dashboard and a steering wheel carrying the start button and manettino, much like the F430. The seats are supportive, the cabin is roomier than you’d expect and there’s a usable boot for a weekend away. It’s fast and serious, but it’s also comfortable on a long trip, so it works as a proper grand tourer. Later, the HGTE package added a sportier suspension setup and extra touches.
Production and Legacy
Production ran from 2006 to 2012, with about 3,000 cars built, and the 599 was followed by the F12berlinetta. Special versions included the limited 599XX track car and the 599 GTO, a road-legal model of about 670 PS. Today it’s seen as one of the last great naturally aspirated front-engined V12 Ferraris and a car that blended extreme performance with everyday usability.
