Thursday 7th January 2010

GTO Badge Is Back With Ferrari 599

Roadgoing version of 599XX track toy to get 700bhp, £300k price tag

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Track-only 599XX is basis for new car

Ferrari is planning to 'Scuderia-ise' its 599 GTB hyper-GT with a hardcore version based on the track-only 599XX (pictured).

The new car could even bring back the fabled GTO moniker, a badge that hasn't been attached to a Ferrari since the mouthwatering, achingly desirable 1984 288 GTO.

According to the fine fellows at EVO magazine, the new 599 GTO will cost around £300k (a snip considering the 599XX costs a cool million quid), and could become one of the fastest Ferraris ever.

288 GTO was last Ferrari to bear the badge

The 599 GTO should manage 0-62mph in just 3.2secs (half a second up on the regular car) on its way to a 217mph top speed (the standard 599 HGTE is done at 205mph). The extra pace comes courtesy of a V12 that's had an extra 600rpm liberated to allow it to run up to 9000rpm and gives it a whopping 700bhp.

Apparently, this has only been made possible since the debut of the 458 Italia, when the 599 was recategorised by Ferrari as a 'sports car' rather than a 'GT'. To be honest, though, we don't really care how or why it's happened, we're just glad that it has.

[Jimboza]

All the blood seems to be rushing to my 'head'

[ThirdShift]

Begs the question though, whats it being 'Omologated for? :-) more blood rushes to my head

[Mr Darcy]

Lovely car but is that a diffuser on the back of it or a plough?

[Lawrence5]

Now race it !!

[tombstone]

ooooooh! Alright, will brave the snow and ice and go and buy a lottery ticket!

[soad]

Mr Darcy said:

Lovely car but is that a diffuser on the back of it or a plough?

I thought these photos are of the 599XX track car.

So diffuser on the road going version will be smaller.

[coogy]

Le Mans GT1 class?!?

[AUDIHenry]

Looks fantastic. Being poor sucks.

[Roberty]

HHhhmmmm 288GTO

Sounds fantastic but I bet it won't look anywhere near as good as a 288GTO.

[ettore]

Roberty said:

HHhhmmmm 288GTO

Sounds fantastic but I bet it won't look anywhere near as good as a 288GTO.

...or the 250GTO.

GTO is an iconic moniker, best make sure they mean it by racing the thing!

[Riggers]

ThirdShift said:

Begs the question though, whats it being 'Omologated for? :-) more blood rushes to my head

hmmm - a fair point, but the 288 GT Omologazione was designed for Group B sports cars - a class that was canned before it ever raced!!

Edited by Riggers on Thursday 7th January 14:34

[E21_Ross]

coogy said:

Le Mans GT1 class?!?

lets hope so!!!

[SleeperCell]

ThirdShift said:

Begs the question though, whats it being 'Omologated for?

Squeezing a bit more money out of the 599 platform before it's pensioned off I'd imagine.

[leon9191]

"The extra pace comes courtesy of a V12 that's had an extra 600rpm liberated to allow it to run up to 9000rpm and gives it a whopping 700bhp.

Apparently, this has only been made possible since the debut of the 458 Italia, when the 599 was recategorised by Ferrari as a 'sports car' rather than a 'GT'."

Ok, well I am going to recategorise my works focus diesel as a light weight track special so it will rev to 10thousand RPM!

Think I might weight until after the snow has gone though cause it mght be a bit larry at the moment.

[Turbobanana]

OK, so I have £300,000+ "disposable income" in my account: do I buy this or James Hunt's old 911 3.0 RS from the other news article?

Porsche, any day.

[DOVEY1988]

i want pleaseeee

[AndrewW-G]

Riggers said:

ThirdShift said:

Begs the question though, whats it being 'Omologated for? :-) more blood rushes to my head

hmmm - a fair point, but the 288 GT Omologazione was designed for Group B sports cars - a class that was canned before it ever raced!!

Is that similar to the 288 Gran Turismo Omologato

[eurojay]

Turbobanana said:

OK, so I have £300,000+ "disposable income" in my account: do I buy this or James Hunt's old 911 3.0 RS from the other news article?

Porsche, any day.

+1

[FTBasRD]

WANT

[havoc]

coogy said:

Le Mans GT1 class?!?

That'd be my guess...they enjoyed just a little success with the 575 (albeit under Prodrive's auspices, who are now rather cosy with AML), and I for one would LOVE to see this thing tussling with Astons, 'vettes, GTR's and so on later this year...