A vehicle this bold can only come from one part of the world, the United Arab Emirates. This particular Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano was modified by the German luxury car tuner Hamann. The Ferrari features a new bodykit, subtle Hamann spoilers, an extra 53 HP, new wheels and hp and of course, a golden finish.
Answering the age old question like who is better Superman or Batman? Our friends at GTboard have conducted some very official closed course testing that pits the pride of Stuttgart the Porsche Carrera GT against the prancing horse from Maranello the Ferrari 599 GTB. Who is faster, the mid-engine 5.7 Liter V10 in the carbon fiber bodied Porsche, or the front engine V12 sourced from the Enzo connected to an F1 inspired Superfast transmission. Watch the video to find out. By the way, Batman would drive the Porsche.
Ferrari seems to be spending a lot of time working on the 599 GTB. Not only did we see the HGTE package and the 599XX racer in Geneva, but there was a revised version spotted testing only a month later. Now another version, rumored to be a track-focused Scuderia version, is peeking its head out of the Ferrari nest.
The raised tailpipes in the spy shot is what’s starting this rumor (yes, little things like tailpipes can do that.) They are similar to placement to those on the 599XX. Since that car is no longer a secret, it starts the rumormil on what Ferrari is trying to hide.
A Scuderia version would make sense. After all if Ferrari spent a lot of time working on the 599XX, it just has to dial back some of the absolute hardcore track nature, and it would have the perfect racercar-for-the-road 599 Scuderia.
Ferrari released a new image gallery of the 599XX special edition revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. Engineers started with the 599 GTB Fiorano and modified the 6.0-liter V12 to go from 612 hp to 700 hp. But turning the 599 into a track star wasn’t just about power. The body was also lightened through composite materials including carbon fiber, and the shift pattern was changed to be 60 ms quicker.
The 599 GTB may currently be the most powerful offering from Ferrari, but that may not be enough. In the world of the prancing horse, power isn’t everything; there must also be style.
So as the 599 enters its fourth production year, Ferrari is hard at work at giving this grand tourer a little nip and tuck. We should see the subtle changes as early as this year. One thing that is not expected to change is the 620 hp 6.0-liter V12 engine.
Ferrari is not just using a facelift to keep the 599 evergreen. It unveiled the 599XX and the HGTE package in Geneva, and there is even a rumored Spider version in the works.
It seems that the 599XX super car revealed by Ferrari at the Geneva Motor Show was not just a car designed for exclusive clientele. The vehicle also serves as a testbed to develop new racing technologies, like hybrid propulsion systems. Rumors say the 599XX may have some form of the Formula 1 derived KERS system on board.
With this technology, energy that is normally lost while braking can be stored and then used to enhance the acceleration of the vehicle, thereby boosting both performance and efficiency, and that is something we can all look forward to.
Next to the 599XX, Ferrari also presented today in Geneva the Handling GT Evoluzione (HGTE) package for the 599 GTB Fiorano. The package delivers a sportier look and improves the car’s driving dynamics.
The package includes a modified set-up with stiffer springs and rear anti-roll bar as well as new calibration settings for the magnetorheological shock absorbers when the manettino is at its sportier settings. The ride height has also been lowered which in turn lowers the car’s centre of gravity. This combined with the new set-up helps improve body control. The package also includes specifically optimized tires featuring a compound that offers even better grip.
The car’s sporty look is completed by carbon-fibre widely used in the latter, 20" split-rim wheels, a matte black rear diffuser, and a combination of black Alcantara and carbon fiber on the interior.
Ferrari had the Enzo-based FXX, now it has the Fiorano-based 599XX - but the essence on both car is the same: designed for exclusive clientele and used for testing racing technology.
The 599’s engine now delivers 700 hp at 9,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a new gearbox shift strategy that cuts overall gearchange times to 60 ms.
The 599XX is characterized by an innovative electronic concept called the "High Performance Dynamic Concept" which has been designed to get the maximum performance from the car by managing the combination of the car’s mechanical limits with the potential of its electronic controls.
Like the the Enzo-based FXX, this will be an ultra-rare testbed for racing technology. Ferrari didn’t confirm if the car would road-legal, but if it follows in the FXX tradition, the 599XX will only be Ferrari’s racetrack customers.
Earlier this month we reported that Ferrari will bring the 599 HGTE to the Geneva Motor Show next week. But like many of the manufacturers, Ferrari couldn’t keep it under wraps. Oddly enough the press release didn’t confirm the details of the car, but we expect 20-inch three-piece wheels, upgraded suspension, retuned exhaust system, grille reminiscent of the 430 Scuderia, and a interior full of carbon fiber bits. The only thing Ferrari confirmed was the color: three-layered metallic Rosso (red).
Instead Ferrari used its press release to announce a car called the 599XX. Like the the Enzo-based FXX, this will be an ultra-rare testbed for racing technology. Ferrari didn’t confirm if the car would road-legal, but if it follows in the FXX tradition, the 599XX will only be Ferrari’s racetrack customers. There was no mention of the price, but in the world of rare race-only Ferraris if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.
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