2007 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

Ferrari Tames a Beast

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano's otherworldly power and performance are tempered by comfort, refinement and reliability proven over 20,000 miles of trans-continental travel.

Exterior

The 599 GTB Fiorano hails from a long line of Ferrari GT sport cars. “GT” is short for "gran tourismo" in Italian, which translates to "grand touring," and applies to sports cars that are designed not only for hard cornering and track driving, but long-distance speed and comfort. Ferrari’s GT lineage includes the 1953 250 MM, the ’64 275 GTB and most recently the 550 and 575M Maranellos. These front-engine V12, two-doors are the heart and soul of Ferrari and the 599 GTB Fiorano is the company’s latest.

While the styling of some recent models — especially the 612 Scaglietti — have left some enthusiasts cold, the 599 GTB Fiorano marks a return to the sexy-yet-elegant shapes of classic Ferraris. The Pininfarina bodywork is aggressive and functional, but the car’s technical requirements never overwhelm its form. The 599 GTB Fiorano still looks like an Italian thoroughbred for the street, not a Formula One car that got lost on the way to the track (like the Ferrari Enzo, arguably).

It’s substantially larger than the decade-old 575M Maranello it replaces, with a wheelbase eight inches longer and nearly four inches more length overall. Yet despite the increased size, roomier interior, bigger engine and more equipment, the 599 GTB Fiorano weighs about 88 pounds less than the 575M Maranello for a total of 3,718 pounds. Its aluminum frame is also 50 percent stiffer than the 575M Maranello’s, yet weighs 13 percent less; body panels are aluminum as well.

Twin flying buttresses flow from the rear part of the roof. They’re a sweet styling touch, but also aerodynamically improve stability at super speeds. In fact, the 599 GTB Fiorano is more aerodynamically efficient than any front-engined V12 Ferrari yet. Flat panels all along the underside of the car and an enormous air diffuser below the rear bumper, along with the flying buttresses, help generate nearly 420 pounds of downward pressure to the rear of the car at 200 mph — the equivalent of two beefy guys sitting on the tail. That kind of downforce is critical to maintaining high-speed stability.

Huge wheels, 19-inches in front and 20-inches in the rear (20-inch front wheels are optional) feature a weight-saving double spoke design. A new Pirelli PZero tire compound was developed especially for the 599 GTB Fiorano; Bridgestone run-flats are an option. As for trunk space, our Ferrari swallowed a wheeled carry-on and three smaller bags during our Los Angeles-to-Las Vegas run – with plenty of room remaining on the cabin’s rear parcel shelf.