AUTOCAR today: Ferrari is set to launch an open-top 599 in August at the Pebble Beach concourse in California. Described by Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo as a roadster, the new car will be sold in limited numbers in the same vein as the companys previous open-top V12, the 575 Superamerica launched in 2005 with a folding-metal roof and a 25bhp power hike over the standard model to counteract its extra weight. Its not yet known whether the open 599 will have a similar roof or more grunt, but di Montezemolo told Autocar that its unlikey to have the Superamerica monicker. "It will have an emotional, romantic name such as Italia or Fiorano," he admitted. He also confirmed that the new car would not be shown at a traditional motorshow. Instead prospective customers will get a private viewing of the car at Ferraris HQ in Maranello. The company is also known to be putting the finishing touches to a Spider version of the new 458 Italia which is expected next year. However anyone expecting a hardcore Scuderia version of the 458 is going to have to wait a while longer, according to Ferraris boss. "We have no intention to do Scuderia version of the 458 yet. It would be difficult to do it better," said di Montezemolo. Further into the future he also admitted that a replacement for the four-seat 612 Scaglietti is being planned. "Weve always had clients for such a car and we want to maintain a V12 2 + 2. So we are thinking of something for the future," he said. Great, great news. Looking forward to this even more than to the GTO.
This is an interesting comment considering the 599 GTO has been called the last V12 Ferrari> Further into the future he also admitted that a replacement for the four-seat 612 Scaglietti is being planned. "Weve always had clients for such a car and we want to maintain a V12 2 + 2. So we are thinking of something for the future," he said. It would be ironic if you could only get the V12 anymore in a 2+2 model.... CH
Looking at the great pictures taken by Nicolas Jannier (website: http://arthomobiles.fr) I noticed that he spotted an interesting 599 last time he was in Maranello. Could this be it? Notice the areas in the circles and identified by the arrows. They sure are different from regular 599's. Also notice the structure inside the car behind the seats!! For high res. pictures look at: http://arthomobiles.fr/MM2010/MMD2.htm Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great spot there! It has the gray roof like the GTO models running around but not the crease in the centre of the hood and HGTE wheels. Mirrors are body color to. Cut line at the top of the windshield post means it will be metal roof like the California? I wonder if Nicolas has a rear view of that particular 599 that he didn't include. Sort of hiding in plain sight if you know where to look! CH
Not sure where that quote came from - but the GTO product engineer told me the 599 replacement would definitely be a V12 - possibly smaller capacity turbocharged. The same comment was made by another Ferrari spokesperson and the Ferrari section of the Fiat Investor presentation (available elsewhere on F-Chat) clearly pointed to a 612 replacement early next year. So no new news here really. Soft-top 599 - boy they really are milking the end of this model - clearly no demand at all for standard 599s. The pic looks like the car has a GTO front bumper.
Was thinking the same. Now to really milk it would be to do a 16M on the 599... a GTO drop top (limited edition of a limited edition) once everyone has bought the limited edition.
At the same internetpage (http://arthomobiles.fr/MM2010/MMD2.htm) there is a 599 with no badge's on it (below the Gallardo Spider). I thought that it has a very sharp angle in the C-pilar. The same as the yellow one from april 2009 with the pipes next to its numberplate. Maybe its the angle of the picture. It also has mirrors of the 612. What are your thoughts. Xander
I noticed the different mirrors and different shaped C-pillar as well but if you look close, the area behind the driver and passenger seems to be perfectly normal. Don't think this one has anything to do with the "SA" version.
one year ago....: http://www.czechferrari.cz/clanek/ferrari-599-gtb-spider-hot-news/13388/ and it is reality now
Interesting that you "spotted" this hours after i posted my opinion on this pics in supercarfrance.com the same day!
Then we both must have an eye for detail . I'm not reading the forum you refer to but if you want the award for "first one to have noticed this and posted this on the net" ... it's all yours Cheers, M
It kinda looks like the soft top is up underneath of the hard top camo in those pics. And a 599 GTO convertible might take over the F50's spot of my all time favorite Ferraris.
The AutoExpress newsletter arrived via email today with a small thrumbnail and caption: Attempts to click on the link to the story and see more just lead to the main page of their website which leads me to believe they may have accidentally blown the embargo and then pulled it back or something. Anyway - here is the thumbnail looking much like Ferrari's style of unveiling press photos, though I suppose given AutoExpress' track record that they could have just gotten creative with Photoshop using a 599 GTB and an original Superamerica photo to piece together their best guess. >8^) ER Image Unavailable, Please Login
AutoExpress has resolved their issues and here's what they have to say about the open top 599 and future Ferrari powerplants: The photo is a rendering as I earlier suspected, but here it is in a much larger format. >8^) ER Image Unavailable, Please Login