Ferrari 599 GTO

Better late than never, I wanted to start another dedicated resource thread, this time for the V12 front engined Supercar that is the Ferrari 599 GTO, for technical, press, historical, market and registry information, in addition to quality picture content.

Ferrari's now-legendary 3rd GTO is known by insiders as one of the best driving experiences available in any Ferrari, but it remains an unsung hero, they say timing is everything and launched as it was in 2010 in the midst of a global recession, it didn't get the media fanfare it deserved.

Those who covet the 599 Gran Turismo Omologato do so perhaps because they view it as the most potent V12 Ferrari ever built by the factory to that date, sanctioned by Ferrari's Golden Boy, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. Or more likely because it remains one of the all-time most beautiful limited production Ferraris, it's relatively rare, it's both powerful & fast, it sounds hair-raisingly epic, and it's a Ferrari GTO.

The intent of this modest thread is to provide an enthusiast's resource to the benefit of owners and enthusiasts alike, I will do what I can in my spare time, and I invite all to participate.

The 599 Gran Turismo Omologato - Maranello's Dark Horse

Luca Cordero di Montezemolo President and Chairman of Ferrari, made it his personal goal in the early 90s to win the Formula One World Constructors' Championship once again for the first time since 1979. As a result of his efforts, five (5) driver's Championships and six (6) constructor's Championships were captured during an incredible run between 1999 and 2004. As regards the road cars, during the 1990s he resurrected the Ferrari road car business from heavy debt into solid profit, and during his tenure Supercar legends such as the F50, the Enzo and the La Ferrari were conceived. He authorized the use of the hallowed GTO name for just the 3rd time, the only person to do so besides Enzo Ferrari himself. After the 1962 250 GTO which dominated GT racing in the 1960s and is now widely regarded as not only the most hallowed Ferrari but the most valuable one, then came the iconic 1984 288 GTO which is the first in the series of contemporary Ferrari Supercars. 26 years later, the 599 GTO arrived to continue this iconic lineage, borne of motorsports heritage as was it’s predecessors. Montezemolo presided over a truly Golden Era for Ferrari and the the road-homologated version of Ferrari’s Corse Clienti 599XX, the 599 GTO, was undoubtedly the best front-engined Supercar under his tenure.

Dubbed ‘The Fastest Ever Road-going Ferrari’ by the maker and the Press alike, on the 8th of April 2010, Ferrari SpA in Maranello released the first photos and information on the new 599 GTO, an extreme V12 Berlinetta developed to a specific performance-oriented brief. Production was to be limited to 599 special-ordered cars, approximately 125 of which were planned for the United States market. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the entire planned production for 599 units of the new GTO sold out immediately, even before the car could first be shown to the public at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show!

Although the 599 GTO was, in fact, the company’s fastest ever road car to date, it was so much more. Described as an exclusive limited edition special, it was based on the 599XX, the advanced experimental track car. Ferrari SpA reserved the 599 GTO for it’s most loyal clients, bestowing upon them the maximum expression of high-performance driving with a more potent version of the Enzo’s engine, benefitting directly from the technological transfer from the 599XX, it unsurprisingly set a record lap time at Fiorano in 1 minute 24 seconds, a full second faster than the Enzo’s. The Fiorano lap time provided just one indication of the potential of this car, 670 hp pushing just 1495kg car represented a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.23 kg/hp, and ensured a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 3.35 seconds, as well as a top speed of just over 335 km/h (208 mph), faster than the 599XX’s.

The 599 GTO’s engine is it’s crown jewel, it’s a 6.0 liter Ferrari V12, specifically variant F140 CE, itself a descendant of the Enzo’s F140 B unit, tuned as it was for the 599XX’s F140 CF. In Road & Track magazine's debut article, Ferrari's CEO Amedeo Felisa described the new GTO's powerplant as being "about 90 percent of the 599XX's engine” meaning the 599 GTO is effectively a road-going version of the 599XX, and as the latter car was the first V12 Ferrari to feature a flat crankshaft design, this was brought into the GTO.

For the gearbox the, the 599XX’s F1 six-speed gearbox with the same 60-millisecond shift times was adopted. The driver-car interface featured the new Virtual Race Engineer (VRE) which provided the driver with instantaneous information on performance.

Every effort went towards saving weight and replicating the 599 FXX’s extraordinary capabilities on the track, yet making the new 599 GTO genuinely usable on the highway. An impressive 100kg was shaved off the road car by the extensive use of all-new components such as a hydroformed exhaust that was ‘blown’ rather than stamped and welded, emitting as a result a glorious V12 sound. Thinner glass saved 5.5kg. Despite being wider than before, the forged wheels and titanium bolts saved 22kg, while Sabelt carbon fibre racing seats trimmed another 17kg. Accordingly, the more-powerful 599 GTO weighs 220 lb less than the standard GTB. Fundamental to the GTO’s performance was the innovative approach to chassis development which, for the first time on a production car provided an integration between a handling set-up tuned for a level of responsiveness that is close to the limit, with highly sophisticated electronic controls resulting in the almost complete absence of understeer.

The 599 GTO was equipped with second-generation carbon-ceramic brakes which were lighter with better performance featuring new aerodynamic innovations, such as the F1-derived wheel venting donuts which increase aerodynamic efficiency and improve brake cooling. The carbon-ceramic brakes measure 15.7 inches by 1.5 inches in front and 14.2 inches by 1.3 inches at the rear. Stopping from 62 mph is accomplished in an impressive 107 feet. 20-inch Supersport tires developed by Michelin feature a wider front tyre for greater roadholding. The chassis gets new springs and a stiffer antiroll bar, and the suspension works with vehicle dynamic control and F1-Trac traction control.

The 599 GTO’s more aggressive character is apparent in a number of styling elements derived from the 599XX. Aero is helped by a front spoiler with a lower wing that increases downforce and increases the cooling flow to the radiator. There's also a new sill design and a new double-curve rear diffuser. Comparing the performance of the 599XX to the 599 GTO puts the factory hotrod's performance in perspective:

599XX
0-60 mph 2.9 seconds
Top Speed 196 mph (315 km/h)

599 GTO
0-60 mph 3.3 seconds
Top Speed 208 mph (335 km/h)
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Ferrari SpA's initial PR shot of the 599 GTO, if you see this image in your rear view mirror, move over.

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Will a 599 GTO fit in your garage?

The factory's dimension & weight sheet.

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Gauge cluster with tachometer front & center.

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Some say, there are few more beautiful Ferrari shapes, this illustrated by a works wood scale model.

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A Star is Born.

At the 2010 Beijing Auto Show, the 599 GTO was shown to the world, but you couldn't order one, all 599 planned cars were already sold, perhaps the reason why they made more.

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The GTO's details belie Ferrari SpA's pride of presentation.

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Just how many were actually made is a matter of some conjecture but this beautiful example with Daytona seats claims to be the last one.

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First owners of the car received a 599 GTO sculpture made by Editalia in Italy, the model is approx. scale 1:43 bronze laminated sculpture, beautifully packaged.

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599 GTO ancillaries & luggage.

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Original owners were also presented with a beautiful deluxe hard-cover color book on high gloss heavy stock paper, issued for the Ferrari 599 GTO, tracing the hallowed GTO historical lineage from 250 GTO, to 288 GTO to the 599 GTO. The text is in 2 languages and contains photos, details, and specifications.

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This German edition typified the assortment of books, pouch & keys supplied with each car.

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The pouch is Alcantara bound with the GTO logo embroidered into it, and it stows neatly in the trunk secured by belts.

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June 2009 and the idea for the 3rd GTO was borne out of the amazing Corse Clienti 599XX.

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The GTO lineage features two front engined V12s.

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Here's just the front engined GTOs, one's much more valuable.

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By September 2010 owners who'd ordered cars sight unseen knew something good was coming.

"The Fastest Ferrari Production Car Ever!"

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August 2010.

The launch of the 599 GTO was barely covered by the mainstream press though.

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December 2010, Forza magazine tested one of the few Press cars made available.

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599 GTO which I recently inspected at DK Engineering which had the 599XX Evo aero kit installed by Ferrari SpA when new, signed by Luca di Montezemolo.

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Thank you for that precision and your valued participation.

I believe there are some copies pf the book still floating around in the aftermarket, funnily enough I never see 599 GTOs being sold with the book amongst the ancillaries.

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Here's the brochure for the 599XX aero kit which was made available for late production 599 GTOs, as seen on the car I inspected at DK Engineering posted above.

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Ferrari SpA's Press release images featured a pre-production 599 GTO.

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