A Look Back At The Ferrari 599 GTO Manual

A modern-day Ferrari has everything required to tickle the enthusiasm of a gearhead. The vehicles by the Italian giant pack have everything an exotic car buyer would desire. What makes some of these cars incredibly amazing is that they have thrilling performances and the comfort of a Grand tour. 

A rare amalgamation of performance and luxury is something that people generally associate with a brand like Ferrari. Perhaps the only thing missing from a modern-day Ferrari happens to be a manual transmission. The Ferrari 599 GTO is often regarded as the ultimate Ferrari as it has exceptional levels of performance and the ever-so-desired 6-speed manual transmission, making it the ultimate driving machine one could own. Although the data on this vehicle happens to be slightly blurry, there were around 4000 models of the 599 made, while only 30 of them came with a manual transmission. This only adds to the fact that the 599 manual is an extremely rare car. 

With ample power and torque under the bonnet combined with the plush, luxurious interior of a grand tourer and the slick-shifting 6-speed gearbox, the Ferrari 599 is one of the most sought-after Ferraris out there. 

The Italian Precision 

The regular Ferrari 599 was sold from 2007 to 2011, and it used a 6-liter V12 engine that produced 610 HP and 410 lb-ft of torque. These numbers are already drool-worthy for any sports car or even supercar enthusiast, but what the 599 GTO did was turn things up a notch by giving itself a power boost and reduction in weight. The power figure went from 610 to 660 HP, and the vehicle’s overall weight was reduced by nearly 250 lbs. These changes allowed the car to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds, and almost 15 years back, these numbers were amongst the best in the world. Ferrari also claims that they made only 599 units of this vehicle, making it ultra rare. 

One of the most exciting things about this vehicle is the interior because it makes no use of leather to reduce the weight further. The seats are crafted out of Alcantara and mesh, which are extremely supportive on a race track. The downside of this weight reduction is that owners had to trade off some creature comforts like powered seats and ventilation as well. The vehicle has also been stripped of its floor mats and other soft-touch materials but what one does get instead is a fire extinguisher in case of emergency. Like most other interior bits, the vehicle’s dashboard also comprises primarily of cloth and carbon fiber. 

An Iconic Design

The vehicle’s design was ahead of its time as it had a lot of aerodynamic elements, which helped it go faster around corners and even in a straight line. The teardrop-shaped rear end of the vehicle was fantastic to look at, and the flying air curtain on the C pillar of the vehicle was also a first for a Ferrari. 

Apart from being a fantastic design element, they also provide tremendous downforce during 

high speeds. The front end of the vehicle happens to be sharp and elegant as this is a front mid-engine vehicle; it has a longer front end compared to the rear. The signature Ferrari grill and the sleek but well-designed headlamps make up for an excellent front end. The multi-spoke design for the 20-inch alloy wheels is also a work of art, and they also help reduce weight. The rear end of the vehicle is pretty similar to the standard 599, which is a good thing as the circular tail lamps are a traditional Ferrari design element. 

The Breathtaking Performance

Although the 599 GTO was just a derivative of the 599, it was special because it used the same engine found in the Ferrari Enzo but with a lot more power. This was the most potent Ferrari money could buy back in the day. The 6-liter V12 engine could go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds, and it had a top speed of over 208 mph. Being the most powerful Ferrari of its time, it was also the fastest as it could lap around the Fiorano test circuit in 1 minute 24 seconds which happened to be one second faster than the legendary Ferrari Enzo. 

Being such a rare and exclusive model, the price of these vehicles has also been skyrocketing in the automotive community. In today’s time, these vehicles are being sold for over half a million dollars, roughly four times their price when new, and the demand for them is still increasing. The 599 series has seen some exclusive models and some ultra-rare editions, but the 599 GTO is undoubtedly amongst the best Ferraris to ever exist.