Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

Ferrari's roots are in motorsport, but anyone who's spent time around racing can tell you it's a very expensive endeavor. Especially if you want to win. Which is the only reason Enzo Ferrari ever built cars for the road in the first place. These early GT, or Gran Turismo, cars were basically rebodied racecars, using the same V12 engines but with the addition of a few modest creature comforts and room for a pair of weekend bags.

The Ferrari 599 is a direct descendent of those original coachbuilt GT models. The Fiorano, as it's also known, still employs a V12, and it's mounted up front in proper GT tradition. There's still room for a pair of lucky turisti and their luggage, but thankfully today's creature comforts are far more accommodating those early cars.

The V12 engine may be reason enough to experience the 599. Displacing six liters, it's a masterpiece of precision and balance, handcrafted in aluminum. Fast-revving and with an unmistakably-Ferrari growl, it pumps out 612 hp, crossing into the rarified 100hp-per-liter pantheon, and doing so without the aid of a turbo or a supercharger. It's an engine that begs to be wound out to its 8400-rpm redline, if not for the power delivery then for the metallic symphony it makes on the way there.

Shifting the 599 is a simple affair thanks to its Formula1-derived gearbox. Snapping off gearchanges as quickly as 60 milliseconds, the "F1-Superfast" transmission lives up to its name, ensuring the revs never fall off between gears. Paddles mounted to the steering column allow you to select your gears without ever missing a shift. It even rev-matches your downshifts.

For many enthusiasts, the front-engine, 12-cylinder GT is the purest expression of the Ferrari experience. There's the view over the long hood, and the addictive sound of the melodious engine out ahead of you. There's the exceptionally balanced chassis, with a near 50:50 weight distribution, and the longer wheelbase that makes long-distance driving more enjoyable. And there's the practicality of a real trunk should you pick up a little something along the way.

Our Ferrari 599 is ready for adventure with the following features:

Six-speed F1-style automatic transmission with paddle shifters
Premium audio system
Leather upholstery

from Gotham Dream Cars