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Engine is Directly Derived from the 599XX
The 599 GTO's engine
is directly derived from the 599XX unit implementing, however, the necessary
modifications for road-going homologation. It thus complies with Euro 5 and LEV
2 standards. The 5999 cc 65-degree V12 engine punches out 670 hp at 8250 rpm
with maximum torque of 457 lb-ft at 6500 rpm and there is a smooth, constant
rush of power all the way to the redline with no loss of flexibility even at
medium and low revs. This result was obtained by working on the fluid-dynamics
and components to reduce internal friction and by adopting, amongst other
things, the 599XX's redesigned crankshaft. The car also has a racing-type intake
system with a new manifold with diffuser-type intake geometry and short inlet
tracts designed to improve power delivery at high revs and reduce losses. To
maximize volumetric efficiency per cylinder, a connection between the two
plenums at the front compensates for variations in the volume. This is how the
engineers managed to achieve maximum performance at high engine speeds. The
engine sound inside the car is carefully controlled to balance the intake sound
with the exhaust, which features a 599XX-derived 6-into-1 manifold.
The
599 GTO features the same, lower 60 ms shift times and the possibility to make
multiple downshifts as on the 599XX.
Vehicle Dynamics
One
of the most significant innovations on the 599 GTO is the close correlation
between the chassis set-up, which is close to the handling limit, and the input
from the electronic controls which are developed to increase overall levels of
performance.
Since the very earliest states of the two cars' development,
Maranello's engineers worked to ensure that these two areas of the car would be
seamlessly integrated thus pushing responsiveness to the limit. The result is,
of course, superlative driving involvement as well as faster lap times. Apart
from new springs and a stiffer rear anti-roll bar, the car also features a
second generation magnetorheological suspension control system (SCM2). The
suspension works in tandem with the VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) and
latest-generation F1-Trac traction control. This makes the car extremely
responsive to driver inputs - thanks in part to the adoption of a very direct
steering ratio - but also very stable under braking, sharper on turn-in, more
precise in cornering and quicker out of corners.
The 599 GTB on a Diet
The 599 GTO inherits much of the development work - using the same
principles as employed in F1 - that went into making the 599XX such an extreme
performance car. Reducing weight was a vital objective and the result was the
widespread use of composites and components manufactured with technologies more
akin to racing specifications. The areas involved include the bodywork and
greenhouse (with thinner gauge aluminium and thinner glass), the brakes,
transmission and exhaust system. The result is a dry weight of 3296 lbs and a
weight-to-power ratio of just 4.9 lbs/hp, a very significant figure that
underlines the GTO's performance potential.
599 GTO's Aerodynamics
The 599 GTO's aerodynamics have benefited significantly from Ferrari
engineers' experience in F1 and with the 599XX which allowed downforce to be
greatly increased without impacting on drag. Thanks to solutions transferred
from the track car to the road-going version, the GTO generates downforce of 318
lbs at 124 mph. The entire car was honed, including the front, the sides, the
flat underbody and cooling flows. In the latter instance, the GTO can count on
improved ducting to the brake discs and pads, and the adoption of wheel
doughnuts - a disc positioned outside the brake disc that ensure that hot air
exiting the wheelarch stays as close to the body of the car as possible to
reduce drag.
Work on the nose of the car was aimed at reducing the width
of the wake generated by the front and thus reduce drag. The front spoiler
incorporates a separate lower wing that increases downforce at the front of the
car and increases the flow of cooling air to the oil radiator. On the flanks
there's a new sill design with a more pronounced leading edge that improves the
efficiency of the central section of the underbody. The underbody itself
incorporates a new, lower front section with diffusers ahead of the front wheels
to optimize downforce, and a new double-curve rear diffuser.
Wheel
Rims and Tires
Here the difference in size between the front and rear
tires has been changed. The GTO's front tires are now 285/30 on a 9.5'' channel
with 315/35 on an 11.5'' channel at the rear. The 599 GTO has 20'' rims. Roll
rigidity is greater at the rear to minimize understeer. These solutions
guarantee improved lateral grip and quicker turn in.
CCM2 Brakes
The new CCM2 braking system is lighter and even more consistent in high
performance situations. Its consistent coefficient of attrition meant that the
ABS could be calibrated to a particularly high performance level, further
reducing lap times, thanks to improved deceleration and shorter stopping
distances. In fact, the 599 GTO boasts an excellent 60 to 0 mph braking distance
of just 103 feet. As well as their role in improving aerodynamics, the Formula
1-derived wheel doughnuts also improve braking efficiency by optimizing brake
cooling.
The Interior Inspired by Race Cars
The car-driver
interface was designed to maximize car and driver performance with a layout of
the main commands that ensures absolute efficiency and minimum distraction. The
Racing manettino also puts the emphasis firmly on sporty, track-specific driving
settings by offering the driver full choice with regard to the electronic
control parameters. The ICE position on the 599 GTB Fiorano has been replaced by
CT-Off (traction control off). The GTO is also fitted with bespoke, longer
carbon-fiber F1 paddles for easier use in high-speed driving. In addition the
GTO also features the Virtual Race Engineer, a system that monitors the status
of the car and gives the driver immediate visibility of vehicle performance.
Ferrari 599 GTO: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications
