The most unlikely Ferrari is going to stick around – though it’s getting a number of updates, and a new name.
Originally known as the FF, the wagon-like oddity will now be known as the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso, the Italian maker confirmed today during a Geneva Motor Show news conference. The name dates back more than a half-century, recalling the legendary Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso Berlinetta by Scaglietti, widely considered one of the most beautiful cars the automaker has ever produced.
That’s not necessarily what you’ll hear about the old FF, though it does earn kudos for the added functionality of its big cargo bay – something that has made the car a daily driver for many owners. It’s also helped Ferrari draw in younger buyers than typically walk into its showrooms.
(Check out all the news at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. Click Here.)
The Lusso is aimed, says Ferrari, at “clients wanting to experience the pleasure of driving a Ferrari anywhere, anytime, be it on short spins or long journeys, snowy mountain roads or city streets, alone or in the company of three lucky passengers. Drivers who demand exceptional power but refuse to compromise on in-car comfort, sporty elegance and impeccable detailing.”
A quick glimpse at the new Ferrari GTC4 Lusso reveals few surprises. The basic wagon-like body remains, though Ferrari claims that an extensive effort to improve the car’s aerodynamics – with such touches as a wider grille and modified rear spoiler — has resulted in “substantially lower” drag than the old FF.
At the same time, power has been increased rather substantially, though the engine remains the same 6.2-liter V-12. Not that the old FF was much of a slouch, making 651 horsepower. But the Ferrari GTC4 now slams out 681 ponies and 514 pound-feet of torque through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox driving all four wheels.
That’s enough to hit 100 kmh – or 62 mph — in a rated 3.4 seconds, a measurable 0.3 seconds faster than the FF. The Lusso’s top speed, however, remains 208 mph. Fuel economy, meanwhile, remains a combined 18 mpg, according to Ferrari.
One of the slicker changes introduced on the Lusso is the use of Ferrari’s rear-wheel-steering system, dubbed 4RM-S. The updated model also gets the Italian maker’s fourth-generation Slide Slip Control, almost with magnetic dampers and an electronic differential.
According to Ferrari, the results are readily apparent from behind the wheel, allowing “effortless handling…even on snow-covered, wet or low-grip roads.”
(Opel goes forward into the past with retro-futuristic GT. Click Here to check it out.)
Considering the audience, Ferrari has put a lot of attention on the interior, offering the sort of technology younger buyers value as much as big horsepower numbers. The four-seater gets a new infotainment system that includes a 10.25-inch screen and features Apple’s CarPlay technology. The driver now grips a smaller steering wheel with “more ergonomic” controls.
Passengers can share in the fun thanks to a dual cockpit display letting them see speed and other vehicle information.
The outgoing Ferrari FF starts around $295,000 in the U.S., a figure expected to rise at least slightly when the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso reaches showrooms later this year.
(New supercar, new CEO for Lamborghini. Click Here for details.)
