Turismo attraction

The new Ferrari 599 GTB promises to redefine the sporting grand turismo.

A dramatic hush drops over the darkened hall. An entire civilisation bates its breath. As the lights glow back to full power, the silence is broken by the silken hiss of fabric sliding over glossy red paint. Moments later, a look of uniform trepidation takes over our civilisation "" what the hell is this?

The launch of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano was spectacular, as was the resulting emotion. But most people turned around and asked their neighbours in bewilderment, "What are they up to, then? Has all the pasta and gelato finally got to them?"

But the Fiorano stands at the end of a slowly hardening styling trend at Ferrari. Their cars are beginning to increasingly prefer aerodynamics to sex, purpose to come-hither and hard edges to sensual curves.

There is a strong familial bond, of course, to the 612 Scaglietti and the rear resembles the Enzo/F430 closely. The power bump in the are-you-happy-to-see-me bonnet is well defined with sharp edges as are the body side vents and scoops and the two on the bonnet surface. We're confident that like all Ferraris, the 599 will be spectacular in the flesh, but in pics, there's something not quite classic Ferrari about this one.

No matter. The rest is pure Cavallino Rampante. The 599 is supposed to replace the sublime 575M Maranello, which is no mean task "" but Ferrari's arsenal is formidable. They began with the Enzo's V12 reactor. And almost automatically, the 599 will be the most powerful 2-seater berlinetta (Ferrari-speak for coupe) ever.

The name was a no-brainer, since the aforementioned V12 displaces 5990cc. GTB is Grand Turismo Berlinetta. If you need us to tell you what Fiorano is, get a bucket of iced-water and drown yourself before proceeding further. Just to put the numbers on record, the 599 GTB will ripple blacktop with 62 kgm of torque, and then shatter it to saucer-sized pieces in its wake with a stupendous 620 bhp power peak.

Ferrari will offer a six-speed manual or their latest F1-Superfast transmission, which features 40 millisecond gearshifts. Actual shifts including clutchwork ring in at a blinding 100 milliseconds.

Click though the gears and you'll leave a fiery wake past 100 kph in 3.7 seconds and moments later, top out on the bleak side of 330 kph. We just want to know what kind of tourism requires this sort of pace. And where we can sign up.

The technological fun and games continue in the dynamics. The GTB integrates various dynamics systems in the F430-style "Manettino". Dejargoning, please wait... the F430's much hailed mode switch on the steering is in the 599 but in seriously evolved form.

The 599 uses a new suspension system, sort of like the Visteon/Cadillac MagneRide. Called SCM (Magnetorheological Suspension Control; wrap your tongue around that), magnetic damping fluid in the dampers are used in conjunction with controlled electro-magnets to vary the shock absorber behaviour instantaneously.

Ferrari says there are some predictive programmes that really work smashingly. Read less body roll, superior ride quality and that sort of blah.

Except that Mr Manettino's modes (ice, snow, beach, bedroom, etc) integrate traction control systems (F1 Trac; another F1-derived hi-po gizmoid), SCM, stability control, engine management and F1-Superfast into a formidable character-modulation system for a car with a lot of it. Character, that is.

We're supposed to tell you about the interior but a) there's the pic, so look at it. And b) you're not really buying a 620 bhp car because the interiors look great, right? Wrong? Okay, here goes. Leather. Carbon Fibre. iPod. Bespoke Luggage. Sold? Most likely. The 575M was one of the largest sellers in the stable, and this one should top that.

We also think the 599 is a bit cheeky. It certainly does cock a snook at the recent trend for retro rebirths. One specific car comes to mind... oh, but that one's mid-engined. Hmm...