Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T £199,285

WE SAY: FERRARI’S “FAMILY” CAR NOW COMES WITH A SENSIBLE-SIZE ENGINE...

The GTC4 is the frst Ferrari in over 30 years to come with a choice of engines. Traditionally, the mid-engined sports cars get a V8, and the front-engined GTs get a V12. But now, thanks to this Lusso T, you can have a turbocharged V8 engine in the front of Ferrari’s family four-seater, a car which already ofers a V12.

When Ferrari last ofered multiple powertrains, it was putting tax-busting 2.0-litre V8s in the 308 supercar, creating the 208. That was back in 1980. While the company ofers many reasons for giving GTC4 buyers the option of a V8 turbo, we suspect the real motivation might not be dissimilar. The Lusso T’s performance is largely identical to the V12 Lusso’s, and its £30k price advantage is barely consequential in the grand scheme of a Ferrari options list. Sneeze while holding the mouse on the online confgurator and it’ll immediately be cancelled out.

In other markets, though, taxation could make the diference closer to £100k, with the Lusso T’s 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 little more than half the size of the 6.3-litre naturally aspirated V12 in the Lusso. The V8’s 603bhp is down 78bhp on the V12 but there’s more torque, and its smaller engine and switch from four- to rear-wheel drive mean the car is 55kg lighter. So its 3.5secs 0–62mph is just 0.1sec slower, while a drop in top speed from 208mph to 199mph will concern only the vainest of buyers. The fuel tank is the same size, but a climb from 18.8 to 24.8mpg theoretically brings 30 per cent more range.