TAKING THE GRAND TOUR
Tony Middlehurst tests the latest frontengined fourseat GT from Maranello
Ferrari is mainly known for its two-seater supercars, but legendary boss Enzo Ferrari is on record as saying that he preferred the company’s practical four-seat tourers.
The FF was Ferrari’s first four-wheel-drive GT, and as such stood out as something of a technological masterpiece. Today’s FF has been renamed GTC4 Lusso. It comes with the F12tdf’s four-wheel steering setup and, most unusually, a choice of two engines.
The Lusso has aV 12 engine and all-wheel drive, whereas the ‘entry level’ Lusso T uses a twin-scroll turbocharged V8 to drive the rear wheels only. Despite that, the T is only onetenth of a second slower to 62mph from rest than the V12 Lusso and is arguably quicker in everyday driving thanks to its abundance of low-rpm torque and near-total absence of turbo lag.
With the Lusso T’s sevenspeed paddle-shift gearbox in manual mode to get round the relative mushiness of the auto setting, reaching and maintaining huge pace is easy. Whether you’re cruising or commuting, the Lusso T beats the Lusso.
The thing is though, Ferraris can’t simply be judged on how easy they are to use on a day-to-day basis. They need to deliver drama and excitement too, and that’ s where the turbo charged V 8 loses points as its engine note is pretty conservative. The stress-free nature of the beast makes the 7,500rpm limiter feel a bit unambitious, but even if there was another 500rpm on top of that it’s unlikely that the V8 would top the spine-tingling shriek of the V12.
Fortunately the Lusso T softens this slight disappointment by going around corners in the way it does. Losing the bulk of both the four-wheel drive system and the big V12 motor has given it a more evenly balanced (46/54) distribution of weight. The steering is scalpel-sharp and bullet-quick. From the frontend bite you’d never guess you were in something weighing 1.8 tonnes. The back end isn’t quite so well clamped down, but the superb chassis balance brings long, smoky slides within reach of just about everybody.
The famous ‘manettino’ switch on the steering wheel gives you a choice of driving modes from Ice, Rain, Comfort and Sport to ESC Off, but we like the Bumpy Road button best. Push that to soften up the suspension and you’ll be amazed at the compliance. Aston Martin’s DB11 V8 is a very good car, but its ride is harsher and the incisiveness of its all-round drive is less remarkable.
Inside, you get a typically excellent Ferrari driving position allied to surprisingly fine visibility and one of the most lavish cabins anywhere, with hand-stitched full-grain leather, bull’ s-eye air vents, flat bottomed steering wheel, dual zone climate control, powered seats, satellite navigation, Bluetooth, a beautiful panoramic roof and a new, crystalclear 10.3-inch infotainment screen that beats the Mclaren 570GT’S IRIS system hollow. Neatest of all is a second wide touchscreen on the passenger side, allowing them to tweak the car’s settings on the hoof. Probably best to make sure they warn you before they do anything, though.
The split-fold seated rear cabin is surprisingly roomy both above an adult’s head and in front of their knees, and there’s a healthy 450 litres of space in the wide and easily-accessed boot. Its floor isn’t flat, however, so you might want to tick the (expensive) box for Ferrari’s bespoke luggage set, one of the many options that can easily take the Lusso T’s base price from £200,000 to over £250,000 in a few swipes of a Mont Blanc fountain pen. Even Apple Carplay is a fiercely expensive addition, which is peculiar when it’s free on most everyday hatchbacks.
V8 or V12, though? If you live rurally or make plenty of trips to ski resorts, then you’ll value the extra traction of the fourwheel-drive Lusso. But if your plans hinge more around long distances in less taxing conditions, the V8 gives you nearly 25 miles for every gallon. That’s 30 per cent more than the V12’s 18.8mpg.
Given that Ferrari is selling the GTC4 as a practical everyday supercar, the V8 represents a fair choice. In either version the GTC4 is a unique and praiseworthy creation whose existence should be celebrated. ● Graypaul Edinburgh is hosting an exclusive two-day discovery and driving event with full access to its range of Ferrari Approved cars including the opportunity to test drive any of the models listed across the page.
Booking test drives in advance is highly recommended, as spaces are limited, enquire now to secure an appointment and we will look forward to welcoming you to our showroom. Book today on 0131 475 4500 and speak to one of the sales team.