Design and style are obviously very subjective. I talk to hundreds of people about cars on a regular basis, so I have a continuous barometer on the pulse of car design. I hear from two camps about the Ferrari 599 GTB. One group says it is a spectacular design and the other contingent says it is a drab design that was borne in the wind tunnel and lacks inspiration. Many felt that after Pininfarina's arguably lack-luster and unimaginatively designed Ferrari 612 Scaglietti that the Ferrari 599 GTB needed to set some new benchmarks. Hmmm...which side of the fence do you sit?

My first impression, based on magazine photos a year ago, was that the car lacked the visual punch that I expect in a Ferrari. I initially found myself in the camp with the disillusioned. That quickly changed as the complexity of the curves became more familiar to me. After seeing my first two or three 599s in person, I really began to like the design, without doubt. The red over tan car shown here is owned by Walt L. who I appreciate letting me get some good photos.

We had a custom painted two-tone burgundy over gray Ferrari 599 GTB with the same custom colors tastefully and creatively integrated throughout the interior leather on display at Club Sportiva for our Members' viewing pleasure as the car was on its way to the festivities of Pebble Beach in August 2007. That was the first 599 GTB I was able to sit in, study closely and blip the throttle. Blipping the throttle helped. ;)

I think the folks in the camp who argue the 599 GTB is an aerodynamic blob and is related to a boring Toyota Corolla feel the same way about many of the modern cars today. And sadly, they are observing the reality about how aerodynamics are now a vital component of design and CAFE regulations for fuel efficiency. But with that fact, recognizing that things are not going to change, I propose they embrace the modern designs and enjoy the cars instead of writing them off as bland and soulless.


There are a few interesting and unique design points worth pointing out on the Ferrari 599 GTB. First, the flying buttress aerofoil integrated as an appendage to the B-pillar. At first sight, it took me a while to envision what the aerofoil was doing visually, but I think these photos capture it well. No other car to my knowledge uses this design...yet. It accomplishes both airflow management and flamboyant Italian style simultaneously. This Pininfarina design cue will be notable in history as unique and I suspect copied by others.

The single tail light is very different for Ferrari. Aside from the 348 and Testarossa, Ferrari has predominately used dual twin taillights for about 30 years. Historically, Ferrari has had three lamps per side, occasionally one on top the other the occasional rectangle and now and again, a single lamp per side. In this case, I think Pininfarina was looking to try something new and daring without feeling retro. On such a wide car, there is certainly room for the traditional dual twin tail lights. It looks more elegant and less sporty, which works on a big front engine V12. It is pulled off well, however much it stands out as not your typical Ferrari design. Speaking of forging new design territory, the brand new Ferrari California just announced (see my May 13th post about the all new Ferrari model) also integrates a single tail lamp configuration, so now we see a new design trend at Pininfarina.

The curves of the front bumper add character to the front of the car which are unique these days. The 599 GTB follows the 612 Scaglietti lead on this cue with a point in the bumper ahead of each headlight housing. It looks very well integrated and adds an exciting degree of character to the 599 GTB without being over dramatized, like the pointy nose of the Enzo or McLaren SLR. Again, a special design cue subtly integrated without the racy flamboyant flair of the V8 series.

The interior is also pretty trick. From the carbon fiber reinforced race seats with Daytona seat stitching to the tasteful carbon fiber integrated dashboard which uses a lot more carbon fiber than the F430. The 599 GTB is certainly not a boy racer and the interior appointments differentiate it well from its attention-hungry V8 little brother, the F430.

One annoying factor for the Ferrari 599 GTB is that due to low production volume (combined with high demand), they are essentially impossible to buy currently without either spending a $200,000 premium or being one of the lucky few to be "on the list" with your local dealer. At Club Sportiva, having bought a new F430 and a pre-owned Maserati Quattroporte from our dealer, I still can't even get "on the list." If you aren't "on the list," that means you will be paying $200,000 extra in the after market to get a pre-owned 599 GTB. Yes, that means $500,000, so you better really enjoy the car to spend those maddening sums. As production grows and supply catches up to pent up demand, the premium will lessen, but will likely remain a sizable figure for those well-heeled enough to afford a $350,000 exotic.

When I have driven the Ferrari 599 GTB, there will of course be an additional blog post. And sometime before long, Club Sportiva will add the 599 GTB to its Collection. That will be a treat for all of us, especially the Members who have access to enjoy such a high-flying Italian beauty!

Labels: Club Sportiva, exotic car share club, F1 transmission, Ferrari 599 GTB, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Ferrari California, Ferrari F430, front engine V12, Pininfarina

A Ferrari is a highly coveted and sought after car, right? They have waiting lists and premiums over MSRP, unlike any other brand. People go nuts to get a Ferrari. Even pre-owned Ferraris hold their value far better than any other automaker. Why is it, then, that four seat Ferraris don't evoke the same passion and illustrious glow that the two seat Ferrari does?

One can't even say two door versus four door, because they all have two doors. So, it is truly the addition of the back seat that hurts the luster. The four seat Ferrari, when new, generally sells for more than the two seat car, so it is not as though Ferrari has placed a lower intrinsic value in our heart and mind. The four seater also comes with ceramic brakes, high-end audio and a big voracious V12 power plant, so it is not as though it is missing the goods. Is there really an answer to this conundrum?

If the answer is as simple as people prefer the two seat Ferrari more than four seat cars, why does Ferrari even bother making the bigger car and how does it get away with charging extra when new? If the answer is that the four seat car doesn't look as sexy, then get Pininfarina to dig deep in their bag of design tricks and make a sexy looking four seater, like the Maserati GranTurismo.

One thing is for sure, Ferrari builds fewer four place cars than two place cars. I think there is a need in the marketplace for Ferrari to build a few four place cars for when the successful person says, "I wish my two seat Ferrari had a back seat." If the back seat were tiny, the dimensions would look better but it would realistically be an unusable back seat, like a Porsche 911, Aston Martin DB9, or Jaguar XK where legroom varies between three and zero inches. So Ferrari has wisely opted for a real back seat, which then creates potentially challenging design dimensions. Nothing gets the heart racing like a two seat Ferrari and ultimately, that adrenaline directly impacts the hearts (and wallets) of buyers who will do anything to drive a svelte sports car, which the four place Ferrari just doesn't encapsulate.

Looking at some four place Ferraris over the past few decades for a reference point are the 612 Scaglietti, 456, Mondial, 400/412 and 308 GT4. Currently, there is the king-of-the-hill 612 Scaglietti, which is arguably the best looking four place Ferrari built, even if it is oddly proportioned with an insanely long hood and near-Maybach-long wheel base. This layout places the driver far back in the car with the rear seat back almost in the trunk. Before the 612 Scaglietti was the 456 of the 1990s. This car was built for a long production run and while it has seen a lot of depreciation, it has aged well. Though subtle and understated in design, is still a lovely car that shares more than a little resemblance to the rear end of the 612 Scaglietti. Before the 456 was the angular 400/412 of the 1980s. This series car has a dated look, though upon closer inspection, it is still a good looking car, however stuck in the doldrums from a price and maintenance standpoint. There was also the Mondial and the 308 GT4 before it, both are likely the least loved Ferraris of all time and they both fit into the hardly usable backseat category.

Maybe the four place Ferrari's unloved place in the market isn't fixated only on the back seat or the diluted styling but instead on the lack of a hair raising visceral driving experience provided so uniquely by the two seat car. The longer wheelbase and heavier chassis associated with the four seater requires a big V12 and thus, the nimble, rip-roarious charm of driving the two seat V8 is markedly different. So, not only is the four seater less breath taking in appearance or bloated in weight and dimensions, but it drives like a heavy machine. Sure, it's got power to hustle, even to dance through the curvy roads, but it simply isn't as lithe as the mid-engine V8 strapped for just two. Ferrari clearly does two seaters better than anyone in the business.

I think Ferrari has the approach correct. Since history says a four seat Ferrari won't hold a strong cache once it sells beyond the original owner, their charging a premium on the few they do build and then letting the market be the judge in years to come. Build them as powerful and beautiful as possible, with the help of Pininfarina. And then, take solace in knowing that when you get to the stage in life when you need a Ferrari with a back seat, you have two choices: buy the chart-topping latest Ferrari that represents Maranello's best, or get a great deal on yesterday's glorious family-sized Ferrari. It is perplexing that the four seat Ferrari doesn't fare better than they do, but history seems to show that there is a limited interest in the market place.

Labels: Club Sportiva, exotic car share club, Ferrari 456, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, four seat Ferrari, Pininfarina, V12