TOKYO: Ferrari’s latest GT car, the GTC4Lusso, saw its latest unveiling here on Tuesday. This is its first international appearance following the premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Taking over from the FF (Ferrari Four), the GTC4Lusso is seen as Maranello’s latest interpretation of the four-seater concept that is designed for those who want to experience the pleasure of driving a Ferrari anywhere and anytime.
Its new name may be a mouthful but it basically stands for Grand Tourismo Coupé 4 (as in four-seater and four-wheel drive) Lusso (which is Italian for luxury) and draws its heritage from illustrious predecessors such as the 330GTC and 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, both of which were displayed at the GTC4Lusso’s launch venue.
The choice of the country for the launch also tied in with the fact that the 330GTC was launched 50 years ago and that Japan was celebrating 50 years of Ferrari; the first officially registered Ferrari in that country was the 275 GT Berlinetta in 1966.
The other reason for picking Japan for the Asia-Pacific launch – the region includes North-East Asia (Japan and South Korea), South-East Asia (Asean), Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) and recently included the Middle East and India – was that 55 per cent of Ferrari sales in the region was in Japan.
Going further, it was also noted that more than 50% of Ferrari sales in the region (discounting the Middle East and India) was for the FF; Dieter Knechtel, CEO Ferrari Far and Middle East Hub, believes the GTC4Lusso is expected to improve on this trend.
He says that the Ferrrai owners in this region prefers this two-door four-seater GT Coupé as it is easier to drive in the cities and that it is usually 55-per cent full passenger occupancy during those urban drives; the average age of the owner preferring this Ferrari was given as 45 years.
The GTC4Lusso is more than just a replacement for the FF as it is endowed with fresh features to complement its status as a completely new GT Coupé (Dieter says 90 per cent of the GTC4Lusso is new) carrying the highly recognised logo of the prancing horse.
Power-wise, it sports the latest evolution of the naturally aspirated Ferrari GT V12 with a displacement of 6262cc; this V12 punches out 690hp at 8000rpm and 796Nm at 5750rpm, with 80 per cent of that torque being developed as early as 1750rpm.
It boasts a 2.6kg/hp weight to power ratio that leads to a breathtaking performance; 0-100kph in 3.4 seconds, which is hailed as the fastest for a GT car, and a top speed of 335kph. It also boasts of a seamless integration of a complex vehicle dynamics control system to excel in all driving conditions but is said to come into its own on challenging low-grip surfaces to deliver a "consistent sense of stability and comfort".
Based on the latest fourth-generation of the Side Slip Control, Ferrari says its new patented 4RM-S (four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering) system integrates and controls the 4RM Evo four-wheel drive’s PTU (Power Transfer Unit), the rear wheel steering, E-Diff and SCM-E active damping.
The body styling, crafted by Ferrari Design, is seen as a further refinement of the shooting brake coupé profile that was first featured on the FF (which was also Ferrari’s first production four-wheel drive car) in 2011.
The luxury reference in the name is clearly carried by the four plush wraparound seats and a cabin that is said to carry a luxurious living space for all occupants. It toes the current automotive trend with a navigation and infotainment platform, complete with a large 10.25-inch HD monitor with touch-screen convenience centrally located on the dashboard.
The FF may only make up 10 per cent of Ferrari’s total sales but there is strong expectations of the GTC4Lusso reaching out to more Ferrari owners who like to drive with their families in tow.
With the strong demand in this part of the world for the Ferrari GT Coupé, potential owners might not have to wait too long to have this latest premium edition in their garage.
