The Ferrari 599

The Ferrari 599XX, now in concept stage but nearing production as a special Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano high-performance variant, is perhaps more exciting than even the hallowed Ferrari Enzo in the track performance department. While the Ferrari Enzo earns the highest marks for exclusivity and sharp-creased style, the 599XX looks like a Ferrari is expected to but taken up about 7 notches. The Fiorano on which the bold new Ferrari 599XX track car is based is not the most expensive Prancing Pony, but it is certainly the most exciting large production model from a driver's standpoint.

The 599XX is officially labeled a prototype, but industry rumors have pointed toward the new razor-sharp Ferrari track car seeing a very limited production run to "loyal Ferrari customers" or some such thing. While the engine and transmission are the same basic units found in the 599 GTB, Ferrari has raised the redline all the way up to 9000 rpm, with some new internals allowing a power increase to a cold 700 horses.

Carbon fiber is used extensively in the 599XX, even underhood, where carbon intakes and other bits save weight and add a little visual flair. The F1-style transmission also gets a reprogramming, with shift times now coming in a miniscule 60 ms, far quicker than even the most skilled clutch-and-lever operator.

The 599XX, which should be getting an official production announcement sometime in the near future, rides on 19 inch racing slicks and also a dedicated suspension different from that employed in standard 599 donor cars. Another interesting Ferrari 599XX feature is that even the brake discs are covered in carbon fiber "doughnuts", said to help with both aerodynamics and cooling. Were this not a Ferrari, they could be mistaken for something from the Autozone parts aisle.

Some serious airflow direction tricks are employed. The 599XX features fans in the trunk and synthetic jets along the rear ductwork, and even tiny wings poking out sideways just in front of the C-pillars. Not as extreme as the Enzo, but the 599XX certainly looks ready to take off and fly somewhere. 599XX pricing, if it makes a short production run after all, will be... well, you know.

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