Four seats and Ferrari are not two words that you would utter in the same breath. But the Maranello stable has been producing them since 1960. In 2011, it came up with the four-seater FF, Ferrari’s first all-wheel drive offering. It converted quite a few purists and now, in 2016, its successor – the Ferrari GTC4Lusso is here to carry on the legacy. This latest Prancing Horse was unveiled by Alfardan Sports Motor, the official importer of Ferrari in Qatar, yesterday.
And this Ferrari too has a technological first to its name. It combines the FF’s four-wheel drive with rear-wheel steering, which has not been seen in a Ferrari before. The car is stunning to look at. From the sleek headlamps to the Ferrari logo nesting on the air dam, to those gills on the side to the quad taillamps and exhaust tips, this car exudes Italian brilliance from every angle.
The word Lusso means luxury in Italian and that becomes amply evident when you step inside. The 10.25-inch HD infotainment display, which comes with capacitive touch technology, is the one that attracts attention. The front passenger also gets a small screen which exhibits additional information. Ferrari are calling it Dual Cockpit architecture and it aims to help both the driver and the passenger enjoy the driving experience. The steering wheel has also been tweaked and a smaller airbag and integrated controls have made it more compact.
All of this luxury comes with a beast of a V12 engine under the hood, which produces a whopping 680hp of power at 8000rpm and 697N-m of torque at 5750rpm. And to ensure breath-taking acceleration 80% of that torque is available at just 1750rpm. Despite the added seats, this Ferrari will get to three digits in just
3.4 seconds.
“This car is a new era and shows the future for Ferrari. It’s the first time in this segment Ferrari has produced such technology when it comes to infotainment features. We are very excited about this model,” Charly Dagher, general manager, Ferrari Qatar, told Gulf Times during the launch event.
“For me the infotainment features give a different flavour to the car. Normally when you buy a Ferrari, the attractions are the driveability, the sound and that rush of adrenaline. Plus it’s a unique car, it’s a statement. Now we have the added infotainment technology and it gives an additional flavour to the car,” added Dagher.
The GTC4Lusso has already attracted a lot of customers and Alfardan Sports Motor has almost sold out all the 2016 units in Qatar. The perfect combination of ingredients is the reason for its success believes Guilo Zauner, general manager, Ferrari Middle East and Africa. “Design, style, luxury and elegance are elements found in many cars. In this car, the secret is the right balance of every ingredient,” Zauner said. This FF successor is truly another feather in Ferrari’s already crowded hat.
Zauner and Dagher pose with the Ferrari GTC4Lusso during the launch event yesterday. PICTURE: Thajudheen
