What We Like
Immensely capable grand tourer
Able to seat four in comfort
A truly proper Ferrari
What We Dislike
Doesn't look very different from the FF it replaces
Toned down exhaust doesn't excite the senses
The stereotypical Ferrari that most people think of is a sleek, fast-looking two-seater that's probably red in colour. But Ferrari also has a rich history of four-seater grand tourers, designed not to set the fastest times around a race track or impress people on the street, but to travel across countries and continents in style and comfort.
The latest in a long line of Ferrari four-seaters is the GTC4Lusso, which follows on from cars like the Ferrari FF, 612 Scaglietti and 456 GT, as well as iconic classics like the Mondial and Daytona. All of them served a purpose, which was to accommodate four adults and their luggage and jet set them across long distances in that special Ferrari way that makes no compromises on performance.
Just4show
If you think that the GTC4Lusso looks familiar, that's because it's essentially just an FF that's been mildly freshened up. The basic silhouette remains the same, and there are only really minor changes to differentiate this car from its predecessor.
The name is of course the most obvious one, but the GTC4Lusso also features slightly more aggressive looks, with a larger front grille and more sculpted rear fenders.
There is much more going on inside, with a completely redesigned dashboard featuring a revamped infotainment system and a very cool digital readout that displays driving data on the dashboard right in front of the passenger. It has also been repackaged slightly so that rear passengers get a little bit more legroom than before. Overall, the GTC4Lusso feels like a very nice place to be in, which is just about right for a grand tourer.
Fast4ward
Most of the updates on the GTC4Lusso from the FF lie under the skin. The familiar 6.3-litre V12 engine has been carried over, but now produces 30bhp more than before, and is now rated at 681bhp.
It's all a matter of making a few tweaks here and there - to the engine's compression ratio, gearbox management software and traction control system - and as a result, the GTC4Lusso takes just 3.4 seconds to go from 0-100km/h. It also helps that the GTC4Lusso weighs 100kg lighter over the FF too.
Ferrari has clearly worked its magic on this car, and found a way to slim down the GTC4Lusso despite retaining the FF's complex four-wheel drive system, and even adding in a new four-wheel steering system to boot.
The latest in a long line of Ferrari four-seaters is the GTC4Lusso, which follows on from cars like the Ferrari FF, 612 Scaglietti and 456 GT, as well as iconic classics like the Mondial and Daytona. All of them served a purpose, which was to accommodate four adults and their luggage and jet set them across long distances in that special Ferrari way that makes no compromises on performance.
Just4show
If you think that the GTC4Lusso looks familiar, that's because it's essentially just an FF that's been mildly freshened up. The basic silhouette remains the same, and there are only really minor changes to differentiate this car from its predecessor.
The name is of course the most obvious one, but the GTC4Lusso also features slightly more aggressive looks, with a larger front grille and more sculpted rear fenders.
There is much more going on inside, with a completely redesigned dashboard featuring a revamped infotainment system and a very cool digital readout that displays driving data on the dashboard right in front of the passenger. It has also been repackaged slightly so that rear passengers get a little bit more legroom than before. Overall, the GTC4Lusso feels like a very nice place to be in, which is just about right for a grand tourer.
Fast4ward
Most of the updates on the GTC4Lusso from the FF lie under the skin. The familiar 6.3-litre V12 engine has been carried over, but now produces 30bhp more than before, and is now rated at 681bhp.
It's all a matter of making a few tweaks here and there - to the engine's compression ratio, gearbox management software and traction control system - and as a result, the GTC4Lusso takes just 3.4 seconds to go from 0-100km/h. It also helps that the GTC4Lusso weighs 100kg lighter over the FF too.
Ferrari has clearly worked its magic on this car, and found a way to slim down the GTC4Lusso despite retaining the FF's complex four-wheel drive system, and even adding in a new four-wheel steering system to boot.
4orce of nature
I was only allowed a brief test drive of the GTC4Lusso on the roads outside of Sepang, so I can't really describe in detail how well the four-wheel steering system worked. What I can tell you, though, from my short experience is that the GTC4Lusso is quite an impressive car to blast along the highways.
Yes, it's comfortable and smooth, but it can still hit license-losing speeds in the blink of an eye, so there's no question about this car's identity as a Ferrari. At the same time, the GTC4Lusso is also surprisingly docile, with a notable lack of noise that you would expect from a Ferrari. The type of noise that would excite enthusiasts and cause passers-by to turn their heads is conspicuous by their absence here.
Apparently this is due to customers' feedback, who asked Ferrari to tone down the exhaust note a bit. It kind of makes sense if you think about it, given that the people who buy and drive such cars tend to prefer long range refinement over short term excitement. The car doesn't feel dramatic, but it doesn't need to be, instead letting its capabilities do the talking.
A longer test drive on even nicer roads that last longer than a short highway run would have demonstrated those capabilities to their fullest extent. But even for that few short minutes, I was truly impressed at how well-sorted the GTC4Lusso is as a grand tourer and a sports car, so it certainly does leave an impression on you.
4ormidable foe
For the most part, the GTC4Lusso does what it has been designed to do, which is to eat up the miles in comfort and speed. And it does it extremely well, almost peerless in that regard. There may be faster sports cars, and they may be more practical grand tourers, but none can combine the abilities quite the same way as Ferrari does.
The GTC4Lusso is virtually unrivalled, and while it is extremely civilised and highly useable on a daily basis, there is still absolutely no question that this is still a Ferrari through and through.
I was only allowed a brief test drive of the GTC4Lusso on the roads outside of Sepang, so I can't really describe in detail how well the four-wheel steering system worked. What I can tell you, though, from my short experience is that the GTC4Lusso is quite an impressive car to blast along the highways.
Yes, it's comfortable and smooth, but it can still hit license-losing speeds in the blink of an eye, so there's no question about this car's identity as a Ferrari. At the same time, the GTC4Lusso is also surprisingly docile, with a notable lack of noise that you would expect from a Ferrari. The type of noise that would excite enthusiasts and cause passers-by to turn their heads is conspicuous by their absence here.
Apparently this is due to customers' feedback, who asked Ferrari to tone down the exhaust note a bit. It kind of makes sense if you think about it, given that the people who buy and drive such cars tend to prefer long range refinement over short term excitement. The car doesn't feel dramatic, but it doesn't need to be, instead letting its capabilities do the talking.
A longer test drive on even nicer roads that last longer than a short highway run would have demonstrated those capabilities to their fullest extent. But even for that few short minutes, I was truly impressed at how well-sorted the GTC4Lusso is as a grand tourer and a sports car, so it certainly does leave an impression on you.
4ormidable foe
For the most part, the GTC4Lusso does what it has been designed to do, which is to eat up the miles in comfort and speed. And it does it extremely well, almost peerless in that regard. There may be faster sports cars, and they may be more practical grand tourers, but none can combine the abilities quite the same way as Ferrari does.
The GTC4Lusso is virtually unrivalled, and while it is extremely civilised and highly useable on a daily basis, there is still absolutely no question that this is still a Ferrari through and through.
