By Kap Maceda Aguila
TRUE pragmatists must rue sports cars — which primarily leverage the passion of people who crave increased speed, whistle-bait looks, and race car qualities — because, well, sports cars aren’t really much help when you need do the groceries, take Junior and his friends to an activity, or the wife and the kids to a movie. Besides, what’s the fun in, well, not getting to share the fun with more people?
Now, to be fair, the notion of 2+2 (referring to seating) harrumph cars are nothing new. But Ferrari must still be given full credit for the GTC4Lusso, which recently made its local debut. According to the Maranello-based company, the new car “references its illustrious predecessors, such as the 330 GTC or its 2+2 sister model, the 330 GT — one of Enzo Ferrari’s favorites — and the 250GT Berlinetta Lusso, which represented a sublime combination of elegance and high performance. The number 4 alludes to the car’s four comfortable seats, GTC stands for Gran Turismo Coupe, and Lusso means ‘luxury’ in Italian.”
Purists be-damned, the GTC4Lusso is unapologetically oxymoronic because it pulls two diametrically opposed duties. With generous seating for four adults (or two big passengers and three small ones), plus cargo room, this Ferrari is no slouch when it comes to performance as well. Never call it domesticated, that’s for sure.
Exhibit A is the most compelling of all: A front mid-mounted 6,262-cc V12 that delivers a stout 681 hp and 697 Nm (achieved at 5,750 rpm). Of note, 80% of the torque promise is already available at just 1,750 rpm.
Secondly, a Ferrari Design-conceived body makes it immediately obvious that this vehicle was shaped for extreme performance. The GTC4Lusso has a fastback-like silhouette that ends in a sexy behind.
People who have been watching the goings-on at Ferrari must surely remember the FF, a shooting brake (essentially a three-door hatchback or station wagon) that first appeared in 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show. Significantly, it takes its place in history as Ferrari’s first production four-wheel drive model.
“The FF, at the time, was a step in an extreme direction as a shooting brake Ferrari. The Lusso has taken it a step further. It’s much more aggressive, and actually a better version of the FF,” said Autostrada Motore, Inc. Executive Director Marc Louis O. Soong, in an exclusive interview. “I personally really, really enjoyed the FF, and I look forward to enjoying the Lusso even more.”
Autostrada Motore, Inc. is the distributor of Ferrari in the Philippines.
A naturally aspirated V12 features “best-in-class power, agile reaction, velocity, and charming soundtrack,” according to the Italian manufacturer, which also claims a top speed of 345 kph and a zero-to-100 kph time of 3.4 seconds for the car.
Meanwhile, based on the latest, fourth generation of its Side Slip Control, the GTC4Lusso’s Ferrari-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.”
While there are a lot of goodies for the driver, a dual-cockpit architecture serves up an enhanced “shared driving experience for both driver and passenger.” Additionally, “plush wraparound seats and the cabin’s meticulously crafted materials create the same ambience as a luxurious living space for all occupants.” Creature comforts abound, such as a new navigation and infotainment platform with a 10.2-inch HD screen with capacitive touch technology.
Mr. Soong revealed that local buyers can also expect the Lusso’s T variant (powered by a rear-wheel-driving V8) to be available locally as well.
So, who could benefit from a Lusso ownership? “Young families with two kids. Traditionally, having a sports car isn’t the number-one choice. This solves the problem,” Mr. Soong said.
This should also put an end to the four most commonly uttered words by children aboard an automobile: “Are we there yet?”
