Ferrari 599 HGTE
As part of the continuing search for the best driving experience, Ferrari has identified some product contents that together contribute to emphasise the sports features of the 599 GTB. This package is proposed as an optional content for those customers who prefer a more extreme driving style and are looking for a more gratifying driving experience, but without compromising the ease of driving in more relaxed conditions on longer journeys. The “Handling GTE” sports package includes technical modifications to the mechanics, the suspension and the tyres, giving the vehicle a sportier type of handling in terms of:
- reduction of heave, pitch and roll for a firmer performance, with faster turn in and less effect of understeer
- transmission of a greater feeling of compactness without unduly affecting the drive comfort
- readiness to respond to controls
- better road holding while maintaining excellent ease of control
Track use further highlights these dynamic qualities, thanks to the increased sensitivity to driving impulse obtained through the modification of certain electronic controls. In addition, the “Handling GTE” package aesthetically characterises the car thanks to the precise personalisation interventions. These modifications don't alter the clean lines and elegance of the outer form or of the refined interior, but simply reinterpret them in a more sporty way.
These interventions can be summed up as:
- sportier interiors, with extensive use of carbon-fibre and Alcantara®
- exterior interventions aimed at underlining the sporty characteristics of the vehicle
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
MECHANICS
- Lower suspension (-10 mm)
- New suspension calibration with magnetorheological control in the SPORT and RACE configurations of the Manettino
- More firm suspension springs (front +16%, rear +10%)
- More firm rear anti-roll bar (diameter increased to 24.5 mm)
- Modified accelerator-pedal logic
- More marked exhaust sound
- Improved compound of the tyres
- Optimised response of the F1 gear change software
The package includes renewed suspension, characterised by new springs and more firm rear bar, and a new calibration for the magnetorheological shock absorbers in the sports configurations of the Manettino (SPORT and RACE positions). The handling is characterised by a prompter response and a feeling of greater compactness, without unduly affecting the drive comfort.
The car height from the ground has also been reduced, allowing a further lowering of the centre of mass and hence a reduction of load transfer. The lowering of the centre of mass, together with the new suspension, helps to limit the heave, pitch and roll, with consequent benefits on the car's dynamic performance.
This setting has, in fact, led to a reduction in the static roll and the rolling movements on the track, as well as the pitching, giving the car faster turn in and less understeer effect.
Car performance is also improved thanks to the new tyres, specifically optimised for this equipment and characterised by a compound with an even more effective grip that fosters better road holding while maintaining excellent ease of control. The front tyres are also fitted on rims with an increased width to improve axis performance, facilitating gear change on bends.
Along with the mechanical interventions, the electronic controls have also been optimised, with the aim of giving the driver a prompter response to his commands.
The F1 gearbox activation is now faster in performance driving conditions. Thanks to the improved electronic management, the response time of the gear change control system has been minimised.
A further intervention has involved engine control, which now has an accelerator-pedal logic with modified mapping to highlight the quick rise in revolutions along the considerable engine use field.
The road behaviour of this new package is evident during extreme track use, allowing a more dynamic use of the vehicle with faster turn in and higher turn speed , for an overall higher performance level.
EXTERIOR
- Sportier front grill with a new style and burnished paintwork
- Standard coloured brake calipers
- Specific modular 20-inch rims with new design and Silver Corsa matt colouring
- Front track 10mm wider (front rims with increased width to 8.5”), rear track 5mm wider
- New design for the exhaust tailpipes
- Opaque black paintwork on the area below the rear bumper
The exterior characterisation starts from the front, with the use of a grille with a special chromatic treatment where the Ferrari Logo - the Prancing Horse - is now highlighted by a brushed-finish treatment that gives it a more technical appearance.
The Horse, with the same treatment, is also fitted on the trunk lid.
On the sides, the car is characterised by a 20” modular rim displaying a new design and treatment.
The rim has a forged flange (to benefit the weight), where the design of the spokes is highlighted by a diamond surface treatment with a technical, transparent matt trim called “Silver Corsa”.
The chromatic treatment of the rear diffuser, now in matt black, underlines the new suspension and - from the rear - highlights the new design of the exhaust tailpipes, reminding of those of the berlinettas of the 1950s and 1960s. The exhaust tailpipes are further emphasised in the rear three quarter view by the black chroming treatment on the side surface.
The aesthetic characterisation of the tailpipes is also joined by a modification of the exhaust silencer. The sound that is transmitted into the car is now more pronounced and exciting in the sports mode keeping at the same time a good level of comfort at cruising speed.
INTERIOR
- Full Carbon Recaro sports seats with specific black leather and Alcantara® upholstery
- Specific equipment of the interior in Leather/ black Alcantara®
- Carbon fibre central console, Alcantara® tunnel compartment, leather upholstered handle and centre console trim
- Steering wheel with leather hand-grip and airbag, rear zone and lower crown in black Alcantara®, carbon fibre plate and upper crown with LEDs
- Carbon fibre door panel with black Alcantara® arm-rest and pocket
- Carbon fibre instrument panel, paddles and external kickplate
- Carbon F1 trim on centre console with chromed F1 sign, carbon fibre car stereo upper trim with chromed Ferrari sign.
- White rev counter (alternative to the existing two)
The passenger compartment is more sporty through a balanced combination of the full-grain leather, black Alcantara ® trim details and carbon fibre finish. The combination of material and colour in various areas of the cabin, standing between the quality of hand crafted elements and others of a strong technical value, represents the balance between the sportiness without compromise of the extreme berlinetta and the feeling of warmth and attention to details typical of the most exclusive Ferrari.
The leather remains the leading element of the interior, to which carbon fibre on the dashboard and centre console is combined. The carbon fibre is also used on the steering wheel with integrated LEDs to indicate the reaching of the rev limit, on the F1 paddles and the F1 console on the centre tunnel, on the bezel of the instrument panel, now available with the white rev counter, and on the central part of the door panel. The chrome “Ferrari” sign is highlighted on other carbon fibre parts such as the door's external kickplate and the new trim on the centre of the dashboard. The seat, with the new sporty design, now has a backrest entirely covered in carbon fibre and a new upholstery in leather and black Alcantara®. The latter is used in the central part of the seat and backrest contributing, along with the hugging lateral bolsters, to the support of the body for the benefit of the car's control. The craftsman like quality of the work is evident on the seat headrests where the "Prancing Horse" and writing "Handling GTE" are embroidered with a contrasting thread and a black leather piping is used.
The lower crown and the rear part of the steering wheel are finished in black Alcantara® as well as other details of the passenger compartment such as the roof panel, the rear shelf and carpets.