First look: Fiorano is Ferrari's new flagship

NEW models from the House of the Prancing Horse are always something to celebrate, and the 599 GTB Fiorano unveiled in Geneva last week is no exception.

Named in honour of Ferrari’s famous test track, the Fiorano is a replacement for the 550/575 series introduced a decade ago and takes the mantle of being the most powerful production Ferrari ever built.

The front mid-engine two-seater delivers stunning performance courtesy of a 6.0-litre V12 – the same engine that powered the Enzo supercar – punching out 462kW (620hp) at 7600rpm and 608Nm at 5600rpm.

Ferrari claims the Pininfarina-designed Fiorano can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds and on to a top speed of more than 330km/h.

The V12 is paired with a new-generation "F1-SuperFast" transmission, and with the aid of all-aluminium chassis and bodywork gives the Fiorano a power-to-weight ratio of less than 2.6kg/hp.

Among the new chassis development is a new F1-TRAC stability control system, which Ferrari explains "continually monitors the speed of both front and rear wheels and features predictive software that estimates the maximum available grip in advance, compares this information with the vehicle dynamics model stored in the control system, and adjusts its reactions to suit, optimising traction by modulating power delivery".

The result is a claimed 20 per cent increase in acceleration compared to a traditional traction and stability control system.

The Fiorano also uses "magnetorheological" fluid in the shock absorbers, with viscosity modified via an electronically controlled magnetic field. Ferrari claims these react more quickly than conventional electronic dampers.

The car’s styling borrows cues of past Ferraris, mixing the narrow headlights of the four-seater 612 Scaglietti with the bonnet power bulge inspired by the Enzo.

The windscreen is heavily curved and deep, leading to a sweeping roofline that flows to the rear via twin buttresses, down to the recessed circular tail-lights.