Ferrari GTC4Lusso T breaks cover

FERRARI Australasia has revealed a potent V8 rear-wheel-drive version of its four-seater shooting brake, known as the GTC4Lusso T, at an event in Sydney this week.

Priced at $503,888 plus on-road costs, the order books are now officially open and cars are expected half way through 2017 – but even early birds are not likely to receive their cars until 2018.

The Lusso T sits below the similarly shaped all-wheel-drive V12-powered Lusso, and above the California T drop-top coupe in Ferrari’s GT line.

The GT4Lusso T is all but identical inside and out to the Lusso – itself a step change version of the FF from 2011.

“This is the car we expect to be used for the school drop off, the supermarket runs, the everyday inner-city commute, all the way to weekend getaways. It’s an all-encompassing car,” Ferrari Australasia president and CEO Herbert Appleroth told GoAuto.

Mr Appleroth suggested that the penetration of V8-engined rivals in the prestige and luxury segment meant that Ferrari needed more presence in the space, but reiterated that the brand’s signature engine would be part of the mix for the foreseeable future.

“V12 is always a part of the Ferrari family, but if you look where the segment is in this everyday drivable supercar, it’s mainly V8 85 per cent, in fact,” he said.

“We needed to be in that space, which is why we’ve developed this car.”

First-time Ferrari clients are the target of the GTC4Lusso T, with Mr Appleroth nominating Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Bentley as possible conquest brands.

“We’re targeting those people who are stepping up. They could be coming from a luxury SUV we know what the traded-in car is, and there are a lot of English and German SUVs,” said Mr Appleroth.

“It’s the ultimate sportscar. You can have your everyday usability, with a huge amount of space inside. It’s not quite as noisy as the V12, but it’s still got that trademark Ferrari engine note.

“Seventy per cent of California T buyers are new to Ferrari, and we expect this to be about the same, or maybe even more.”

Mr Appleroth believes buyers considering luxury SUVs such as the Bentley Bentayga and the forthcoming Levante from Ferrari’s sister brand Maserati will also look at the Lusso T.

“That luxury SUV space is becoming very crowded,” he said. “Where do people go from there? They come to Ferrari. Where they finish is where we start.”

The GTC4Lusso T is almost identical inside and out to the all-wheel-drive GTC4Lusso, using instead Ferrari’s latest V8 that is also used in the California T and 488 GTB.

The front-mounted 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 makes 449kW at 7500rpm and a monstrous 760Nm of torque between 3000 and 5250rpm, sending it all through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to the rear wheels.

This is 43kW less than the V8-powered 488 GTB, though the torque figures are the same, while it is 37kW more powerful than the California T.

The V12 Lusso, meanwhile, makes 507kW and 697Nm.

The Lusso also sports all-wheel steering, adaptive dampers, carbon ceramic brakes, electronic limited slip diff and bespoke 20-inch rims. It also drops 50kg over its all-wheel-drive sibling, thanks to the loss of a front gearbox and driveshaftsThe $503,888 Lusso T can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds, just 0.1s slower than the V12 Lusso. It will also ‘only’ top out at 320km/h to the V12’s 335km/h.

Inside, all the standard elements of the V12 version – including carbon-fibre shifter paddles, a drive mode dial (or manetto), steering wheel-mounted indicators and a digital dash – are present and correct.

There’s also a 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, four USB ports on the central transmission tunnel, rearview camera, front and rear sensors and a remote boot release.

It is classed as a four-seater, and even though the aperture to clamber into the rear is narrow, it will seat a pair of adults. It can also carry 450 litres of their luggage.

The left-hand-drive production example on display is fitted with more than $127,000 of options, including a glass roof ($32,000) and a suspension lift ($11,000).

Apple CarPlay costs $6790, while the fittings to mount an iPad Mini in the rear will set you back $4900. A front parking camera is $6000, and the passenger display screen is $9500.

And a set of bespoke luggage, including a suit bag, golf bag and trolley bags, costs around $39,000.

“We expect a lot of personalisation from our customers, just like on all our cars. On average a customer will spend about $65,000 extra on their car,” said Mr Appleroth.