What is it?
The GTC4Lusso is what happens when Ferrari’s supercar owners complain about having to get in a car made by another brand when taking the family on holiday for the weekend, or going to the shops for anything more than a pint of milk.
Back in 2011 the Italian luxury car maker introduced the FF, a shooting brake supercar with room in the boot, supercar performance, and all-wheel-drive for climbing snowy mountains to ski resorts.
Then in 2016, it overhauled the FF and re-named it GTC4Lusso. The recipe’s the same, with a stonking V12 under the bonnet and plenty of space for things and people, but the underpinnings are modernised.
What’s new about the Ferrari GTC4Lusso?
Most obviously, the simple FF name has been replaced by the all-one-word GTC4Lusso moniker, something that sounds more like your Facebook password than a supercar name.
The ‘GTC’ bit references the fact that it’s a grand touring coupé, the ‘4’ refers to the car’s four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering systems, and ‘Lusso’ is Italian for luxury, while also referencing the famous Ferrari 250 Lusso, a similar sort of luxury GT model from the 1960s.
Ferrari has ensured there have been plenty of updates to make the GTC4Lusso deserving of its complicated new name, with one of the key aspects being the four-wheel-drive system, which is now much more intelligent at shifting power around than before.
It’s also complemented by rear-wheel steering to improve agility, and is predominantly rear-wheel-drive unless grip levels are such that help is required from the fronts.
Aerodynamics have also been improved to reduce drag by 6% and provide better cooling, while the interior has been redesigned so everything is closer to hand and easier to use. The V12 engine more powerful than before, or you can order your Lusso with a new turbocharged V8 if you prefer.
How does it look?
Given that Ferrari is known for building jaw-droppingly pretty supercars, it’s no surprise that its take on a practical shooting brake is incredibly handsome.
Viewed in profile to take in its silhouette, the long bonnet housing the V12 is exaggerated, and as you walk around to the back, the flared, wide arches give the GTC4Lusso a muscular appearance.
With huge quad-exit exhaust tailpipes, prominent Prancing Horse badging and our car’s gorgeous deep blue paint, it oozes appeal in a way only a Ferrari can.
What’s the spec like?
The equipment list is extensive, as even Ferrari couldn’t get away with being stingy with on-board kit when it comes to such a pricey car.
As standard, it gets 20-inch alloy wheels that house carbon-ceramic brakes, plus bi-xenon headlights, front and rear parking sensors with a rear parking camera, and a ten-inch touchscreen with integrated satellite navigation.
However, as you’d expect, you can go wild with the options list. A few highlights include £1,056 for Ferrari logos on the fenders, £7,104 for ‘special colours’ and an incredible £15,360 for a triple-layer paint job.
There’s also a panoramic roof for £11,520, leather boot carpet for £1,920, and a carbon-fibre steering wheel for an additional £2,880.
Continued on next page: Interior, drive and our verdict
