Is the Ferrari GTC4Lusso T the first 4-seater V8 Ferrari, and practical?

The Ferrari GTC4Lusso is the replacement for the Ferrari FF, which was the 1st shooting-brake style long-roof 4-seat coupé.  Despite a change from short FF name to long GTC4Lusso name, the cars are quite similar in layout, both breaking away from the lineage of previous elegant 4-seater coupé Ferrari cars like the 456 GT and 612 Scaglietti.

Ushering in a new Ferrari Grand Touring concept, the car is aimed at drivers seeking a car that is sporty and versatile, as well as perfect for driving on a daily basis.  A practical Ferrari.

First 4-seater V8 Ferrari?

Following on from the success of the GTC4Lusso introduction which raised the performance bar for Ferrari’s traditional four-seater V12 GT cars, the Prancing Horse announces the arrival of the new GTC4Lusso T – “the first four-seater to be powered by a V8 engine”.  Erm, forgetting models like the Dino 308 GT4 and Ferrari Mondial which had 4 seats and a V8 engine.

T this time for Turbo

In 1989 the Ferrari Mondial T did not use the T as reference to a Turbo engine, but rather to the 3.4-litre V8 (similar to the Ferrari 348tb and 348ts) transverse installation of its gearbox.  The GTC4Lusso T, however, does:  T here means Turbo, as the same basic 3855cc engine from the Ferrari California T.  The engine is uprated from the “Cali T” 412kW to 448kW in the Lusso T.  By comparison, the GTC4Lusso T versus the GTC4Lusso V12 shows 448kWvs 507 from the V12, and torque (thanks to turbo boosting) of 760Nm across 3000-5250 in 7th gear (see more below) actually better than the bigger engine’s 697Nm at a high 5750.

Combining the V8 T powertrain with rear-wheel drive (rather than the big 6.3-litre V12 and complex 4-wheel-drive) has resulted in significant weight-saving.  Despite a lack of 4-wheel traction, the lower weight benefits performance – the 0-100km/h is a mere 10th of a second difference, at 3.5 seconds for the V8 turbo against 3.4 in the V12.  Top speed is 320km/h in the T (335 with the big engine).

4-wheel steer

Adding 4-wheel steering to the mix gives the car additional agility and quicker responses.  In press-on driving, the 4WS (4-Wheel Steering) means the rear wheels steer too, helping to provide a sharper response to steering wheel inputs, both entering and exiting corners, thanks to the fact that the rear wheels steer in the same direction as the front ones.

Variable Boost Management

One of most innovative features of the GTC4Lusso T’s V8 is Variable Boost Management – a control software that adjusts torque delivery to suit the gear selected, delivering increasingly powerful pick-up as revs rise, whilst optimising fuel consumption.  All without impinging on driving pleasure – in fact, the increased linear pick-up should feel more like a naturally-aspirated engine.

As the car goes up through the gears (from 3rd to 7th) the amount of torque delivered by the engine increases. all the way up to 760 Nm in 7th gear.  This VBM allows Ferrari to adopt longer gear ratios in the higher gears, to the benefit of fuel consumption and lower engine revs at high-speed driving.

GTC4Lusso T in South Africa

Available to order are specific tailpipes and forged wheels developed especially for the V8 model.

Scuderia South Africa has not confirmed the obtainability and thus price of the Ferrari GTC4Lusso T.