Ferrari’s incredible 599XX track car has set tongues wagging in the supercar world after recording a remarkable sub-seven minute laptime around Germany’s 13-mile Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit.
The £1.2million, 722bhp Ferrari clocked a 6min 58sec lap of the track, in the hands of one of Ferrari’s factory test drivers Raffaele de Simone.
Autocar's Ferrari 599XX first drive and pictures
Although the 599XX is not road-legal, Ferrari is hailing the performance as the fastest recorded lap of any production-derived sports car in the world.
Only the Radical SR8 has gone faster, recording a 6min 48sec in 2009 – and that, Ferrari claims, is a car based on a spaceframe racing car.
Active aerodynamics and the very latest electronic traction control systems are the 599XX’s secret weapons. Travelling at 186mph it can produce up to 630kg of downforce.
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Re: Ferrari 599XX's 'Ring record
When I said the T1 hadn't been out, I meant on the Ring. It's been on sale for a few years now. Anyway, aircon nowadays is pretty efficient, no longer contains CFCs, and does at least keep you cold in the summer. For years my parents ran an E30 BMW 318i Touring without aircon, then replaced it with an E46 318i Touring that did have aircon. It was such a boon. Perhaps aircon could instead be driven electrically (IE just having a motor sucking off the battery, while battery gets a bit more charge off the alternator)? That might make it more efficient... and would also allow the aircon to be placed almost anywhere in the car, to perfect weight distribution. Also, aircon units really don't weigh that much. I think the pros outweigh the cons.
Re: Ferrari 599XX's 'Ring record
If T1 is not available to buy it doesnt exist really, something is not right about it.
I need air con banned as then it wont be fitted as standard (so paid for by owner, potentially me) in almost all new cars that are the slightest bit interesting/sporty.
I also prefer having more efficiency, (even off aux belt still has to go around pulley) less weight (less front end weight) and it contains a pollutant and will cause more pollutants by being used and just carried without being used.
alternative is the normal fan that comes with the car that blows air into your face.
Re: Ferrari 599XX's 'Ring record
The T1 has never actually "been out" AFAIK. There may well be a few prototypes knocking around (and breaking down), but I don't believe any have ever been delivered to customers, if they've ever sorted out reliability. Not a proper car, really....
As for a 599xx, as above, big deal. It's essentially a race car.