Deliberately driver-centric, the 599’s cabin is a gran turismo benchmark for its sense of style and innovation. But Ferrari deserves special praise for not allowing style to compromise its efficiency as a workplace.
The seating position is electrically adjustable, the only fault being that some will want the wheel higher than it goes.
The seat itself pinches the mid-section perfectly. Ahead is an instrument binnacle consisting of a simply expressed analogue speedometer and revcounter and an electronic display for every other function. This is a compelling mixture of arcade-game fantasy, irritating folly and genuinely useful information. However, as a gesture to the past and a glimpse at the future it works very well.
Two large carbonfibre paddles (part of the £7k interior carbon pack) sit behind the three-spoke wheel. They are fixed to the steering column. The wheel itself follows contemporary Ferrari thinking with a starter button, optional shift lights recessed into the upper rim and the magnetic damper controls to the bottom right.
Storage space is fine, with flexible leather door bins, a usable glovebox and a decent tray in the centre console. Some will bemoan the lack of a double-DIN-sized sat-nav screen, but we think the small hi-fi (with flap to cover it) and simple rotary climate control dials suit the cabin well.
