Following on from the success of GTC4Lusso, Ferrari has announced the arrival of the new GTC4Lusso T, the first four-seater in its history to be powered by a V8 engine. Said to usher in a whole 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.
The new GTC4Lusso T is equipped with an evolution of the 3.9-litre V8 turbo which punches out a maximum of 610PS at 7,500 rpm, and maximum torque of 760Nm available between 3,000 and 5,250rpm. Unlike the V12 GTC4Lusso, the V8 variant loses the all-wheel drive system for a significant weight-saving.
The car’s V8 is the latest evolution to emerge from the engine family that was named the 2016 International Engine of the Year. For application in the GTC4Lusso T, the 3,855cc unit adopts new pistons and con-rods in high-resistance aluminium alloy to maximise pressure inside the combustion chamber, new more linear high- and low-pressure air ducts in the intake system to minimise losses and a new intercooler to increase air cooling and minimise fluid-dynamic losses.
Other revisions include high-tumble intake manifolds, specifically shaped to improve air entry to the combustion chamber, an ion-sensing system with adaptive ignition and multi-spark functionality which optimises combustion both under high and partial loads across the engine’s rev range. Ferrari states that mechanical efficiency is guaranteed by a variable-displacement oil pump that supplies oil at either high pressure or low pressure, reducing the hydraulic power requirements by up to 30% compared to a conventional pump, and a valvetrain with roller finger followers to reduce the power absorbed by 10% at low revs.
The GTC4Lusso T’s V8 uses Ferrari’s ‘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. And all without impinging on driving pleasure. 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 760Nm in 7th gear. This has allowed Ferrari to adopt longer gear ratios in the higher gears to the benefit of fuel consumption, giving the car an increase range of 30% over the V12-engined model.
In line with the finest Ferrari tradition, the GTC4Lusso T has been given its own unique and utterly unmistakable soundtrack. In addition to the flat-plane crankshaft, which synchronises engine firing, and equal-length exhaust headers which equalise the sound, the exhaust line now features a new central section along with a larger-diameter silencer.