frozen tundra of northern Quebec, to put the new all-wheel drive, four-seat grand tourer to the test … on an ice-racing track.
EXCEEDINGLY CAPABLE
Ferrari introduced the FF, its first production AWD vehicle, in 2011, and the GTC4Lusso is its much-improved successor. The latest iteration of Ferrari’ s stylistically unique shooting brake is more customizable than a Bamford Watch Department TAG Heuer Monaco, and slots in near the top of their Grand Touring range with prices starting around $ 300K.
To be clear, these fantastic machines are already on a wait-list only basis, and preference is given to current Ferrari owners. With that out of the way, it should also be clear that this review has nothing to do with selling you on the car; Ferrari doesn’ t need our help on that front. What it does have to do with is making sure that your perception of the GTC4Lusso, and Ferrari in general, is properly sorted.
In no uncertain terms, the take-away should be this: While most Ferraris will be driven lightly and pampered in climate-controlled garages, the GTC4Lusso is an exceedingly capable vehicle, in driving situations that go far beyond the rigors of occasional joyriding in Miami Beach.
As a lifelong New Englander, I’ ve had my share of winter driving. I used my 1987 Audi 400CS Quattro as a makeshift snowplow in Vermont, I blew the engine on my’ 94 Range Rover while using it in-35 degree temperatures to an ice-climbing event in New Hampshire, and I crashed my 1973 BMW 2002 repeatedly into snow banks while relying on the little rear wheel drive antique as winter transport in Maine. I once even built an ice-racing car, a 1994 Ford Escort wagon with a trampoline-frame roll cage and four bald tires I studded with screws by hand.
But the thought of taking an Italian super-GT with a sticker price of nearly $ 400K as equipped, on street tires(!) on an ice-covered racecourse surprised even me. I’ ve been the lucky participant of numerous high- performance
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