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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