600bhp Exotic GT's: Germany, Britain and Italy

[STi Nut]

What is a GT car? Well generally a GT vehicle is a thought of as a heavy, fast and luxurious long distance cruiser. However GT’s have evolved over the last decade into what we know to be powered with 600bhp. Just last year Ferrari’s 575M Maranello was sporting 508bhp, while vehicles from Mercedes and BMW were encroaching Ferrari. However the introduction of the SLR has rewritten history, while offering nearly 630bhp, more than a Carrera GT and nearly as much as an Enzo, the SLR offers GT dynamics with mid engine performance. The blended performance has been created by Mercedes, but now Ferrari has re-entered the race with the Successor to the 575M, the 599 GTB sporting a full 620bhp, more than both a Pagani Zonda F and a Porsche Carrera GT. The 599 and the SLR are in facts GT’s despite the massive turn of speed, I suspect the real test of the 599 GTB is against the SLR, for this comparison I’ve added the new Bristol Fighter S. Britain’s exotic GT features more power, more torque and less weight than it’s German and Italian rivals.

I’ll leaving a info paragraph out for the SLR as it’s the most well known of the vehicles, the 599 and Fighter S get info write-up to inform some who’d like to hear more.

Bristol Fighter S:

*Note, rear and front pic are from the standard 525bhp version





The Bristol was always a car that had the potential to be awesome, but it never lived up to its expectations. EVO's Peter Tomalin found many unfinished, stupid glitches. He found out that the Fighter's steering was lifeless, the brakes over sensitive, the transmission to be angry and lastly an unrefined feeling through out the car. This left the Bristol with a 3 1/2 out of 5 score, Bristol knew they needed to spice things up. Changing the styling of the Fighter wasn't a big deal; it was already an awesome looking car with unique shapes and features. One could say the Fighter looks like a TVR; in particular a brand new sparkling Typhon. Its long bonnet oozes aggression and the rear hatch is completely unique. Regardless the unique coupe has a few new styling features, such as side mounted exhausts. Technically standard on the new S is a 10mm lowered ride height, a 30 percent stiffening of the shocks, while front roll stiffness is increased by 32 percent and the rear is 35 per cent, this should help the numb steering. Bristol has Cleary admitted that they want the Fighter to be the fastest and most powerful front engine vehicle on the earth.. The first generation Chrysler V10 has had a larger, specially designed air intake and the end result is a mind blowing 660bhp and 580 lb-ft of torque. There are 2 new option packages now available with the S; the first is the R pkg. The R pkg gives you 19inch alloy wheels which are snugged into Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyres, 285/35 for the front and 305/35 for the rear. The second option is the competition pkg, which includes the R pkg. However the C pkg comes with competition type petrol fillers, a further 15mm dropped from the ride height, another 10 percent stiffness in the suspension, a rear spoiler, a front spoiler both which help to reduce the drag coefficient to 25 Cd.


Ending Cylinders: Chrysler V10
Litres: 8.0
Operation: OHV, Pushrod
660bhp @ 5,900
580tq @ 3,900
0-60: 3.6 (Claimed)
0-100: 7.4 (Estimated)
Top Speed: 210 mph (claimed)
Kerbweight: 1540kg
Bhp/ton: 435
RWD/ 6 Speed Manual


Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano:




The Ferrari 550/575 Maranello was always one of the great all time Ferrari's, let alone cars. The legendary 575 Maranello with its gorgeous styling and hot 508bhp V12 is now gone and the replacement is called the "599 GTB". The extruded space frame architecture is in fact a shorter version used on the 612SC; as a result each 599 starts of its life at the Scaglietti factory and is shipped of the Ferrari plant in Modena. The standard 612SC wheelbase has been shrunken to 2,794mm for a more sporting aggression. The chassis is fully developed from aluminium and that means the 599 is packed with technology. The engine of the 599 is an Enzo derived V12 powerplant, in the 599 you get a full 620bhp and 448lb-ft of torque. The V12 has been moved as far back as possible resulting in a mid engine weight distribution of 45:55. The engine is powered through a 6 speed sequential gearbox equipped with a F1 inspired E-Diff; however for the purists a 6 speed manual gearbox will be available. Ferrari wanted the 599 GTB to be even lighter than the 575 Maranello and in order to do so Ferrari has switched the body from steel to aluminium, the kerbweight has gone from 1,730kg to 1,612kg and that means the 599 GTB is even lighter than the Carbon fibre bodied Mercedes SLR McLaren. Starting from the rear you get one of the most awesome and cool designs in Ferrari history, let alone GT history. The basic shape of the 599 GTB is based off that of the 612 Scaglietti but what has changed somewhat superb. Ferrari decided they would mostly keep the nose of the 612 for the 599, but of course pumping maximum aggression by various styling ques. They’ve shrunken the headlamps for a more slim design; the bonnet benefits from a bulging arrow point and various engine air coolers. The bottom bumper has been modified from the 612; the grill design has been slightly redesigned as well as the outer bumper holes. The nose is a little busy in my opinion; but it’s get better and better as you approach the rear. The side design is painfully beautiful; it’s a classic long nose and short rear GT shape. The Shapes are simply amazing; the front brake coolers are hard edged holes that pull into the doors, the mirrors are inspired by the F430 and the alloys are a unique 5 spoke star alloys. The rear is my personal favourite view of the GTB, it’s simply astonishing. The basic bumper shape of the 612 Scaglietti has remained but what has changed is the tail lamps and the trunk lip. The trunk lid has an interesting built in lip and the tail lamps have gone from the recent four circle shapes to the original classic two round lamps. The interesting idea is these two tail lamps are meant to pay homage to the 275 GTB of the late 1960’s; Ferrari has really gone back into their history. The bottom bumper sports four silver polished tailpipes and an undertray diffuser complete with fog lamps. Amazily the undertray diffuser alloys the 599 to develop 160kg of downforce at 300kmh, a far cry from a Zonda which develops 600kg at that speed, but still unbelievable for a GT vehicle. The rear window is accompanied by what Ferrari calls the “Flying Buttresses”, a feature original seen on the Testarossa and recently seen on the Superamerica, on each side of the car the flying buttresses sport small horizontal wings which help create aerodynamics around the rather high rear windows. Aside from power and technology it’s clear that Ferrari has advanced in terms of luxury, because the Fiorano’s interior is more luxurious and ergonomically designed than ever. The general cabin borrows its architecture from the 612 Scaglietti and that’s a good thing. The main console shares the 612’s polished aluminium twist dials with a shade of more character. The seats are based of that of the Scaglietti but have added padding and bolstering for that 620bhp under the bonnet; aside from this you get the same four circle heating vents within the interior. The tachometer and the speedo as in the 612 are conventional needles while the oil gauges, gas gauge and etc are fitted within a small computer screen. The steering wheel is borrowed directly from the 650bhp Enzo supercar and features the same shift lights at the top of the steering wheel as well as the same “Manettino” traction system from the F430 .


Ending Cylinders: V12
Litres: 6.0
Operation: DOHC, 4 VPC
620bhp @ 7,600
448tq @ 5,600
0-60: 3.7 (Claimed)
0-100: 7.4 (Estimated)
Top Speed: 210 mph (claimed)
Kerbweight: 1612kg
Bhp/ton: 391
RWD/ 6 Speed Manual/6 speed sequential

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren:




Ending Cylinders: Supercharged V8
Litres: 5.4
Operation: SOHC, 4 VPC
626bhp @ 6,500
575tq @ 3,250
0-60: 3.5 (Road & Track)
0-100: 7.5 (Road & Track)
Top Speed: 208 mph (AMS)
Kerbweight: 1618kg
Bhp/ton: 393
RWD/ 5 Speed Automatic

[matt_shaw]

Why did you post the Bristol Fighter S? Don't you think you could have picked a more mainstream car?

[STi Nut]

Originally Posted by matt_shaw

Why did you post the Bristol Fighter S? Don't you think you could have picked a more mainstream car?

I put the Bristol Fighter S in as i was not going to put another german or italian in and that was the best the UK could come up with as a 600+bhp GT car and it is lighter and more powerfull then the other two so i decided that it would be an iteresting pick

Well i pick the 599 as it is a Ferrari and it is the best looking car out the at the moment

[geoff_a_pult]

It's really pretty sad that only three coutries can claim to have a high power GT car.
The US and Japan need more small companies with the style to do cars like this. I guess you technically could have put in the Continental GT as a ridiculously powered GT car, but it doesn't have 600hp (isn't it amazing that we have gotten to the point where you need 600hp to be considered extremely high powered? 400 used to do!), and it would have been slaughtered as well.

I have to go with the Ferrari. The SLR has never really struck me as beautiful, and neither does the 599, but Ferrari just has that magic. And I've always heard it said that the SLR has brakes that are a bit grabby. Can't have that in a relaxed long distance cruiser!

[SL65]

The 599 for me thanks. Its newer than the SLR and I think its one of the best looking modern day Ferraris. I haven't seen any roadtests on it but I don't think I need to...

btw: Poll should say "own" not "one"

[STi Nut]

Originally Posted by SL65AMG~V12~612BHP!!!!!!!

btw: Poll should say "own" not "one"

my bad, can you fix? i can not edit the poll part

[avanti]

Obviously the Ferrari.

edit:

[SL65]

Originally Posted by STi Nut

my bad, can you fix? i can not edit the poll part

Fixed.

I forgot to say before...I'm usually not a big fan of Ferrari interiors from a GT standpoint but the 599's interior is properly nice

[SV]

As much as i like the SLR id have to choose the 599 8)


p.s - id prefer the new 640hp murci tho

[watto]

599 for sure!

[triumph]

Bristol for me .

[Svempa]

Don't know much about the Bristol and I hate the SLR so I'd go for the Fiorano since the Italians almost always get it right!

[fbc]

An SLR can makes it's home in my garage whenever it wants too.

[BlaRo]

ZOMG NO CORVETTE Z06!

Kidding. But why no Aston Martin DB9? That'd be my first, second, and third choices for a GT, bar none.

Oh well, put me down for the SLR.

[watto]

Originally Posted by BlaRo

Kidding. But why no Aston Martin DB9? That'd be my first, second, and third choices for a GT, bar none.

I agree.... but, it only has 450bhp so can't be a part of this poll.

[mautzel]

Originally Posted by triumph

Bristol for me .

Could I take an Aston Martin Vantage instead of the Bristol as well, please? (550hp will be sufficient for me as I don't usually travel that fast )

[Xeon SX]

Wrong time for voting. 599 just came out, not many reviews, its something people haven't seen before so they'll vote for it.

[Raven18940]

<= fan of front engine Ferraris with big engines.

Those things sound so damn awesome.

[bartboy9891]

I'd have said the 599 right of the bat, the SLR could be a great car but id still feel like a tool driving one. But that Bristol is oddly intriguing, all of those tiny british manufacturers are to me. But i hardly know anything at all about bristol. Is the "Chrysler V10" the one in the Viper?

The rear looks nearly identical to the Marcos TSO:

[DJ]

Weird choice of "GTs".

Bristol's productions numbers are low enough to question wheter it is a mass production car. SLR is much closer to being a supercar than a GT. And in Ferrari's house, the Scaglietti is the offical GT.

IMHO, more appropriate choice would be: DB9, Scaglietti, BMW 6-series.