Used 2019 Ferrari GTC4Lusso

The 2019 GTC4Lusso is about as close as it gets to a family-friendly Ferrari, or at least one with a semblance of practicality. That’s because, while this successor to the FF is a Ferrari through and through, the GTC4Lusso seats four passengers and even has room in back for cargo. Costing around $260,000 for a V8 version or over $300,000 with the V12, it’s also the hatchback that costs as much as a house. All-wheel drive is included in the V12 variant, while the V8 is rear-drive.

As expected of a Ferrari, both versions offer stunning performance and speed, with a top velocity of over 200 mph. Not bad for an Italian 2-door shooting brake that can seat four adults and a decent amount of cargo. Of course, you could get similar performance — not to mention the latest technology and safety features — in a Porsche Panamera or an Audi RS 7 for a fraction of the price. But they aren’t Ferraris, are they?

It’s a Ferrari, so you know it’s fast. The V12 model conquers 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds, and the V8 version is only a tick behind that. The V12 Lusso reaches a top speed of 208 mph. So yes, the GTC4Lusso may have surprising practicality and seating for four, but it lives up to its exotic badge.

The GTC4Lusso’s real beauty is that while it handles like a Ferrari, it is probably the only one in the lineup that you’d want to drive across the country or live with day-in and day-out. That it could ostensibly be a daily driver came as a surprise to more than one KBB staffer. Video editor Lyn Woodward said of the GTC4Lusso, “Even in Sport mode, Ferrari didn’t tune the Lusso like a track car. And while you can feel the road underneath you, it’s not violent and no one is going to need to go to the chiropractor after a drive.”

The Lusso’s 4-wheel steering remains sharp and reactive, aided on the V12 model by Ferrari’s complex all-wheel-drive system that reverts to rear drive once fifth gear is engaged. An even more complex front-axle setup improves traction via a torque-vectoring system. In the V8-powered GTC4Lusso T, acceleration times are nearly identical, and we appreciate its lighter weight. If only the V8 made the same symphony as Ferrari’s amazing V12.

Inside, the GTC4Lusso shuts out some of the engine and exhaust noise with added insulation around the body and glass. The seats are comfortable and not too snug, and the audio and infotainment setups are adequate. What you won’t get in a $300,000 Ferrari GTC4Lusso are the kind of safety and driver-assistance systems that come standard in a sub-$20,000 Toyota Corolla — features like forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assistance. Considering that such a new Toyota costs about the same as some options on the Ferrari, you might want to have one in your garage just in case.

The Ferrari GTC4Lusso stands out from its siblings in that it offers four legitimate seats, not just two, or “2-plus-2.” In back is a pair of sculpted bucket seats that adults can actually sit in, at least if the two people in front aren’t all that tall.

Like most new Ferraris, the Lusso and Lusso T are equipped with a Formula 1-style steering wheel housing controls for the turn signals, wipers, Bluetooth, suspension settings, drive-mode selector, start button and, around back, audio controls.

The infotainment system comprises a 10.25-inch touch screen. Optional is a slick screen in the dash directly in front of the passenger that allows him to see information like exactly how fast you’re going. It will save your spouse or date the awkwardness of craning her or his neck to peer at the instrument cluster, if not their ensuing command to slow down.

The Ferrari sports a beautifully crafted interior that is absolutely brimming with some of the finest-smelling leather you’ll ever experience. On the practicality front, the Ferrari GTC4Lusso appeals with a rear hatch with nearly 16 cubic feet of storage — similar to a large trunk. Moreover, the rear seats can be folded to increase that space to over 28 cubic feet.

Close your eyes and think of a Ferrari, or merely Google one. You likely pictured a sleek, low-slung, elegant wedge of a high-performance exotic car. The GTC4Lusso is not that. Yes, it has a long hood to house its mighty engine and some elegant lines, but its second half — the passenger compartment — is something of a capsule.

In car design, this configuration of a lengthy hood, elongated roof and short hatch is known as a “shooting brake.” This type of look is quite rare, with the former BMW Z4 Coupe and maybe a Volvo C30 being among other modern examples. On the Ferrari, we think it works pretty well, and there’s no arguing that it stands out. Yours might be the only one you ever see in the wild.

Further differentiation can be had via exterior upgrades that range from various colors of brake calipers to the styling of the quad exhaust tips. But be prepared to shell out big bucks for the smallest details.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
The GTC4Lusso’s complex all-wheel-drive system engages all four wheels in gears one through four, then reverts to rear drive for five through seven. A 2-speed gearbox controls the entire operation. Half-shaft clutches on the front axles permit up to 90 percent of the available torque to be sent to just one wheel. All this makes for a Ferrari that can be driven in four seasons, and as the sports car it is.

PANORAMIC GLASS ROOF
The available panoramic fixed-glass roof really opens up the Lusso’s interior, making it feel less cramped while sufficiently tinted to keep out bright light and heat.

So what do you get in a car that costs more than a quarter-million dollars? First and foremost, with the GTC4Lusso you get to say you drive a Ferrari, a highly exclusive Italian sports car with a priceless amount of prestige and provenance. You of course also get the amazing performance and driving manners that truly must be experienced to be appreciated.

As for features, it’s a mixed bag. The Ferrari Lusso includes a high-grade leather interior, heated and 14-way-adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, heated side mirrors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and height-adjustable adaptive magnetic shock absorbers. Infotainment is relayed by a 10.25-inch capacitive touchscreen display with navigation.

What you won’t get are the kind of active safety features that are becoming standard on even economy cars like a Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. As we mentioned, you won’t find features like adaptive cruise, lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking. That’s a shame to not have in a car that costs more than many people’s homes.

Options for the GTC4Lusso include various leathers, interior stitching, carpets and colors. Also available is a passenger-side touch-screen information screen. Wheel upgrades and colored calipers are also plentiful, but some of the more expensive options may come as surprise. We can maybe understand the $20,000 panoramic glass roof, the $759 120GB infotainment upgrade and even the $3,375 front-camera system. But $4,219 for Apple CarPlay? And Android Auto isn’t even on the list. Both come standard in just about any modern economy car.

You have a choice of two engines in the Ferrari GTC4. The first is the big, naturally aspirated, 6.3-liter V12 good for 680 horsepower. Power is routed through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, and then to a 2-speed gearbox that operates the all-wheel-drive system.

The GTC4Lusso T gets a slightly less potent twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 producing a still-mighty 602 horsepower. The same transmission routes power to the rear wheels.

The 4-wheel-steering system works by theoretically creating a shorter wheelbase in tight corners, turning the rear wheels in the opposite direction of those up front. On the freeway, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels, improving stability at high speed.

3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (GTC4Lusso T)
602 horsepower @7,500 rpm
561 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/21 mpg

6.3-liter V12 (GTC4Lusso)
680 horsepower @ 8,000 rpm
514 lb-ft of torque @ 5,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 12/17 mpg