Car Reviews > Ferrari > 612 > New Ferrari 612 Scaglietti GTC-H Car Review

Scaglietti GTC-H - Hot Performance, Cool Handling

Ferrari, as usual, has built a high performance sports car. This one is called the Scaglietti GTC-H, and it adds supreme sports handling features to the basic model. It is hard to imagine anyone wanting a car that handles even more smoothly and responsively than the already fine Scaglietti. After taking a drive in the GTC-H, though, it becomes clear that the package offers something really special.

At the outset, the Scaglietti has an advantage in handling over sports cars that are not as well balanced. The Scaglietti engine is located at the front, near the axle, where it cannot put pressure to tip the car either to the front or to the rear. This makes for dreamy handling, because the well-placed center of gravity pushes the body down into road-hugging position.

Braking is an important part of handling, and Ferrari has it covered with the Scaglietti GTC-H model. A carbon ceramic braking system stops the car sweetly in a few short seconds from 60mph to a standstill. These brakes are lighter than normal disc brakes, and do not get as hot when stopping either. The Michelin sports tyres that are standard on the GTC-H are especially suited for smooth and quick stopping and easy handling. Drivers can make sharp corners with more speed and accuracy than ever.

The suspension has electronic stability control. The gearbox choices are 6-speed manual or 6-speed F1A type, which uses paddles to access the advantages of both manual and automatic-style shifting. The F1A is distinctly qualified to manage the refined sportiness of the Scaglietti GTC-H.

The engine of the GTC-H is the same as the basic 612 Scaglietti model. It is just as powerful, with 540bhp to power it to a maximum speed of 196mph. It can go from 0 to 60mph in just 4.1 seconds flat. The Scaglietti is already a great car; the buyer just has to decide whether extra-special handling is worth the extra cost. The basic model is about £175,000 and when you add the GTC-H handling package, the price tag goes up to £190,000.

The 612 Scaglietti GTC-H is a 4-seater, which makes smooth handling all the more important. Those riders in the back seat will appreciate the driver's ability to keep the car squarely on the road, to tightly control it in the turns, and to stop it effectively whenever necessary. A sports car should be thrilling to drive, but it should not frighten the passengers out of their wits. The Scaglietti GTC-H manages to keep both the driver and the riders very happy.

The appearance of the 612 Scaglietti is mainly classic Ferrari styling. It is a curvaceous, supple delight. With top performance specs, it is just about everything a buyer could want in a sports car. It is fast enough and powerful enough to meet any of the challenges that most drivers would ever place before it.

When the GTC-H package is added to that basic model, the result is a marvelous piece of machinery. Now, it is not only hot off the mark, but it is smooth in the straights as well as the curves. The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti GTC-H is an exciting sports car, and many will find it a thrilling choice.

by Autoweb