The Lusso is the best 4 seat family car money can buy. If you are even remotely tempted, get one before they are made extinct by emissions regulations. Image Unavailable, Please Login The Lusso has a glorious old F1 car style scream from its naturally aspirated V12. It's almost worth buying for that silky smooth high revving engine alone! It also puts its power down very well thanks to its AWD system (especially on the new standard Michelin PS4S tyres), unlike a DBS Superleggera for example, which struggles for traction almost every time full throttle is applied. Another notable feature is its 4WS (4 wheel steering), which makes this long car manoeuvre and feel like a much shorter wheelbase car. In short it feels agile and nimble in a way that belies its length and mass. Image Unavailable, Please Login Avoid the early Lusso's however, as these have extremely over-servo-assisted steering, with no feedback. The factory sports exhaust muffles the engine note to the extent it doesn't sound like a Ferrari, or a V12. An aftermarket Novitec backbox with X-Pipe will however unleash all that Ferrari V12 goodness. A remote valve controller will allow you to switch between a comfortably quiet car, and a screaming banshee. Think carefully before buying new, as the Year 1 depreciation on these makes the Wall Street Crash of 1929 look like a picnic. Image Unavailable, Please Login This supercar will seat 4 adults in perfect comfort. All of my family prefer sitting in the rear seats in fact, as they offer a stunning panoramic view through that huge edge to edge glass roof, which is worth every penny of its eye-watering £11,500 option cost. The Lusso is supremely comfortable, luxurious and quiet in Comfort mode. Yet you can have a lot of fun in Sports mode (or "higher"). Image Unavailable, Please Login I had the Lusso detailed by Azuri. Image Unavailable, Please Login Azuri did various items of work, including paint correction and Gtechniq Crystal Serum Ultra ceramic coating and EXOv4. Glass, wheels, rubber parts and wheels were also treated. CF and gloss black wraps were also applied selectively, as was 3M pinstriping. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login When I saw my detailed car I absolutely LOVED it! It was truly transformed. Mirror shine, perfect paintwork, impeccable small details. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
So 2017 lusso will have less steering feel comparing to MY18 ~20 lusso? Btw great write up, hopefully I’ll find mine very soon.
I'm not sure exactly when the steering was changed, but the difference is stark and noticeable. Thanks, glad you liked it
Awesome write up and interesting what you say about the sound being average in stock form. Seems that’s the case for virtually all of the recent V12 models?! I guess it’s due to needing to meet noise regs? Thank the lord for Novitec
Yes, noise regulations, plus I suspect Ferrari's desire to make the Lusso as quiet and comfortable as they could. Hence it being quieter than the FF, where both have factory exhausts. Both take the same aftermarket exhausts, so will sound the same externally afterwards. Lusso will always be quieter inside due to the much greater sound proofing and double glazing (until you open a window). Which is a good thing IMO for a family car. I've installed a Novitec backbox and Capristo X-Pipe. Also a Capristo remote valve controller (so I can make the car quieter for family use, or when just travelling a long distance on motorway). This also stops that annoying change in tone when the valves open and close on the factory system, as you can set it to always open when you want it to sound sporty.
Thanks. I understand it will be discontinued, as it will effectively be replaced by the SUV. That will of course seat 4/5 and be AWD. And will probably sell like hot cakes, unlike the niche FF & Lusso.
Thank you. Yes, it appears on all my cars: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
How can a SUV replace a Hatchback. I’d say discontinued... but replaced? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I took delivery of my Lusso in January. My dealer Algar says that the Lusso is finished. No factory orders being taken. They agree that the 4 seat V12 is over. The replacement will likely be the SUV. I am glad I went for it as it is a wonderful driver. It truly is the “comfort” Ferrari. Love it. It also led to the purchase of a GTS that is now on order. Probably a year off. Keeping my 458 Spider as I can’t give up that NA engine scream.
In the sense of both being 4 (or more) seater Ferraris, and both having AWD, and one ceasing production as the newer one is about to commence. In effect, it is replaced. Although for FF/Lusso owners, I agree it's really not the same thing. A supercar cannot be replaced by an SUV.
Love your Lusso. Great color combo. My dealer was noting that the market on Lussos is heating up due to the end of production- he noted my purchase earlier this year will likely be seen as the sweet spot of pricing. I enjoyed and benefit from your comment likening depreciation to the 1929 Wall Street crash. I just worry for the next F8 SV the purosange will be a required purchased. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Thanks I think the detailing has given it a bit of "interest", although I appreciate some owners prefer to keep the car completely understated. I'm not so sure Ferrari can play that game quite so much in future. New Lusso buyers lost a lot, and didn't gain on the Pista. With Pista being unlimited, there were simply too many of them, and it was arguably not as desirable as the 458 Speciale, and also outgunned by competitors. But back on topic, the Lusso V12 will remain rather desirable if it truly is the last of its kind. That should help residuals now. A well specced Lusso is really a rather special place to be. It's a little like travelling everywhere in your own private jet
Driving with a friend today. I just liked this quick phone snap, showing the Senna in the mirror with the "GTC Lusso" dash badge reflected in the glass. Image Unavailable, Please Login
It's not an "issue" or fault. Just a difference in feel, and I personally hated the superlight zero feedback of the early version. Others may not have the same aversion to it. It felt as dead as any electric BMW etc steering to me, despite being hydraulic, as it was so over-servoed.
I'm afraid I don't know the exact changeover date. But it's such a dramatic difference that a test drive will easily reveal it. Some people may not hate the early over-servoed steering as much as I did anyway. For me it was a deal-breaker, but then I am used to McLaren and Lotus steering, which have by far the best feel and feedback around.
Jas, on an aside, did you ever have an FF as well? Several journos say the Lusso has more room in the rear vs. the FF. Did the designers actually find more room or are the front seats just thinner in the Lusso? They do appear a bit more slimmed down and don't offer either the TV screens or ventilation...