HGTE Handling Kit

The good news about the kit is it has been engineered for the car along with an ECU update for the shock absorbers to match the new spring rates. Adding just a stiffer rear anti-roll bar will reduce understeer, a stiffer front bar will increase understeer, so it is kind of a delicate balancing act for a 600 hp car. On the factory HGTE, and soon on yours, they increased understeer by putting half inch wider wheels up front, but balanced that with a 24.5 mm rear anti-roll bar.

HGTE is OEM and that is important to some people, so it is really your choice. The HGTE exhaust is nice, too, but not included in the suspension upgrade.

My car has the 575 Fiorano Handling Package installed, which also included stiffer springs, a steering ECU, and larger rear anti-roll bar (plus racing brake pads) and it really adds to the driving pleasure.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

You may want to check with the dealer ... when I was looking at 599's awhile ago some earlier 07's could not be converted. This may have changed but food for thought.

 

Sorry, I have limited tech data on the 599 and do not know how big the old one was. On the 575 standard was 17 mm and optional were 19.5 mm (HGTC) and 21 mm (FHP), so the spread for the standard 599 bar should be similar and around 20-22 mm. You can measure it if you are really curious and let the rest of us know. I do not think the HGTE bar is hollow, because here is a solid, rear, 599 anti-roll bar from H&R that is 25 mm.

http://raceinspired.com/p-20838-hr-rear-sway-bar-ferrari-599-gtb-2006-2009.aspx

One of our FChatters is replacing his HGTE exhaust with something louder. You might contact him and see if he is interested in selling.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=312750


Taz
Terry Phillips

 

I have an early 07 599 that cant be converted with the HGTE kit as well. Have found out that ...yes, the HGTE rims are half a inch wider than stock, and this will help in reducing
understeer, when upgraded with the springs and rear sway bar. But stock rims refer to the
front 19 inch / rear 20 inch penta rims. If your car has the 20 inch all round challenge wheels, the front is already 1/2 inch wider than stock. Meaning the challenge rims are the same as the HGTE rims. But HGTE rims should be a bit lighter in weight. The springs will drop the car 10mm from stock...rear bar will help iron out some understeer as well. IMO, a drop of 10mm will still look a bit high. I am thinking of a set of novitec springs, together with spacers 10mm in front and 15mm in rear to get that look.

 

You can do just the suspension and that will work on a 2007 599- because I did just that.

I had the 599 HGTE suspension fitted to my car this past Fall, and the result is FANTASTIC.

First off the car sits about 0.4" lower thanks to shorter, stiffer springs. So it looks the part.

The springs are 17% stiffer at the front and 15% percent at the rear. The electronic suspension has been retuned, and finally the rear antiroll bar is fractionally stiffer.

I kept my original monoblock challenge style wheels, which I think look great on my car, but I replaced the Bridgestone run flat tires with MPS2.

So the new tires give it a much more comfortable and supple ride. The Bridgestone RTFs actually drove pretty well in terms of grip and handling but the ride, especially at low speeds on local roads was crummy. Thats banished. So the ride due to the new tires is more comfy.

Then we have the new suspension bits which banish the little bit of slop there was with the original setup. In particular the car doesn't have the slight deadness on center it used to have (the tires could play a role in this) but it used to be a little vague on initial turn in, even in race mode with the electronic dampers set stiffer. Thats gone- it just feels planted. Then theres less roll as the car enters the turn and it just stays there. Basically the cars' behavior in sport now is close to what it used to be in Race and Race now is like Race +.

So lets see, more comfort, more sport, and looks even better. I'd call that a win.

Anyone with a 599, I'd say this is a worthwhile upgrade, even if you don't have the ride killing RFTs.

PS- the part of the kit you can't install on some of the 07s (before a certain build) has to do with the transmission and its shift times. I believe the reprogram can speed them up a bit. While it would be nice to have that, I'm not complaining. The SF F1 the 599 has is pretty darn good as is.

 

Jerry- Good to hear from someone who has done it. Sounds like a good investment, especially since the ECU is upgraded to match the new parts. I think I actually said the wider front wheels increase understeer. Obviously the opposite.

C1- The monolithic (Challenge) 20" wheels are the same width as the standard 19" wheels and the front 612 wheels. Look it up in your owners manual. The HGTE's are the only OEM 599 wheels that are 8.5" in the front. The GTO wheels are even wider. Here are the sizes for 599 and 599 GTO OEM wheels. These all came off the back of the wheels, where size and offset are cast into the wheel.

Taz
Terry Phillips

599/HGTE
Five Spoke F 19”, R 20”, 5 X 114.3 mm
Front 8J X 19 ET 43.5 mm, Rear 11J X 20 ET 63.8 mm
Challenge Monolithic 20”, 5 X 114.3 mm
Front 8J X 20 ET 43.5 mm, Rear 11J X 20 ET 63.8 mm
HGTE Five Spoke 20”, 5 X 114 mm
Front 8.5J X 20 ET 40 mm, Rear 11J X 20 ET 63.8 mm

599 GTO
Five V/Ten Spoke 20”, 5 X 114.3 mm
Front 9.5J x 20” ET 38 mm, Rear 11.5J x 20” ET 63 mm

 

Right. You've got a Ferrari so you know the rest- you can't really skimp on stuff- its just not how it works here.

IMHO on the understeer- I think certainly the difference between rear and front contact patches will have a large impact. Its also suspension calibration. It also helps that we have a monster of a motor and its real easy to real fast and when you do that, its real easy to create understeer! Solution: slow down a bit more for turns. The 599 has more roll than you realize- I havent had the chance to fully explore the HGTE setup so much yet- I suspect theres less roll now- but once you get her set on her suspension- she really can handle.

Terry, great stats on the wheels. FWIW, I think those GTO wheels are the new BBS FI wheels that are just fantastic.

 

Jerry- I think you will be surprised how much that rear anti-roll bar will help get rid of the understeer, as well as the roll. Your car should be pretty neutral handling now. My car has the equivalent package for the 575, and I have helped several owners upgrade their suspension and they have been really happy with the results. Naturally, the 599 can generate all the power oversteer you want, even with the granny aids still working, and especially with them off.

Kevin- That is what I would do. With the HGTE exhaust, you would have most of the upgrade, at any rate. Not sure the difference in shift speed from the performance kit could be felt, 85 ms vs 100 ms, by most drivers. At 100 mph that means you travel about 12.67' vs 14.67' during a shift. Doubt I could feel it, especially since my 575M does it in 220 ms.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

I look forward to experiencing this when the weather and road conditions allow I only had a few days with her until she went into winter hibernation mode.

My general point is I have witnessed many people complaining about "understeer" when they are simply traveling too quickly for the amount of grip the front end has. I see this alot when a new car comes out. The thing a lot of people don't put into the equation is the newer cars usually have more power which means you get to speed faster and that means its easier to create understeer.

 

Jerry- Affirmative, especially if they do not do a positive turn-in and start with too little lock. Adding lock then will make the car tend to understeer more.

Taz
Terry Phillips