Ferrari's Downsizing Trend Continues With The GTC4Lusso T

Anyone who's been keeping track of Ferrari as of late will know that it's heading down a more efficient route. Though the energy recovery-based systems as first shown on the HY-KERS concept car have only been adopted by the LaFerrari for the time being, the rest of the Ferrari range has generally been downsizing and adopting turbochargers. One of the only exceptions to that rule, though, was the GTC4Lusso - until now, that is.

Following in the footsteps of the California T and the 488 GTB, the new GTC4Lusso T now has the option to be fitted with Ferrari's 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine, complete with a variable torque program that adjusts the torque output depending on what gear the car is in, to endow the V8 with a more linear, naturally aspirated-like character. Being far smaller than the GTC4's 6.3-liter V12 (which is still being offered for those who shudder at the thought of a turbocharged four-seater Ferrari), it's no surprise to hear the V8 is less powerful, though the 610-hp and 545lb/ft outputs do compare fairly well with the 680-hp and 515lb/ft that the V12 is capable of producing.

One benefit that the GTC4 T will have over its 6.3-liter stablemate will be its curb weight. Courtesy of the smaller engine, the turbocharged Lusso's dry weight of 3,836 pounds means it's 110 pounds lighter than the V12 model. Plus, having less weight over the nose means the weight distribution balance changes slightly (46:54, versus the original car's 47:53 split), so the turbo'd GTC4Lusso could very well end up being a bit more lively to drive. After all, such a trick did exactly that for the Bentley Continental when the twin-turbo V8 was introduced. Then again, the Bentley's smaller engine wasn't being introduced to complement a wailing and sonorous V12, was it?