Ferrari 599 GTO aka Kato

If you are unfamiliar with Top Gear and somehow read my blog without watching the program, Jeremy Clarkson calls the 599 GTO Kato, because it's a lairy car that almost killed him. He likened it to having the murderous Butler from the Pink Panther living in your home waiting to jump out and kill you at any moment when you're least expecting it.

It's not surprising that JC didn't like this car though. Maybe when he was my age he would've because it is more for people who go out on track days and want the ultimate lap time. Now however he doesn't need the absoloute razor edged machine and nor does he want it, remember he drives a big AMG Merc these days which is considerably softer than the Fezza. The 599 is a razor sharp track day tool.

The 599 GTO is built to be as much like a racing car as a GT can be. It's built to have cat like reflexes and stupidly responsive turn in with a sensitive throttle and eveything else that goes into racing cars. This is the most powerful road going Ferrari to date for one thing as it produces 670bhp. That's alot and the changes over the standard 599 don't stop there because the car has been lightened, been given track day tyres that are barely road legal, a new generation of magnetto healogical damping and suspension systems and the tyres are even slightly cross plied to make the car deliberately jittery so that it can dart into corners with ultimate ease and speed. All this makes the car an awesome car for people who can actually drive such a thing, racing drivers mostly but it isn't much use to fat balding middle aged men. All the GTO really is is a road legal version of the strictly track only 599XX. That's the long and short of it really.

The 599 isn't a bad car but it is misunderstood and if you misunderstand what it's for then yes Kato will strike. If you do understand then say hello to your new best friend. This car is still properly lairy though so he's likely to stab you in the back!

Thankyou for reading my blog and as always have a nice day.