Ferrari 599 F1 2dr Car Review - March 2012

The 599 is breathtakingly quick, thundering from 0-62mph in a lightning-fast 3.7 seconds, and you'll be doing 205mph before the 599 runs out of grunt.

The 6.0-litre V12 engine which delivers these impressive figures offers a staggering 612 bhp of power at 7600 rpm with a torque figure of 448 lb-ft at 5600 rpm. The 599 is also fitted with a staggeringly good sequential gearbox.

In terms of handling, the 599 is a class act. Despite its size, the Fezza handles like a sports car and grips and grips and grips thanks to its astonishing traction control system. Even experienced drivers will be astonished at just how fantastic this car is to drive.

The 599 is absolutely gorgeous, offering all the style and panache you'd expect from a car from Maranello. Unfortunately, the interior, while luxurious, is a little disorganised and confused.

In terms of in-car tech, the Ferrari 599 comes with a great number of standard features which include power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, a metallic paint finish, rear parking sensors, leather seats, a CD compatible stereo, Bluetooth connectivity and a sat nav system.

Those wanting to connect their stereo to their MP3 player will need to fork out an additional £516 however, and this seems steep when you consider the feature is provided as standard on the smaller and vastly cheaper Ferrari California.

The cabin is fairly roomy considering the car’s class and the boot is decent for a supercar with a capacity of 320 litres. The driving position is also supremely comfortable.

In terms of safety, the Ferrari 599 performs fairly well and there is plenty of safety equipment fitted to this model, including driver, passenger and front side airbags.

Electrical problems reported with other Ferraris have been largely resolved and the 599 has proven to a very reliable car. The 599 comes with an unlimited four-year warranty and must be serviced once every 12,000 miles.

Unlike its predecessor, the Ferrari 575, the 599 does not require cambelt changes which helps to improve reliability and reduce the extortionate running costs.

Priced at £212,066 the Ferrari 599 is anything but cheap, even by supercar standards. Those looking for practicality are unlikely to consider models such as this and this is reflected in the high running costs which are incurred.

Poor green credentials mean this model churns out a staggering 415g/km of carbon dioxide and road tax costs reflect this. Insurance is equally high and poor fuel efficiency means drivers will have to fill this model up on a regular basis. The 599 is cheaper to run than its predecessor the 575 but you're still going to need deep pockets to keep it on the road.