First Drive: 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO
The Best Car I've Ever Driven: Ferrari's Newest Sets a Standard so High, Nothing in My Logbook Can Top It.

Marc Gene doesn't speak "cool-down." We're on our in-lap, having just stormed Italy's wicked Mugello race circuit in the new 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO -- the fastest road-legal prancing horse ever built. But when you're an ex-Formula 1 shoe, winner of the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans, and a Ferrari test driver, "take a cool-down" apparently means "message garbled." Gene twirls the GTO's wheel-mounted manettino control, switching from Race (light chassis-electronics intervention) to CST-Off (cancelling all traction and stability systems). And almost instantly we're sideways. Roaring into Mugello's second-gear, right-hand Turn One, the Spaniard tromps on the throttle, the big V-12 shrieks under his spurs, and we drift around the bend like J Lo riding a Tilt-A-Whirl, tail out all the way. "In my opinion, the best way to drive this car is in Race mode," Gene says over the intercom, downplaying the obvious ease with which he handles all 661 unbridled horses. "In CST-Off, you have to drive so concentrated, you know? It's very demanding."

"Demanding," maybe. But as we power onward toward the pits, I can see Gene grinning right through his full-face helmet.

An hour later, it's my face that's all-smiles. I've just piloted the GTO through a series of hot laps myself, and I'm blown away. The greatest sports car I've ever driven? Well, in this business such superlatives are not to be doled out lightly (professional detachment, you see). Yet given Ferrari's recent handiwork, frothing at the lips is becoming difficult to resist. Three years ago, after a drive through the rolling hills not far from here, I dubbed the GTO's forebear, the 599 GTB Fiorano, "the finest all-around Ferrari ever." And now comes this GTO -- lighter, more potent, more extreme in every way, but still completely civilized. Boys and girls, this car can lap Ferrari's private Fiorano race circuit in 1 minute, 24 seconds. It will leave the howling 458 Italia choking in its exhaust. It even beats the famed Enzo to the finish line by one full second. Combine such speed with the GTO's shattering V-12 scream, its sublime steering, the light-switch paddle shifters, the stupendous Brembo binders, those Laetitia Casta curves and...sorry, I'm too worked up at the moment to think of an automobile that tops it.

Source - Motortrend

 

That's just ridiculously sweet.

 

Best car ever driven, bold statement!

 

Still trying to figure out if I like the two-tone livery, but that is a small issue. This car is SICK!

 

Obviously at the moment (and probably for some time to come) this is THE car to beat. I guess we won't see anything rivaling it untill the next hyper Ferrari F70.

 

Amazing car, the more I read reviews, watch vids and look at the pics, the more I like it.

This car set the benchmark so high, that I can not even imagine what Enzo successor will offer.

Now I am looking forward to see answer from Lamborghini - all-new Murcielago successor.

 

I'm out of ways to express how much I adore this car.

 

Perhaps not, if the next supercar is twin turbo. This car might be the rightful successor to the Enzo.

 

Hmm didn't think of that but now that you mention it I remember there have been quite a few rumours about the F70 featuring a bi-turbo engine.
With the new Pagani C9 having an old AMG bi-turbo engine I don't see that one in the game either so maybe that means it's only Lambo left with it's Murci successor and a brand new V12 engine. They have to work hard if they want to compete with this one though...
Either way by now I think the whole world knows that purchasing a 599 GTO will be a good investment for the future. I can see this one being worth the double in 15 years but of course that's just speculation...

 

Ferrari Enzo successor will use all-new V8 TT and I would not dare to say that it will not be a real Ferrari, just think of 288 GTO and F40. My main concern is about Pagani C9, that AMG engine simply does not fit into modern world of supercars.

I have to agree that nothing still can be compared with good old NA V12 engine. Only Lamborghini is developing next generation of flagship with such engine. I really would like to see how it will be going against this 599, but it needs to be above brilliant to whop the GTO out.