When Ferrari officially take the wraps off their 599 GTB at the Geneva Motor Show on the 28th February, they will be unveiling their most intoxicating V12-engined production car of all time.

The new 2-seater ‘Gran Turismo Berlinetta’ model, which will replace the 575M Maranello when it goes on sale later this year, was officially announced by Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari’s Vice General Manager, at the opening of the Detroit Motor Show on the 9th January. The first official pictures were distributed early on by Ferrari, along with the first official details, during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this month. With ground-breaking engineering and design, the 599 GTB is the result of Ferrari’s most innovative and technologically advanced engineering solutions applied to a front engined, two-seater berlinetta. The result promises to be a benchmark in handling, performance and design.

Class-leading power is generated by the latest incarnation of the F140 and F133F V12 engines used in the Ferrari Enzo and 612 Scaglietti. Whereas the 612 is anything but modest in its claim to a 6.0-litre engine (capacity is only 5,748 cc), the 599 GTB has a 1 cc greater capacity over the Enzo’s 5,998 cc. Maximum power is no less than 611 bhp achieved at 7,600 rpm, resulting in a weight to power ratio of 2.6 kg per horsepower. This power means an increase of 103 bhp over the 575M Maranello and 78 bhp over the 612 Scaglietti. Both the 575M Maranello and 612 Scaglietti produce an equal 588 Nm at 5,250 rpm, however the 599 GTB delivers 623 Nm within a more usable rev range between 2,000 and 6,000 rpm.

Mated to a seven-speed F1 sequential gearbox, the 599 GTB has an estimated 0-100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds, compared to the 4.2 seconds achieved by both the 575M Maranello and 612 Scaglietti. The new time is equal to that of the upcoming Porsche 997 Turbo which is also scheduled for a launch at Geneva. In order to achieve this speed, the first four gear ratios have been kept relatively short, which means that the 599 GTB will be a much lither track car. Top speed is in excess of 340 km/h, whereas the car also features the Formula 1 inspired E-Diff electronic differential. Stopping power is taken care of by Brembo CCM composite ceramic disc brakes.

The body and chassis construction applies Ferrari and Alcoa’s latest evolution in aluminium technology, first put into practise on the successful Ferrari 360 Modena. The extruded aluminium spaceframe architecture is in fact a shortened version of that used on the 612 Scaglietti. Cast, extruded and fabricated components will be produced in Hungary, Germany and the Netherlands prior to shipment to Modena, where they will be assembled into the finished spaceframe at an Alcoa facility inside the Ferrari Scaglietti bodyshop facility.

With significantly shorter doors than those on the 612 Scaglietti, the 599 GTB’s wheelbase has been brought down to 2,794 mm, whilst the width remains close to that of its sister 2+2. The new berlinetta’s weight of 1,612 kg is a fundamental improvement over the 1,730 kg of its Maranello predecessor. Despite this, the new car will feature significantly improved interior space and luggage capacity over its forerunner.

With the V12 engine now tucked even further behind the front axle line, the Ferrari 599 GTB gives a front to rear weight ratio of 45:55 which is the closest yet to the ideal setup for a front-engined RWD car.

The 599 GTB will feature a standard wheel size of 19 inches, as on the F430, instead of the 18-inch variety delivered on the 575M Maranello and 612 Scaglietti. Tyres measure 245/40ZR19 at the front and 305/35ZR19 at the rear.

From the exterior, the unmistakable Pininfarina silhouette provides an aggressive yet elegant line, perfectly integrating advanced aerodynamic solutions in order to achieve the benchmark performance figures attained. The front is a sportier interpretation of the 612 Scaglietti look, with a pronounced Formula 1 inspired nose section flanked by purposeful air outlets. More outlets are positioned on the flanks, and extra inlets for rear brake cooling are positioned behind the doors.

Notable aerodynamic details include the welcome return of flying buttresses at the rear, last seen on a Ferrari berlinetta with the F355 (the Superamerica reintroduced these last year). These carbon fibre buttresses sit over the wraparound rear window, improving airflow in the process, whilst also hinting at the future 599 GTS model which is set to arrive one year after the berlinetta’s official presentation. The Spider is expected to feature the Revochromico roof introduced on the Superamerica. A remarkable deviation from Ferrari’s recent quad tail-light theme, are the large singular rear units. This style was last seen on the 275 GTB model. Traditional quad tailpipes feature, with lipped tips, along with a carbon fibre diffuser which hints at the cars aerodynamic underbody. A subtle integrated rear spoiler finishes off the design. The final approval of the 599 GTB was given last spring by former Ferrari-Maserati head of GT styling Frank Stevenson, now working on a host of new models for Fiat and Lancia.

Inside, the 2-seater berlinetta features a Formula 1 style steering wheel with LED rev display, along with the ‘manettino’ switch on the bottom right and the engine start/stop button on the bottom left. The choice of yellow, red and black graphics for the tachometer will be available, whereas aluminium and glossy carbon fibre detailing feature. The 599 GTB's central console will be marked with an aluminium plate embossed with the Ferrari script, whereas a luggage compartment for custom-made Ferrari travelling cases, complete with a leather strap, is packaged behind the seats.

The Ferrari 599 GTB is the latest symbol of Ferrari’s legend as a producer of the finest V12 berlinettas. The newcomer represents the most recent evolution of a theme that started with the 1948 166 Inter, and has included memorable classics such as the 250 GT, the 275 GTB and the 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ models. Set to replace the successful 575M Maranello model, the 599 GTB has a tough task to follow. Combined together with the 550 Maranello, introduced in 1996, the 575M Maranello has held a record V12 production output of 5,700 units. The price of the Ferrari 599 GTB is anticipated to be around €195,000 ($240,000) when it goes on sale in late summer.