Ferrari GTC4 Lusso V8 targeting Porsche and Bentley buyers
Ferrari is looking to attract a different buyer to the brand with the announcement of the V8-powered GTC4 Lusso T shooting brake.
Speaking with CarAdvice at the Australia launch of the Ferrari 488 Spider, Ferrari Australasia CEO Herbert Appleroth said “the V8 customer is a completely different buyer to the V12”.
“A V8 turbo buyer is a lot younger”, said Appleroth. “Traditionally V12-isti tend to be aged over 45 years with older children and use the car for weekend enjoyment, where V8-isti are 30-35 years old, with a young family and do a lot of commuting, school pick-ups and sporting activities.”
Ferrari is looking to lure buyers from the Bentley Continental V8 and Porsche Panamera models, and also the upper-luxury SUVs like Range Rover and Cayenne Turbo.
“The V8 is such a versatile car, little more spirited, more dynamic than the V12”, said Appleroth.
The GT4C Lusso T V8 marks the first time Ferrari has offered two drive trains in the same platform, and it is also the first V8-powered ‘proper’ four seat Ferrari (the Mondial is considered a 2+2 configuration).
Local pricing has not yet been announced, but Appleroth said pricing would be competitive (for a Ferrari) and would be considerably lower than the V12 Lusso’s $578,000 entry point before options and on-road costs.
Don’t expect it to be cheap though.
“We’re always at a price premium because we have the premium performance, premium exclusivity and premium quality… it is a Ferrari.”
CarAdvice will bring you coverage of the V8 GTC4 Lusso from the 2016 Paris Motor Show.