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Ferrari Panamerican 20,000 Tour: Italian Hummers?
It started deep within South America, and finished in fine Manhattan style. We’re talking about the Trans-American Ferrari Panamerican 20,000 Challenge.
 This test of man and machine started in Belo Horizonte, Brazil in August, and 20,000 miles later, finished by rolling a pair of all-new 599 GTB’s across the finish line at the New York Stock Exchange. Some 48 journalists took part in the 84-day journey that traveled through 16 countries.
The Event
Why a 20,000 mile road event? To prove the reliability of Ferrari vehicles in some of the world’s most demanding conditions. We’re talking the jungles of South and Central America, the Andes Mountains, deserts, and assorted road conditions you would think more of piloting a Hummer in rather than a $265,000 Italian franchise player.
 It was also a proving ground for Shell Q Advanced oils and V-Power gasolines, major sponsors of the Panamerican 20,000. When it was all said and done, there were no mechanical or fuel related failures to these finely tuned supercars.
“Shell will support Ferrari for the entire route of the Panamerican 20,000 with important technical support and a suite of performance fuel and lubricant products,” said Raoul Pinnell, Chairman of Shell Brands International AG, before the start of the endurance run. “The spirit of our technical partnership is that we're together for the long run, and that's embodied by this daring demonstration spanning more than 20,000 miles in the latest Ferrari Gran Turismo product, the exciting 599 GTB Fiorano,” added Pinnell. Ferrari has long recommended Shell lubricants and gasolines for their superior engine protection and engine cleaning power.
 Automotive Rhythms was on the scene for two legs of the Panamerican 20,000 – during its stop in the Washington, D.C. area at Ferrari of Washington, and to witness the final finish line event in the Big Apple. Ferrari of Washington welcomed the media with a pair of 599 GTB Fioranos, resplendent in Ferrari Red and Ferrari Black. Outside the dealership, the actual Panamerican 20,000 cars were ready for our inspection. Yes, these cars were stock except for minor modifications in order to handle the rough terrain, a true testament to the reliability of a car thought to be high strung. The entire Ferrari/Shell team was present, and ready for the many questions asked by the media. Several gorgeous Alfa Romeo support cars were also present – a real treat for the U.S. media since Alfa departed this market many moons ago.
After cruising through the streets of Washington, and after a special ceremony that evening at the Italian Embassy, the vehicles were ready for the final few stops of their historic journey. Chicago, Illinois and Toronto, Canada were the last stops before motoring to the finish line at the New York Stock Exchange in downtown Manhattan.
The Car
 When the 599 GTB Fiorano is all cleaned up and ready to play, you better have sharp reflexes, because if you blink, you might miss what Ferrari is touting as its most powerful road car ever. This replacement for the 575M Maranello integrates a full high-tech aluminum body and chassis with the same V12 found in the Enzo, ensuring there is going to be heat on the streets. Especially since the data on the 599’s top speed is inconclusive since Ferrari couldn’t find a track they could truly test it on. But we do know that it exceeds 205 mph, and 0-60 comes up in a scant 3.7 seconds. The high-revving V12 produces 611-horspower and 448 pound-feet of torque. Abbondanza! Shifting is done via either a 6-speed transmission or the new generation F1 style gearbox. The Electro hydraulic system shifts in 100 milliseconds. With a 47% front and 53% rear weight distribution, Ferrari believes that this is the optimal combination for enhanced performance. Adding F1-Trac (stability control system) to the SCM (Magnetorheological Suspension Control) suspension gives the 599 increased grip out of turns, increasing acceleration by 20% in comparison to standard traction systems.
 The 599 GTB is the pinnacle of what a performance oriented sports cars is supposed to be. Yet, Ferrari is not only about performance, but also driving emotion. Every vehicle is basically built to customer’s needs. Its design is captivating, its angles are romantic and its form is sophisticated. Styling of the 12-cylinder Berlinetta comes from the house of Pininfarina at Maranello. The newest “prancing horse” is sculpted from aluminum by Alcoa and is safer, larger, stiffer, sexier, more advanced and offers a greater power to weight ratio than its replacement.
 The interior of the Fiorano is what you would expect from an Italian playmaker. The pilot’s position is crafted with carbon-fiber and aluminum details while the entire passenger compartment receives opulent leather. Racing seats from Recaro feature extended side bolsters to hold you snuggly in place. Available options include an iPod connector; a customized Ferrari luggage set; and a unique carbon-fiber trim kit which enhances the door panels, instrument panel, gear shift surround and sill kick panels. Lastly, Bose has tailored the audio with an 11-speaker high-performance surround sound system to make sure you enjoy your tunes while blowing past spectators.
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