The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is a bit of an odd vehicle to some people. The lackluster styling doesn’t efectively portray the heart-pounding performance, and despite the car’s expansive length, it handles as nimbly as a car several feet shorter. But while the 612’s incongruity might not win it as many fans as its peerless dynamics may warrant, it’s still an Italian GT and is acctually one of the best. And there’s few things we like better than improving on that formula. To that effect, Maranello is now offering the HGT-S package.
Ferrari has a bit of a recent history in offering these packages, having offered the GTC handling pack on the 575 M the two-seater front-engine GT that preceded the 599 GTB and which shared the 612’s epic V12. The 575 GTC mainly improved the suspension and brakes, while the 612 HGT-S focuses on the exhaust, suspension and transmission.
The exhaust valves open as low as 3000 rpm, which gives the benefit of a freer-flowing system through more of the range considering the redline doesn’t come until 8000 rpm while reportedly producing a more enjoyable exhaust note. The adaptive active suspension benefits from a revised control system. And the F1A clutchless transmission gets updated software, bringing shift times down to a blink of an eye at just 150 milliseconds. There are also 19-inch wheels and the brake calipers are treated to bright yellow paint.
While none of the improvements in the 612 HGT-S much address the disappointing styling issues, they do manage to make a nearly flawlessly dynamic sports tourer even better, moving it even further ahead of the competition as the vehicle of choice for cross-continental jaunts.